Black Lives Matter
My stance will forever and always be for Black Lives Matter, Black Communities Matter, and Black Culture Matters. The systematic racism that has taken place since the 1600s must stop.
As a brown woman, I cannot relate to the pain and fear black communities face around both the United States and Canada. I have never feared that my interactions with the police will end in me being shot, assaulted, or killed. I have never been followed in a store. I have never been carded while walking around my neighbourhood.
On February 23, Ahmaud Arbery, an unarmed 25-year-old African-American man, was fatally shot while jogging in Glynn County, Georgia. Ahmaud had been pursued and confronted by two racist, white residents, a father and son, who were armed and driving a pickup truck
On March 13, Louisville police officers illegally entered the apartment door of 26 year old African American Breonna Taylor. Police fired several shots during the encounter murdering Breonna.
On May 25, 2020, George Floyd, a 46-year-old black man, was killed in Minneapolis, Minnesota, during an arrest for allegedly using a counterfeit bill. Derek Chauvin, a white police officer, who has been spotted at a rally for Donald Trump,, knelt on Floyd's neck for almost nine minutes while Floyd was handcuffed and lying face down, begging for his life and repeatedly saying "I can't breathe".
On May 25, Christian Cooper, a black bird watcher at New York's Central Park experienced a confrontation with a white woman after he asked her to put her dog on a leash in a park, which did not allow off-leash dogs. The interaction escalated when the white woman called the police to say that an African American man was threatening her.
These types of incidents happen every day. We only know about these about these because they were recorded, and uploaded to social media. We can make a change, but it requires us to become true allies of the black community. Firstly, we need to understand that the government, judicial, and financial system disadvantages certain people. Listen to the black community, and believe their stories. Stand and speak up when you see injustice. Film all encounters that involve the police. These videos can be used to later indict or discipline police officers, if used as evidence. You have the right to film government officials while on public property in both Canada and the United Stated, and to request a supervisor of the officer to be present.
I also wanted to include some resources for more information about the Black Lives Matter movement, as well as places you can donate to help the black community.
PLACES TO DONATE:
Communities United Against Police Brutality
American Civil Liberties Union
SIGN A PETITION:
Justice for George Floyd on change.org
From the petition page: “We are trying to reach the attention of Mayor Jacob Frey and DA Mike Freeman to beg to have the officers involved in this disgusting situation fired and for charges to be filed immediately.”
#JusticeforFloyd on act.colorofchange.org
From the petition letter: “I am outraged and disturbed by the killing of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis Police Department officers. For seven minutes, George Floyd and bystanders cried out and pleaded for his life as your officers choked him to death in broad daylight. This is an act of police violence committed on an innocent, unarmed Black man. No one deserves what happened to George. And it’s up to you to grant justice. I’m calling on you, the Mayor, to 1) block their pensions and 2) ban them from becoming police officers ever again. And County Attorney Freeman and Attorney General Ellison must immediately charge ALL four officers with murder. We’re counting on you to secure justice for his family.“
CONTACT STATE AND LOCAL LEADERS:
Reach out to representatives to demand justice and accountability. Find contact information at the links below:
Minneapolis District Attorney Mike Freeman
https://blacklivesmatter.ca/donate/