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(Updated since email was delivered, Monday June 1 @ 20:04)
Dear Womxn Project friends,
We have been horrified to see story after story in recent days about Black people being killed. Breonna Taylor and George Floyd and Tony McDade.
We are talking about mothers crying and mourning their children. We are talking about an empty seat at the table in too many houses – even more than we know because these are just the people we know who have been taken by state sanctioned violence.
It is simply not enough to talk about racism. Black people need more than pretty words of solidarity. To end racism requires ACTIONS!
We need to engage in work to be anti-racist and to tear down the systems that take the lives of Black and Brown people and create barriers and inequity in every area of life from the school to prison pipeline to mass incarceration to the wage gap to the higher rates of maternal mortality among Black women.
But this isn’t just happening elsewhere. Racism and hatred are causing very real harm right here in Rhode Island. Last week, The Womxn Project (on leave) board member and candidate for state Senate, Jennifer Rourke was holding a virtual town hall when racists came on to flood the comments with hate and violent threats. This is unacceptable.
I've been called the n-word before…But I've never been told to get lynched.@ripolcoop @RIDWomensCaucus @WomanProjectHQ @CoriBush pic.twitter.com/wFJ4VQhIEy
— Jennifer Rourke (@JenRourke29) May 29, 2020
We are NOT going to stand by silently while our loved ones are members of our community are hurt by racism and white supremacy. NO WAY!
We took a very public stand this weekend. In partnership with the RI Democratic Women’s Caucus, we did a set of projections on the State House calling on white people to do something –to take action to stop the hate and violence. (click to see larger images)
We are also working with partners to share videos as part of our #SustainingCommunity series to give people information about how they can listen and learn, specific actions to push for justice, tips for parents to help kids be anti-racist, and advice on the need to push for systemic change in our day to day lives.
As many of you know, we have been working with SisterSong: National Women of Color Reproductive Justice Collective, the Colorado Organization for Latina Opportunity and Reproductive Rights (COLOR), and the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice (RCRC) on this video series to help connect people and build community. We felt it was important to make sure we can use this important resource to connect to critical conversations and encourage action to advance racial justice.
Here are a couple things you can do RIGHT NOW:
1) Speak up for George Floyd – Sign Color of Change’s petition. You can also call local officials and lawmakers to let them know that you demand justice and accountability. You can find their contact information and sample messages in this toolkit.
2) Speak up for Breonna Taylor – Sign this petition make a call to the Louisville Kentucky Police Department to demand justice at 502-574-7682.
3) Speak up for Tony McDade – Send letters demanding an open and unbiased investigation.
4) Speak up for Ahmaud Aubery – Find a petition from “I Run With Maud”. You can also make calls to local officials. You’ll find information to help you here.
Black and brown people are dying. Police brutality and racist killings have to stop. This is NOT on people of color. This is on white people to stop the violence and the discrimination! Please, do what you can to take action TODAY!