Black Lives SHOULD and DO Matter

By The Heart Eyes Magazine Team

Because we have a platform, it is our responsibility to use our voices and stand against the injustices that black Americans face due to systematic racism, resulting in the repeated violence and abuse directed towards them. We must speak on what #GeorgeFloyd, #AhmaudArbery, #BreonnaTaylor, and so many other black Americans face on the daily, as this pattern of abuse, police brutality, and harassment won’t stop unless we do.

If your response to any of the protests/lootings that you have seen on the news in the past week is “all lives matter,” educate yourself on your privilege, especially white privilege. We’re not talking about "all lives" right now; and we’re definitely not talking about “blue lives.” If “all lives” mattered, especially to the police, then black people wouldn’t have to live in fear every day and George Floyd (and so many other black Americans) wouldn’t have been murdered. This is why we have to persist that #BlackLivesAlwaysMatter, and that should go without saying.

We need to SCREAM that #BlackLivesMatter because black people are constantly being killed, harassed, and abused every day—and this past week is evidence of such. It’s vital that each and every one of us white and non-black folk use any privilege we have to protect our black peers and use our voices to stand against racial injustice. Simply, we need to do MORE. 

Be active in fighting for the change we NEED. If you have wealth or any proximity to wealth, donate to any of the funds we’ve listed (such as Minnesota Freedom Fund), sign petitions (like the one for Justice for George Floyd), and call the MN officials handling George’s case so that his murderers be adequately charged and held accountable for their actions. You can also make an effort to learn about other recent cases, including Breonna Taylor’s and Regis Korchinski-Pacquet’s, and what you can do in those cases (more info below!).

In addition, if you can, be active in protest (while still taking precautions against the coronavirus and monitoring your safety as well). Especially if you’re white, it’s your duty to aggravate police officers that will attempt to extinguish things and use your privilege to stand up.

All cops are bad cops by our book, and we cannot be silent in the face of white supremacy. A badge is not a license to kill and no lives can matter unless it’s clear that black lives do too.

We have compiled A FEW tweets, THREADS, AND LINKS that have listed resources on how/ WHAT YOU CAN DO TO help:

CONTACT

CONTACT OUTLINE AND INFO

In the case of George Floyd:

GEORGE FLOYD is the name of the man who was murdered by DEREK CHAUVIN (badge 1087), TOU THAO (badge 7162), Thomas Lane, and J Alexander Kueng. If you truly care about getting justice, make phone calls to these numbers and express your anger. We cannot let another killer cop walk free.

  • The Action Pac Hotline (coaches you through the calls and connects you with the offices who can arrest the police officders who murdered George Floyd) - (612) 324-4499

  • International Affairs Division (Minneapolis, MN) - (612) 673-3074

  • Vlema j. Kobrel, Director (of the Department of Civil Rights; Minneapolis, MN) - (612) 673 - 3074

  • Mayor Jacob Frey - (612) 673-3012

  • Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman - (612) 348-5550

  • MPLS FBI field office - (763) 569-8000

  • MPD 3rd Precinct - (612) 673-5703

  • MN Bureau of Criminal Apprehension - (651) 793-7000

  • Police Officers Federation of Minneapolis - (612) 788-8444

In addition:

  • Louisville Mayor (demand justice for Breonna Taylor) - (502) 753-1784

  • Justice for Regis Korchinski-Paquet

    • City Councillor Gord Perks - Parkdale - High Park - (416) 392-7919

    • MPP Bhutilla Karpoche - Parkdale - High Park - (416) 763-5630

    • MP Arif Virani - Parkdale - High Park - (416) 769-5072

    • Mayor of Toronto John Tory - (416) 397-2489

    • Toronto Police Chief Mark Saunders - (416) 808-2222

    • Solicitor General, Minister Sylvia Jones - (416) 325-0408, (519) 941-7751

    • Attorney General of Ontario Doug Downey - (416) 326-2220

DONATE

Would recommend going into each thread and looking at the campaigns and orgs listed there!

PROTEST GUIDELINES + TIPS

Stay safe and come prepared!

Additionally, EDUCATE YOURSELF

(on prison abolition, transformative and restorative justice, and alternatives to incarceration and policing)

View this post on Instagram

#repost @rachel.cargle .

A post shared by Donté Colley (@donte.colley) on

Finally, here is a MEGALIST OF RESOURCES, including more numbers to call, petitions to sign, and places to donate. A lot of the resources used in this post were accumulated via this document so all credit goes to the creator.

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