Come on and get this political education. Join us as we discuss #DefundPolice. What does it mean? How do we get there? What are the alternatives? Tune in Wednesday, June 3rd at 4pm on Facebook Live. Freedom Inc
JUNE 2, 2020
Note: This is not the opinion of a singular black student at Pitt, but rather a statement on behalf of the Black Action Society and the Black Student community.
Prior to COVID-19, we found ourselves facing a war in which only our lives were threatened. On a daily basis we are confronted with the thought of whether or not today will be the day — the day we get a call saying that one of our own has lost their life to police brutality, one of our own did not return home after a long day on the job, one of our own has been found dead while out for a jog around the neighborhood.
We live in the shadows of our own survival, hiding from the terrible outcomes that meet us everytime we step foot into the world. We are done falling victim to death at the hands of our oppressors. Hands that always seem to walk away unpunished. We, the Black Action Society, stand in solidarity with the families of the Ahmaud Arberys, Breonna Taylors, Dreasjon Reeds, George Floyds and the many black lives in our community who have been unjustly killed due to the color of their skin.
Unfortunately, we now find ourselves at war with an even greater system singularly led by the human being responsible for ensuring the safety and protection of all American citizens, the president of the United States. The president’s failure to prepare and protect our nation from a national pandemic has reaped severe consequences in black communities. Black people make up 13.4% of this nation’s population. In addition, while black people constitute a disproportionate share of residents in about 22% of U.S. counties, they account for more than half of our nation’s COVID-19 cases and more than 50% of deaths, according to the Foundation for AIDS Research. In Pittsburgh alone, there are several predominantly black neighborhoods that are at higher risk of contracting the virus due to preexisting health conditions and a lack of resources. This same phenomenon exists across several other cities that consist of neighborhoods with large amounts of black citizens.
As Pitt students and members of the Pittsburgh community, it is our duty to advocate for the wants and needs of those often unheard. It is at times like this that we as a people must band together and fight for the betterment of our people. This includes an increase in testing in black communities across Allegheny County and other predominantly black counties across the country, a focus study that surrounds the impacts of the coronavirus on black communities as well as increased support and medical resources in these areas. In addition, we stand in solidarity with those who take to the streets to speak out against the slayings of our black brothers and sisters. We stand with those who fight against our oppressors at the forefront as well as in spirit. We stand with all those who stand with us.
As members of the black community, the black race, we say, We Are Done Dying.
Morgan Ottley is a rising senior neuroscience major and the president of Black Action Society. Black Action Society
Goerge Floyd Memorial Mural on North and Holton
11 A.M.
George Floyd Memorial Mural on the vacant building located on the corner of North and Holton. This is voluntary expression in memory and honor of George Floyd. Any and all artists are invited to participate at the request of the property owner. Medium provided will be spray paint. Please bring proper personal protective equipment with you to stay safe. We will start at 11am and finish the same day. We have complete permission from the property owner. No one is in charge and every idea is valued. This will not highlight any individual artist and it’s only intention is to create a beautiful memorial honoring George Floyd.
Despite continued profiling, harassment, terror and killing of Black communities, legislature, City Council, and mayors continue to invest in Police departments across the country, increasing their budgets, leaving Black communities vulnerable and our communities no safer.
It is critical for every Police Department across this country to acknowledge the harm their institution has caused Black families, to make an official apology, in turn the city needs to commit to divest funds from the police and invest in community safety measures.
The safest communities don’t have the most cops; they have the most resources.
We need community-led solutions to safety, such as mental health resources, solutions to the opioid epidemic, affordable housing, and public health approaches to violence prevention.
#DefundPolice #DefendBlackLife
Dozens of writers from across Africa and the diaspora have co-signed a letter of support for the Black Lives Matter movement in the face of growing protests in the United States following the latest death of an unarmed Black man, George Floyd, at the hands of white police officers.
Read the text below:
As African writers without borders who are connected beyond geography with those who live in the United States of America and other parts of the African diaspora, we state that we condemn the acts of violence on Black people in the United States of America.
We note in dismay that what Malcolm X said in Ghana in 1964 that “for the twenty million of us in America who are of African descent, it’s not an American dream; it’s an American nightmare” remains true for 37 million in 2020.
We condemn the murders of:
George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Sandra Bland, Amadou Diallo, Ahmaud Arbery, Aiyana Mo’Nay Stanly-Jones, Tony McDade, Pamela Turner, Matthew Ajibade, Rekia Boyd, Eric Garner, John Crawford III, Michael Brown, Shelly Frey, Ezelll Ford, Dante Parker, Michelle Casseaux, Yvette Smith, Darnesha Harris, Laquan Mcdonald, Atatiana Jefferson, George Mann, Tanisha Anderson, Akai Gurley, Tamir Rice, Rumain Brisbon, Jerame Reid, Frank Smart, Natasha Mckenna, Tony Robinson, Anthony Hill, William Chapman II, Alberta Spruill, Walter Scott, Shantell Davis, Eric Harris, Philip White, Mya Hall, Alexia Christian, Brendon Glenn, Victor Manuel Larosa, Jonathan Sanders, Salvado Ellswood, Joseph Mann, Freddie Blue, Albert Joseph Davis, Darrius Stewart, Billy Ray Davis, Samuel Dubose, Troy Robinson, Christian Taylor, Sean Bell, Brian Keith Day, Michael Sabbie, Asshams Pharoah Manley, Felix Kumi, Keith Harrison McLeod, Junior Prosper, Anthony Ashford, Dominic Hutchinson, Paterson Brown, Lamontez Jones, Bettie Jones, Alonzo Smith, Tyree Crawford India Kager, Janet Wilson, Sylville Smith, Benni Lee Tignor, Yvonne Smallwood, Kayla Moore and all other names, known and unknown, that represent human beings who are our kin.
Our blood.
We support the protests in the United States and across the world as our people demand justice for any and all racial killings whether by police or civilians. We are aware that these are not quiet protests. We do not expect it and neither should the United States of America. The killings were not done quietly. The police brutality and state sanctioned murders were done loudly with no fear of consequences from those who perpetrated them.
We acknowledge the African Union’s condemnation of the United States government’s continual terrorism towards African-Americans. We believe that the African Union can and should do better.
We ask that African governments recognise our alliance and connections with our brothers and sisters across borders, from America to Brazil and through the rest of the diaspora. That they offer those who choose it: refuge, homes and citizenship in the name of pan-Africanism.
We demand that the American legal institutions independently investigate every police killing as well as investigate any complaint against police violence.
We demand that any accused be suspended without pay until a fair trial clears them of charges. In essence, we are asking the United States of America to be brave enough to adhere to its own bill of rights so that it can be the land of the free for ALL Americans regardless of colour, creed or sexual orientation.
We assert that Black Lives Matter. As writers, we raise our fists in solidarity with those who refuse to be silenced. To our brothers and sisters in the United States, we stand with you.
We ask all decent human beings to join us in being our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers. As they protest in the United States, please give whatever donations you can to #BlackLivesMatter.
Can you hear us now!
Milwaukee showed out today to demand justice for victims of police violence.
#JusticeForGeorgeFloyd #BlackLivesMatter — in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Photo: Joe Brusky
THIS was a fantastic show of solidarity. We are overwhelmed with support and gratitude. Thank you, community! Ilhan Omar Minneapolis Regional Labor Federation Education Minnesota @breakingbreadcafe TakeAction Minnesota CTUL and so many others!
It’s time we kick the police out of our schools.
Proudly standing in solidarity with Minneapolis teachers and looking forward to moving this in all of our school districts across MN.
This is a step toward ending the school to prison pipeline.
#ICantBreathe
#JusticeForGeorgeFloyd
