Dear MoveOn member,
Terrence Floyd spoke at the site of his brother's murder in Minneapolis on Monday and told the crowd that a different future is possible "because there's a lot of us."1
But that's only if each and every one of us, especially white Americans, step up urgently to stop police brutality and murder, dismantle systemic racism, and create a more just society in which Black people are truly liberated and free. And while not everyone can take to the streets right now, many of us can support the organizations fighting for Black lives and defending protesters.
The Movement for Black Lives was founded in the aftermath of the police killing of Michael Brown and the protests that followed in Ferguson, MO. It's a coalition of Black organizations all working toward liberation for Black people, with the fervent belief that the organizations can achieve more together than separately.2
National Bail Out is a Black-led and Black-centered organization that works to end the horrific policy of pretrial detention and cash bail that keeps so many people of color in jails and prisons without a conviction, solely for their inability to pay. National Bail Out is working around the clock to bail out protesters who have been arrested en masse over the past several days—all in the midst of a global pandemic.
Mar, in this moment, the moral necessity and urgency are so great for each of us to take action in defense of Black life.
Derek Chauvin pressed his knee into George Floyd's neck for 8 minutes and 46 seconds. 8 minutes and 46 seconds. The officer kneeled with his hands in his pockets, as he violently cut off blood flow to Mr. Floyd's brain and while Mr. Floyd begged and pleaded for his life. He knew he was being recorded, and his fellow officers did nothing to stop him. They all thought they'd get away with it, because that is what usually happens.
The latest data show that Minneapolis police use force against Black people at a rate at least seven times higher than against white people.3
And it's not just the police. Systemic racism is built into all of our American institutions—health care, housing, employment, education, and more. It's why the coronavirus is disproportionately killing Black Americans and causing a disproportionate number of Black businesses to go under.4
There's a lot of us, especially white Americans, who have sat on the sidelines and benefited from these systems of oppression.
There's a lot of us, especially white Americans, who can no longer sit by while Black men and women are murdered by the police.
There's a lot of us, especially white Americans, who must step up in this moment and with great urgency in defense of Black life.
Thanks for all you do.
–Corinne, Rahna, Allison, Isbah, and the rest of the team
P.S. Thousands of local and national groups are working on the ground in Minneapolis, Louisville, and across the country to support this movement. As you chip in to support The Movement for Black Lives and National Bail Out, please also consider donating to local organizations—in your city or elsewhere—that are on the front lines.
Sources:
1. "Barack Obama calls for end to violent protests by quoting George Floyd's brother," Metro, June 2, 2020
https://act.moveon.org/go/134645?t=5&akid=265698%2E10220574%2EsbzfTC
2. "About Us," Movement for Black Lives, accessed June 3, 2020
https://act.moveon.org/go/134646?t=7&akid=265698%2E10220574%2EsbzfTC
3. "Minneapolis Police Use Force Against Black People at 7 Times the Rate of Whites," The New York Times, June 3, 2020
https://act.moveon.org/go/134647?t=9&akid=265698%2E10220574%2EsbzfTC
4. "Why is coronavirus taking such a deadly toll on black Americans?" The Guardian, April 25, 2025
https://act.moveon.org/go/134648?t=11&akid=265698%2E10220574%2EsbzfTC
Contributions to MoveOn Civic Action are not tax-deductible for income tax purposes. This email was sent to Mar Alfaro on June 5, 2020. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.
No comments:
Post a Comment