Black Lives Matter
We Are The Movement, There Are Powers In Numbers
BLACK LIVES MATTER
Let’s come together to fight for those that can’t fight alone
In light of recent events, The Festival Voice will not remain silent. With our platform we hope to spread awareness and provide resources so you can do everything you can to help support Black Lives Matter. The time has come where the people in this country will no longer be silenced, we have a voice and we will speak up.
Being from Detroit and attending the protests, I would like to share my experience. We have had protests everyday starting Friday, May 29th, and they’ve continued since. Starting at 4pm everyday in front of the Detroit Police Department we started with hundreds and on day 4, we’ve reached thousands. We’re holding signs, we’re chanting, and we’re doing it so peacefully. The protests begin with speakers sharing their stories, experiences, and spreading awareness on the current situation. The entire protest has been lead by Detroit native, Tristan Taylor – check him out HERE.
Once the speakers are done, the mass begins to march around the city chanting ‘I Can’t Breathe’, ‘Say His Name; George Floyd’, ‘Black Lives Matter’ and ‘Fuck these racist ass police’. Marching for miles and holding signs, gaining the support of those in their cars or people shouting from their windows. Others will come and stand on the side with waters, masks, snacks, and gloves to support the protestors.
I can’t speak for what happened on Friday night in Detroit but I can say that many were arrested and tear gas was employed by the cops without being driven to do so. On Saturday, tons of arrests were made for people standing on the side of the road holding signs. Cops began tackling innocent protestors, shooting rubber bullets at them, and zip tying them up before shoving them onto a city bus that drove them ‘downtown’. A friend from the incident mentioned that, ‘People in the bus were bleeding, crying, and shitting themselves because they were so scared’.
On Sunday, May 31st, I joined the protests again – not ready for what I was about to endure. A friend and I met up with the march and we marched around the city holding signs and chanting. We made our way back to the police station at around 7pm and more speakers were sharing their stories. At about 7:40 pm the police began lining up with riot shields and gas masks as we began to kneel, chanting, ‘Hands Up; Don’t Shoot’.
At 8:20pm the Chief Of Police announced a city wide curfew of 8pm, and those still on the streets would be assaulted and arrested. Soon after that, we hear gun shots and see tear gas from the end of the police line. Someone yelled ‘run’ and we went as fast as we could. Police cars begin separating us as grenades are being thrown to scare us. We continue to chant and walk through the streets and some cars are even surrounding groups of people to protect us from the cops. At this point, we see people getting gassed and arrested when they’ve been separated from their friends.
The cops had every entrance and exit of the city surrounded, ready to make arrests and tackle anyone on foot. We tried to go home but cops threatened to detain us if we went any further. Ultimately, we walked over a highway bridge and made it to safety.
From all of this I’ve seen first hand experience of police brutality. Arresting people without being aggravated to do so. For being on a power trip and not understanding the movement. Luckily, it will become bigger. We have a voice and we are not afraid to use it. We will continue to fight, we will continue to make a difference. Progress is coming.
The Festival Voice supports this movement and multiple writers/editors/staff have continued support on their personal platforms. We will use this platform for good and we will not back down. We will not forget the lives we’ve lost. Below I will list some links to support this movement. Thank you.
JUSTICE FOR GEORGE FLOYD: http://chng.it/Rtpbxv2CdK
CHARGE THE MINNEAPOLIS POLICE OFFICERS: https://www.change.org/p/change-org-the-minneapolis-police-officers-to-be-charged-for-murder-after-killing-innocent-black-man?recruiter=1094358894&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=psf_combo_share_initial&utm_term=psf_combo_share_abi&recruited_by_id=1f5eb960-a054-11ea-8dce-e10f98d0711f
JUSTICE FOR GEORGE FLOYD: https://go.theactionpac.com/sign/justice-for-george-floyd
JUSTICE FOR GEORGE FLOYD: https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/justice-george-floyd-0
GEORGE FLOYD MEMORIAL FUND: https://www.gofundme.com/f/georgefloyd?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=p_cp+share-sheet
JUSTICE FOR BREONNA TAYLOR: https://www.change.org/p/andy-beshear-justice-for-breonna-taylor/psf/promote_or_share?recruiter=
#JUSTICEFORBRE: https://act.colorofchange.org/sign/justiceforbre-breonna-taylor-officers-fired?source=coc_main_website (includes the option to film a 30 second video)
#RUNWITHMAUD: https://www.runwithmaud.com/ (includes option to call)
DONATION TO AHMAUD’S FAMILY: https://www.gofundme.com/f/i-run-with-maud
JUSTICE FOR AHMAUD ARBERY: https://www.change.org/p/liberty-county-distric-attorney-justice-for-ahmaud-arbery
JUSTICE FOR JAMEE JOHNSON: https://campaigns.organizefor.org/petitions/justice-for-jamee-johnson?bucket=&source=twitter-share-button&utm_campaign=&utm_source=twitter&share=f5385b3b-b7d1-47b5-afd3-079382a87ca2 (to release the unedited bodycam + dashcam footage)
IF FAMILY OR FRIENDS ARE ARRESTED: omaralawgroup.com/what-to-
JUSTICE FOR REGIS FUND: https://ca.gofundme.com/f/cggys2-justice-for-regis
BLM DONATION: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/ms_blm_homepage_2019
BLM MINNESOTA AFFILIATE DONATION: https://www.blackvisionsmn.org/
MINNESOTA PROTESTOR BAIL FUND: https://minnesotafreedomfund.org/donate
HANDS UP ACT PETITION: https://www.change.org/p/us-senate-hands-up-act
RECLAIM THE BLOCK DONATION: https://secure.everyaction.com/zae4prEeKESHBy0MKXTIcQ2?fbclid=IwAR1mozFqHICrjSN7tPDAkjJAwnxdkw8VbVVI6xygTPscsvzC-lQfhEaey0U
BLACK VISIONS COLLECTIVE DONATION: https://secure.everyaction.com/4omQDAR0oUiUagTu0EG-Ig2
HOMELESS BLACK TRANSWOMEN FUND: https://www.gofundme.com/f/homeless-black-trans-women-fund?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=m_pd+share-sheet
LOUISVILLE COMMUNITY BAIL FUND: https://actionnetwork.org/fundraising/louisville-community-bail-fund/
NATIONAL BAIL OUT DONATION: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/freeblackmamas2020
MENTAL HEALTH OF BLACK AND MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES: https://www.beam.community/
STREAM TO DONATE: https://youtu.be/bCgLa25fDHM (if you do not have the opportunity to donate! sit through and do not skip the ads)
PETITION TO CLASSIFY WHITE SUPREMACIST GROUPS AS DOMESTIC TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS: https://www.change.org/p/clare-linkins-executive-director-of-national-counterterrorism-center-lift-the-hoods-classify-white-supremacist-groups-as-domestic-terrorist-organizations?utm_content=cl_sharecopy_22547593_en-US%3Av7&recruiter=664983596&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=copylink&utm_campaign=share_petition&utm_term=share_petition
EMAIL TEMPLATE TO REPORT RACIST STUDENTS: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-Tv-EP_Vg0w7QtshAq3LHN1X2TyDfqO46VS87YbKpAk/edit?usp=drivesdk
STUDENT LOAN FORGIVENESS FOR BLACK FORGIVENESS: https://www.physicianonfire.com/bipoc/
TEXT JUSTICE TO 668366
TEXT FLOYD TO 55156
TEXT RESIST TO 50409
TEXT ENOUGH TO 55156
FOR THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE INTERNATIONALLY!
FINANCIAL LITERACY- https://www.annuity.org/financial-literacy/black-community/
Postal codes:
90015 – Los Angeles, California
10001 – New York City, New York
75001 – Dallas, Texas
CONTACT MINNEAPOLIS REPRESENTATIVES EMAILS: citizeninfo@hennepin.us police@minneapolismn.gov minneapolis311@minneapolismn.gov policereview@minneapolismn.gov
MINNEAPOLIS SENATORS: https://www.senate.mn/members/
HOUSE MEMBERS:
https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/members/list
CONTACT KENTUCKY REPRESENTATIVES:
Louisville Police Dept Twitter: @lmpdky Instagram: @lmpd.ky
Louisville Mayor Twitter: @louisvillemayor Instagram: @mayorgregfisher
Kentucky Governor Twitter: @govandybeshear
Instagram: @govandybeshear
SAMPLE EMAIL FOR REGIS:
(courtesy of @gylIlenhaal on twt)
I am contacting you regarding the incident that occurred at 100 High Park Avenue on May 27th, 2020. I am a concerned Canadian citizen who would like to express my anger and concern over the death of 29 year old Regis Korchinski-Paquet. She has died after allegedly falling off her balcony, despite police being present. As a concerned citizen, I am very upset and disturbed at the events that took place and the allegations that this was caused on the part of the police. I want justice for her death and I demand answers. As a citizen, I demand for the “transparency and accountability” as well as the “disclosure of as much information as possible to the public” that have on all accounts been specified on the SIU webpage. Charges need to be brought to all the officers involved, and all information and evidence should be made available to the public.
Sincerely,
[insert your name]
CONTACT CANADA REPRESENTATIVES FOR REGIS EMAIL:
officeofthechief@torontopolice.on.ca
sylvia.jones@pc.ola.org
mayor_tory@toronto.ca
arif.virani@parl.gc.ca
doug.downey@pc.ola.org
councillor_perks@toronto.ca
attorneygeneral@ontario.ca
BKarpoche-CO@ndp.on.ca
TO STAY INFORMED AND EDUCATED!!
Here is a large Black History Month Google Drive file created by a black transperson, Charles Preston: https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0Bz011IF2Pu9TUWIxVWxybGJ1Ync
A great resource to learn about black activism
Instagram: @TheFestivalVoice