No matter what we look like or where we live, we all want our families to be whole and our communities to be vibrant. But, our country’s legacy of white supremacy culture and 400 years of state-sanctioned white violence against Black, brown, and Indigenous people continues to mean that the people entrusted to serve and protect our communities instead target, detain and even kill Black people like George Floyd, Tony McDade and Breonna Taylor, among too many others. All the while, a handful of politicians throw out lies to divide us. They know that if we’re made to fear each other, we’ll look the other way while police officers meant to uphold the law harm our communities, and elected leaders meant to govern in our name hand millions to corporations to militarize local law enforcement and deny resources for the schools and healthcare we actually need.
We are coming together – from country roads to suburbs to cities – to stand with the Movement for Black Lives and communities of color across the country who are calling for divestment from police and prisons and for investment in health, education, housing, arts and culture, and the environment.
We echo the call from the Movement for Black Lives:
“Trump has given a green light to cops and militias to beat, maim and kill people with impunity. He has now illegally activated the military to maintain power and use force on civilians. The red line has been crossed too many times.
He must resign.
Our lives depend on it.”
We know that right now, while law enforcement inflict the insults, injustices and injuries, it’s a handful of politicians, stoking hatred against Black people, Indigenous people, new immigrants and other people of color, that abet and encourage them. They hope that by spreading lies about our collective public actions, we will turn against these efforts to secure equal justice under the law. But we reject their attempts to divide us. We know a better future is possible. By pulling together, we can make this a place where all of us can not only survive, but thrive.
Actions you can take:
- Show up safely for our Vehicle Procession for Black Lives on Saturday 12:00-2:00. RSVP here and we’ll get you all the details about where we’ll meet up on bikes, skateboards, or in cars (come with a full tank of gas!) and our route. Download and print these signs or make your own and use painters tape to put them on your car. For ongoing updates and to invite your friends, send them to www.pjals.org/vehicleprocessionforblacklives
- Sign this petition: EWU students need your support for maintaining threatened Diversity and Inclusion programs!
- Sign Smart Justice Spokane’s advocacy letter – no new jail, no tent jail, keep our loved ones out of jail!
- Call Mayor Woodward at (509) 625-6250 & the County Commissioners (509)-477-2265 – tell them to speak out to tell armed militias they are not welcome in our community & we need a full, open, independent, transparent investigation of law enforcement use of force.
- If you witnessed or experienced law enforcement actions on Sunday night May 31st or since then, file complaints with the Office of Police Ombudsman along with any documentation, protecting identities of protestors as much as possible.
- Donate: Support a local group in our region or move your money to the front lines in Minneapolis. Make sure folks most impacted have the resources to stay in the streets and dream up the most powerful, transformative pathways forward. Make a donation today to Reclaim the Block and Black Visions who are on the frontlines in response to the murder of George Floyd. Locally, you can donate to the NAACP, the Black Lens newspaper, or another Black-led group fighting for police accountability that inspires you.
- Especially if you are white: Start conversations with white folks in your life about this moment and about systemic racism. For example, when your friends or family say, “I wish people wouldn’t riot”, let’s let them know we think it’s really important to recognize that Black people have been experiencing racist violence for 400 years. The outrage is real and justified. Black lives matter more than buildings. As King said, riots are the language of the unheard. Corporations have insurance and can rebuild; George Floyd will remain murdered. Our perspective is that the best way to prevent property damage in response to white/state violence against Black people is to end white/state violence against Black people. For an in depth guide with many examples and conversation starters, click here.