Black Lives Matter 2020 Megathread

[TRENCH 15,450]

Hello all. I figured this thread would help us keep a discussion of what's been happening in the U.S. and now the world concerning the death of George Floyd and the Black Lives Matter movement. At this point, the protests and riots are about being tired of the American political/social/economical system not being fair and safe for the people that work so hard to keep it going.

 

If you are in the U.S., on JULY 7 there will be a Blackout Day - #BlackOutDay2020 -, where no racial minority will spend a dollar. Blacks, Hispanics, Native Americans have a spending power of ~3.9 trillion dollars in the economy. One day of no purchases would cost $10,684,931,586 to the economy. Lets protest where it hurts, their pockets.

 

I will try to link petitions and readings to educate each other. Anyone who wants to post information, news, books, donation links, etc is welcomed.

 

 

Readings:

Clavin Harris posted some good reading recommendations:  https://www.instagram.com/p/CA5xS2vh6QB/

Marina & the Diamonds https://www.instagram.com/p/CA0QiSoDKIZ/

 

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Donations

Donate to Floyd's official gofundme here:https://www.gofundme.com/donations/XBwRNL6xvSJY4Vq6EfrfYc97Qj%2BEU6XBFK99pTyxiJ8%3D

 

 

 

 Petitions:

Floyd: http://chng.it/QwQQz4D6zx

http://chng.it/hqfq9fCwRw

 

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Tony McDade was a transgender black man who got killed by police in Tallahassee. 

Tony McDade: http://chng.it/MVrDCZJCQQ

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One month ago, a division of the Louisville Police Department performed an illegal, unannounced drug raid on her home. Not a single officer announced themselves before ramming down her door and firing 22 shots, shooting Breonna 8 times, killing her. She was nowhere near physically similar to the suspect they were looking for.

 

Breonna Taylor: http://chng.it/GSFcvCdJqN

 

 

 

Google document with more anti-racism resources

 

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1BRlF2_zhNe86SGgHa6-VlBO-QgirITwCTugSfKie5Fs/preview?pru=AAABcpY-PUU*Ere7trUOaDsXjn9GKWXJAA

Edited June 1, 2020 by TRENCH

[WilshireBoulevard 5,420]

Thank you for making this thread.

 

Edit to add: here's a link to an article listing bail funds for different states https://www.autostraddle.com/43-bail-funds-you-can-absolutely-support-right-now/?__cf_chl_jschl_tk__=a07abf153af3bedc2f0a88fcd7ecf32a36b36072-1591054080-0-ARWZjTvLedmC8MKkClLzCEnZNh0N-5oVVGenbm4wkiaIYzHn7eCLBSu9TF1xNZsu3CqGrArrmC2K9ZufkWv4cXjV7Sjm-kWaTPiTEMHXlh9PLRkfHw3wAylAid_Pq8-QWvff6cFuAaQ6rrac9Pcg2NIcUhK6TrvVWNC7A0TpbRbAF8jgflfnxIff25daz15JCzjqYk9c5uhyVAFc26pCRD_wYSwBzGHHvBvmGQttUWQ8P18FE6CboDEueIb64n14xCo1hKH_imTk6xkSnAH7CWO08cO61GjXLXRGibeTAa32LQ-UzwyLod1mg8W32npu6diY-LAjOCmg41R_RMBamSg protestors and even passerbys get mass-arrested during protests like these. The bail funds help get them out - especially important considering Covid

[annedauphine 35,917]

this site centralises a lot of resources: https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/

[sjatib 5,172]

This is incredible. Thank you a lot for sharing!

[ChaoticLipster 24,618]

Anyone fear civil war starting? It’s not just the military which has guns Trump seems to be forgetting. This could turn into a blood bath

[maxthehitman 1,729]

WAKE UP AMERICA !

 

[Mer 61,781]

Anyone fear civil war starting? It’s not just the military which has guns Trump seems to be forgetting. This could turn into a blood bath

 

Bunker Boy basically wants to enact Martial Law by the end of the week. And thanks to Bush, there exists a loophole which allows him to enact martial law without State Governor's approval. 

 

So glad I'm in Canada right now

[maxthehitman 1,729]

[Mer 61,781]

This is the end

Beautiful Friend

Of our elaborate plans, the end 

Of everything that stands, the end 

I'll never look into your eyes again

 

There are innocent people being pepper sprayed, tear gasses, and shot in the eye with rubber bullets.

 

The President is trying to impose Martial Law. He has not once in the past 6 days come out and said "I understand your grievances, black lives matter, and thus my administration will be unveiling a plan that will re-organize the system of the police force in this country--in order to nip the corruption and systematic racism in the bud." 

 

If they should want to burn it down, they now have every right. 

[mkultraviolence 5,832]

Below is information along with sources that I find educational and helpful. I advise you to really think about it all. Not just for a moment. Let it occupy your mind for weeks and months. Let it make you restless for change. Let it motivate you to change. Change is not something that just floats by, it is something we have to actively pursue. Every action needs to be anti-racist. Think about what you are going to do and ask yourself, "Will this further the Black Lives Matter movement's message?" Everything we do needs to strongly oppose oppression. We need to flood our social interactions with anti-oppression rhetoric. We need to step back from ourselves and amplify black people's voices. Watching George Floyd being murdered has been the most disgusting, vile crime I have ever seen. It is not just a crime according to law. It should be a crime according to humanity. I am doing a lot of reflecting as a white-passing person and it has been incredibly uncomfortable to think about all this. It will be uncomfortable for all of us. Please do not let that discomfort make you shy away from facing everything. We need to continue. We cannot turn on backs on this because we are scared. Black people live in fear every day, and have for centuries in America. We need to learn about our pasts, learn about what led us to the place we are in now. We must accept that we can never stop learning. We can never be done with reading books by black authors. We can never stop elevating black voices. We need to incorporate this into our everyday lives. Use empathy. Have you ever felt unheard? Have you ever felt dehumanized? Have you ever felt discriminated against? Oppressed? Shamed just for being who you are? Maybe you haven't been the one on the receiving end of racism, but you can still try to relate using your own experiences and empathy. I am a writer. I am still learning how to express myself without taking away from black voices. I still feel fear at the thought of me having to listen without saying anything. It scares me. It makes me uncomfortable. A lot of us, including me, need to learn how to take our white fragility and put it aside.

 

Now, I will be quoting information that may be entirely or just a bit relevant that I think can be helpful in our everyday lives. Some sources are not direct, some may be quotes without a known author. I can only give you the most information I have about them:

 

• "Being a good person is a choice. Don't let people fool you into believing that truly good people never have bad thoughts, are never tempted by the easier path, by the low road, never mess up or act out selfishly. Never believe a person can be good without making a conscious effort. Goodness is not an inherent trait, it is a choice."  found on @lovelyquoting on instagram

 

• "When you debate a person about something that affects them more than it affects you, remember that it will take a much greater emotional toll on them than on you. For you it may feel like an academic exercise. For them, it feels like revealing their pain only to have you dismiss their experience and sometimes their humanity. The fact that you might remain more calm under these circumstances is a consequence of your privilege, not increased objectivity on your part. Stay humble." By Dr. Alexandra H. Solomon

 

• "The problem is that white people see racism as conscious hate, when racism is bigger than that. Racism is a complex system of social and political levers and pulleys set up generations ago to continue working on the behalf of whites at other people’s expense, whether whites know/like it or not. Racism is an insidious cultural disease. It is so insidious that it doesn’t care if you are a white person who likes black people; it’s still going to find a way to infect how you deal with people who don’t look like you. Yes, racism looks like hate, but hate is just one manifestation. Privilege is another. Access is another. Ignorance is another. Apathy is another. And so on. So while I agree with people who say no one is born racist, it remains a powerful system that we’re immediately born into. It’s like being born into air: you take it in as soon as you breathe. It’s not a cold that you can get over. There is no anti-racist certification class. It’s a set of socioeconomic traps and cultural values that are fired up every time we interact with the world. It is a thing you have to keep scooping out of the boat of your life to keep from drowning in it. I know it’s hard work, but it’s the price you pay for owning everything.”  By Scott Woods

 

• "Allies: Now is the time to be in the service of Black liberation. Limit your response to what is of real, tangible help to us. Give money, call your representatives, protect Black people at protests, elevate our work and voices. Don't make us swim through your tears while we fight." By Ijeoma Oluo

 

• "The oppressors in power are the ones that get to decide what constitutes violence... rather than condemning oppressed people for how they choose to resist, focus on the real violence. PROPERTY CAN BE REPLACED. BLACK LIVES CANNOT." by Muchacha Fanzine

 

I will add more posts as time goes on with additional quotes and information.

[Aquemini 297]

Some resources I bookmarked that might be useful to someone- (very simple but a place to start)

 

Advice for how to support as a non PoC: https://www.instagra.../p/CAvVzxEDe4X/

Another summary of actions to work towards being actively antiracist: https://www.instagra.../p/CAvbZyVh1xc/

Some insta lives to provide food for thought: https://www.instagra...ch5YgMtB/?hl=en (more advice for what you can do as a white person)

A longer live (40 mins) but very insightful esp regarding the topic of what white privilege is: https://www.instagra.../p/CA3OB9fByeN/

[True Romance 6,195]

Thank you for making this thread <3

[godsmonster 14,221]

thank you,

it was time for this to have it's own thread

[TRENCH 15,450]

Anyone fear civil war starting? It’s not just the military which has guns Trump seems to be forgetting. This could turn into a blood bath

you're not alone. a lot of people feel the same and I'm legit scared. I will have to ask my dad to teach me more about using guns. my worst fear is that this evolves to were its not something to kiki about

 

 

I just watched on the News (Right NOW) a very sad and disgusting scene in Washington D.C. 

 

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WAKE UP AMERICA !

 

 

Bunker Boy basically wants to enact Martial Law by the end of the week. And thanks to Bush, there exists a loophole which allows him to enact martial law without State Governor's approval. 

 

So glad I'm in Canada right now

and as always, his supporters happy about Trump's decision when they're not realizing that MARTIAL LAW LIMITS amendment 1 [freedom of speech] and amendment 2 [gun ownership] of the constitution that they love.

 

.. actually, martial law pauses the constitution in total from what im gathering 

[godsmonster 14,221]

im sharing this since i feel it is important to help spread her message

https://www.instagram.com/p/CA5kPBJHaOL/

[TRENCH 15,450]

im sharing this since i feel it is important to help spread her message

https://www.instagram.com/p/CA5kPBJHaOL/

 

1.register to vote, 2. dont fuck up minority neighborhoods. period. 

[annedauphine 35,917]

im sharing this since i feel it is important to help spread her message

https://www.instagram.com/p/CA5kPBJHaOL/

Extremely powerful. It’s so difficult to know what to do. On one hand I want to protest, although there isn’t some in Paris rn, on the other I’m afraid of being associated (because I would never do it myself but that’s not an excuse) to people doing the kind of stuff in this video, because she is absolutely right. I signed the petition against police brutality censorship in France and when it’s time to vote again I won’t follow my parents but who I trust the most

 

Also if you’re doing the black out on Instagram, I’ve read not to use the hashtag blacklivesmatter since it’s reserved for important updates, but to use blackoutday or blackouttuesday instead. 

[maxthehitman 1,729]

Lana Del Rey and her sister Caroline "Chuck"  ??'

 

[Flowerbomb 65,594]

I've been talking about this on my insta, but actors Cody Fern and Angelica Ross got together via livestream and were discussing everything that was going on. The video is over an hour long but SO worth it and is important to watch all the way through so it all sinks in. They discuss racial bias, racial profiling, white saviour complex (and how to avoid it), the protests, police brutality, looting, systematic oppression, white privilege and much much more. Angelica is an absolute gem. Cody asked all the important questions and what white people as such as himself can do to support the black community, and Angelica answering his questions in great detail. Please give it a watch if you can! You can find the IGTV on Cody Fern's Instagram page or you can watch it on YouTube

 

 

 

[ChaoticLipster 24,618]

I think the protests and anger needs to be redirected into getting people to vote on 3rd Nov. Nobody is getting anywhere with Trump and it will just turn to more deaths.