Below is a sample of the emails you can expect to receive when signed up to Color Of Change.
Thank you so much for joining Color Of Change, and the fight to create a more human, less hostile world for Black people.
As your first action in the movement, can you invite 5 family members or friends to join us? You can click here to get email, Facebook and Twitter drafts that are pre-written for you to share.
I appreciate you so much, and can't wait to work together.
Until justice is real,
Arisha and the Color Of Change team
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Help keep our movement strong.
If you're absolutely sure you don't want to hear from Color Of Change again, click here to unsubscribe.
The Voting While Black Podcast goes beyond the rhetoric to reveal what the presidential candidates really think about race.
Hey Jon,
Our 2nd episode of the Voting While Black Podcast released today featuring an interview with Julián Castro!
Our spokesperson Rashad Robinson talked with him about his real thoughts on race and what he plans to do to support Black communities.
You can listen to the episode on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or stream it online!
Listen on spotify
Listen on Apple podcasts
Stream online
Check out our email from last week below to read more about the podcast and check out our first episode with Senator Bernie Sanders!
Until justice is real,
Arisha, Rashad, Jenni, Drew, Whitney, Charles, Tammi, Daniel, Scott, Devorne, Vanessa and the Color Of Change PAC team
Hey Jon,
I'm proud to announce that we just released a new podcast interviewing the 2020 presidential candidates called The Voting While Black Podcast.
The Voting While Black Podcast goes beyond the rhetoric to reveal what the presidential candidates really think about race. There have been tons of debates and forums on climate change, LGBTQ issues, and common-sense gun safety, and now it’s our time. This podcast is produced by and for us and hosted by Color Of Change PAC's spokesperson Rashad Robinson.
Check Out the Podcast
We’ve decided to interview the candidates because we need real, detailed answers about what they think about the issues that impact Black people— issues that are often ignored or glossed over on the national debate stage. We need the next president to take issues plaguing our community seriously like mass incarceration, police violence, reparations, voter suppression, health care, immigration, and reproductive rights.
We know Black voters want to make an informed decision when they go to the ballot box. But to do that, we need less political pandering and more clarity from these candidates. We see this podcast as a way to make sure we have the information we need to decide which candidates really are committed to investing in Black people and communities.
Our first episode features an interview with Senator Bernie Sanders— we’d love to have you be one of the first to listen. Click here to dive in.
Until justice is real,
Arisha, Rashad, Jenni, Drew, Whitney, Charles, Tammi, Daniel, Scott, Devorne, Vanessa and the Color Of Change PAC team
P.S. If you like the episode, please rate and review us on iTunes! This will help us get bumped into Apple's "Top Podcasts" list.
P.P.S. Send us your reactions and comments to the podcast on social media using #votingwhileblack! You can Tweet at us @votingwhileblk, post on Instagram @votingwhileblack, or tag us on Facebook @colorofchangepac. You can also email us by responding to this email!
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Paid Pol. Adv. paid for by ColorOfChange PAC, 1714 Franklin St., Oakland, CA 94612, independently of and not authorized or approved by any federal, state, or local candidate or candidate’s committee.
ColorOfChange PAC is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Contributions to Color Of Change PAC are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes. This email was sent to yellow71486@. If you're absolutely sure you don't want to hear from Color Of Change again, click here to unsubscribe.
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This year, we have the chance to bring some Halloween-themed Black joy to 224 economically disadvantaged Black children in New Orleans, who are dreaming of dressing up as their favorite heroes, movie characters, and spooky creatures. But they do not have access to costumes. With the help of Color Of Change members like you, we can ensure these kids have a Halloween to remember.
Yes, I’ll chip in $3
Yes, I’ll chip in $5
Yes, I’ll chip in $10
Other amount
Black children do not get to live freely and experience joy in the ways that other children do. This was true when four young, Black and Latinx girls in Binghamton, New York, were strip searched for “being giddy” during lunch. It was true when a young Black girl was thrown down and pinned to the ground by a police officer in McKinney, Texas. It was true when Cyntoia Brown was arrested at the age of 16 for defending herself against a sexual predator. And it was true just yesterday when a school resource officer in New Mexico attacked an 11-year-old girl for “disrupting class” and “taking an extra milk.”4 But, we know Black kids are just that: kids. They do not deserve to be treated so cruelly.
Black children should be able to experience the joy and excitement of Halloween, just like any other kids. That’s why we’re partnering with ‘Ween Dream, an organization based in New Orleans that collects and distributes Halloween costumes to families who can’t afford them. We’re almost at our goal of donating 224 costumes, but we need 25 more members to chip in!
Yes, I’ll chip in $3
Yes, I’ll chip in $5
Yes, I’ll chip in $10
Other amount
In 2005, Color Of Change was founded in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, where Black families in New Orleans were left on their rooftops to die. Katrina continues to impact the area to this day; some of those same people who were abandoned when they were most in need are parents now, and they have children who are in need of some Black joy. Members like you have the unique opportunity to provide these kids with Black joy so they can have the best, most joyful Halloween possible.
Until justice is real,
—Jade, Rashad, Arisha, Johnny, Future, Amanda, Evan, Imani, Samantha, Eesha, Marcus, FolaSade, and the rest of the Color Of Change team
References:
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Help keep our movement strong.
If you're absolutely sure you don't want to hear from Color Of Change again, click here to unsubscribe.
We only have 9 days before the mayoral election in Flint!
Hey Jon,
My name’s Jennifer Edwards, and I’m the Senior Digital Director of Color Of Change PAC. As someone who has worked many years in the fight for Black political power, I can tell you this: the way we engage with voters is changing at an extreme pace, and outdated tactics just aren’t cutting it anymore.
We’re living in the digital era, and we urgently need to prioritize meeting Black people where they are: online. That’s why in our final 9 days before the mayoral election in Flint, we’ve got to ramp up our digital ads to get out the vote for Sheldon Neeley.
Victory in Flint is possible if we keep using innovative digital strategies to reach voters. But innovation isn’t possible without your support. Donate $9 right now to help us reach Black voters in Flint!
You might be wondering why digital ads are so important in our final push to elect Neeley. Let me explain. Our work in Flint is unlike any other political race. According to our field team and volunteers who live in Flint, awareness of the mayoral race was pretty low because Black folks in the community weren’t being properly reached, and folks are tired of being let down by broken promises.
That’s why since the primary election this summer, we’ve been running ads supporting Neeley to increase awareness of the race… and they’ve been working! In total, the ads have reached people over 1,000,000 times. In fact, Ariana Hawk, our lead organizer in Flint, just told me that a community member came up to her and said that after seeing our video ad online, they’ve decided to vote! That’s why my team is dedicated to making information about voting more accessible than ever before. It can make a difference in Black people’s lives every single day.
Before election day on November 5th, we’re committed to making this election more accessible to Black folks by:
Social media might not seem important for social change. But on a grand scale, it helps us reach Black voters in ways we never could’ve imagined ten, or even five years ago. We’ve gotten over 600 comments on our ads in the last month, and over 450 people have shared our graphics and videos. This means our ads are getting people talking about this election, and sharing it with their friends and family so they know too.
The proof is in the numbers, Jon. We’ve got to continue innovative voter outreach in order to make victory a possibility for Black folks in Flint. If we aren’t funded properly, we will not be able to run public education and awareness ads urging hundreds of thousands of folks to get out the vote for Sheldon Neeley.
Knowledge is power, and Flint deserves this win now more than ever before. If our digital program for Flint is funded from now until November 5th, victory could become an even closer reality. Rush a $9 donation right now before it’s too late.
Until justice is real,
Jenni
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Not authorized by any federal, state, or local candidate or candidate’s committee. Paid for with regulated funds by ColorOfChange PAC, 1714 Franklin St., Oakland, CA 94612.
ColorOfChange PAC is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Contributions to Color Of Change PAC are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes. This email was sent to yellow71486@. If you're absolutely sure you don't want to hear from Color Of Change again, click here to unsubscribe.
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Jon, if we don’t stop Comcast, on November 13th, the Supreme Court will hear its petition to overturn the oldest civil rights law in the country — Section 1981 of the Civil Rights Act of 1866.1 A ruling in Comcast’s favor would take away our ability to achieve justice in cases of racial discrimination. It would allow businesses and people to once again block us from being full participants in the economic system.
We cannot allow Comcast to challenge our first and oldest civil rights statute.2 We must act now. Call Comcast’s executives and demand they drop this dangerous challenge to civil rights protections.
Until justice is real,
--Jade, Rashad, Arisha, Evan, Johnny, Future, Eesha, Samantha, Marcus, FolaSade and the rest of the Color Of Change team
(see our earlier email below for more details on this campaign)
References:
“Civil Rights Groups Slam Comcast for Trying to Weaken a Key Protection Against Racial Discrimination,” The Washington Post, October 2, 2019, https://act.colorofchange.org/go/199878?t=7&akid=38215%2E4887299%2EjOHkaP
Comcast and the Trump administration are working to strike down key provisions of one of the oldest and most important civil rights laws in the country: the Civil Rights Act of 1866.
For more than 150 years, this law has been a bedrock protection from racial discrimination in employment, housing, banking, and consumer and business transactions. Now, Comcast is petitioning the Supreme Court to allow racial discrimination in business transactions as long as racism is not the only reason for denying someone a service.1,2 If the Supreme Court sides with Comcast and the Trump administration, it will strike down one of the most important tools we have for protecting our communities from discrimination. Such a decision has the potential to fundamentally change how racial discrimination claims are decided for decades to come.
We cannot allow Comcast’s board and executive leadership to quietly dismantle civil rights laws so that it can pad its bottom line by discriminating against Black people. We still have time to force Comcast to withdraw its petition from the Supreme Court. But we need to act fast to turn up the pressure on its board of directors before it’s too late!
Demand Comcast withdraw its Supreme Court petition challenging the Civil Rights Act of 1866, our oldest civil rights statute.
Color Of Change has reached out to Comcast executives and board members directly to request its Supreme Court petition to be dropped. However, Comcast and its executives refuse to accept its legal defense will roll back civil rights protections. For a company that prides itself on being dedicated to diversity and inclusion in all facets of its business, it is clear these efforts may be contradicted at any time to protect the Comcast’s bottom-line.
Black people already face extensive barriers in accessing justice and economic equality in this country, and this petition would serve only to allow corporations off the hook for their discriminatory practices.
For Tatiana Denson, a 40-year-old Black woman who had the police called on her for trying to open a business checking account at a PNC Bank, or Judi Brown, a Black transgender woman who was subjected to transphobic and racist slurs and harassment by her manager and coworkers at a Circle K, this law is their only pathway to justice.3,4 Comcast’s petition would make it so that Black people like Tatiana and Judi would have to prove that racism was the only driver of a decision or denial. Instead of affirming that racism has no place in the negotiation of a commercial contract, Comcast is partnering with a Department of Justice that is openly hostile to the civil rights of Black people. Together, they condone the inclusion of racism as a legitimate basis for refusing to enter into a contract with Black people — as long as racism is not the "only reason."5
We must ensure there are proper protections for our people now and for years to come. Demand Comcast drop its Supreme Court petition for a Civil Rights Act of 1866 hearing.
Section 1981 of the Civil Rights Act of 1866 places Black people on equal footing with white Americans by outlawing conduct that would prevent our communities from developing the means to work, build wealth, or have access to the justice system to vindicate our rights. Comcast is using an important piece of legislation to win a legal battle in an effort to disregard the large-scale effects of an adverse Supreme Court decision.6 What is at stake is more important than television programming.
Comcast's persistent pursuit of a ruling undermining civil rights laws, despite our efforts to engage the corporation directly, places it at the forefront of coordinated efforts by this administration to strike down centuries of civil rights progress. Comcast must be held accountable for attempting to reverse legislation enacted to ensure the economic and civil protections of Black People. Demand Comcast drop its Civil Rights Act of 1866 Supreme Court petition.
By leveraging a relationship with an administration that pursues white nationalist ideals to block Black economic and media power, Comcast is standing on the wrong side of history, and this cannot go without consequence. It is critical that Comcast reconsider its petition to the Supreme Court, given the extensive harms that a ruling in its favor could extend to Black people, Black businesses, and Black economic equality.
Stop Comcast from setting an oppressive precedent that would make proving racial discrimination practically impossible.
Until justice is real,
--Jade, Rashad, Arisha, Evan, Johnny, Future, Eesha, Samantha, Marcus, FolaSade and the rest of the Color Of Change team
References:
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Help keep our movement strong.
If you're absolutely sure you don't want to hear from Color Of Change again, click here to unsubscribe.
Stand in solidarity with Chicago's teachers. Demand Mayor Lightfoot meet the teachers’ working requirements now! Take Action
Teachers in Chicago are fighting for children’s lives and they are not backing down! Today marks the ninth day of cancelled classes for over 360,000 Chicago students. Teachers and support staff have taken to the streets, marching and protesting until they can secure bold, transformative investment in the Chicago public education system. These educators are fighting not just for themselves, but for children’s futures — the vast majority of whom are Black and Latinx.
Throughout the weeks, the teacher’s union has been in negotiations with first-time Mayor Lori Lightfoot, who pledged during her campaign to boost investment in neighborhood schools.1 The teachers are demanding that she put this commitment in writing in their contracts, but their top demands have yet to be met.
Demand that Mayor Lightfoot meet the Chicago Teachers Union deal and end the strike!
Here are the top five issues the teachers are fighting for:
None of these demands are outrageous, but the consequences of not meeting them are. Teachers are the backbone of our nation — they prepare children to become adults and members of society. Their work goes well beyond the classroom. They often act as counselors, mentors, and the most trusted adult in kids’ lives besides a parent. Many teachers find themselves spending their own time and money outside of work to create lessons, grade papers, and tailor instructions to the various needs of their students. Yet these professionals are subject to inadequate working conditions while serving the most vulnerable citizens — our children.
Chicago’s students and teachers have suffered for too long and it is time to ensure their needs are met.
The majority of Chicagoans support the teacher’s strike, including some parents who had to find backup childcare or stay home from work.3 And several 2020 presidential candidates have come out to support the teachers as well. The wave of teacher strikes across the country — in Arizona, West Virginia, Kentucky, Oklahoma, and Los Angeles — have proven successful, inspiring Chicago’s teachers.4 And they are not going back to work until Mayor Lightfoot meets their needs for better working conditions, smaller classes, and more nurses and counselors. Our children deserve better.
Stand in solidarity with Chicago’s teachers and students. Demand Mayor Lightfoot meet the teachers’ working requirements now!
Until justice is real,
Jade, Rashad, Arisha, Johnny, Amanda, Evan, Future, Eesha, Samantha, Marcus, FolaSade, and the rest of the Color Of Change team
References: 1. “A Tale of Two Strikes: Can Chicago Learn Anything from Its Past Teacher Walkouts?” Chalkbeat, September 24, 2019, https://act.colorofchange.org/go/208368?t=9&akid=38256%2E4887299%2EvUYDQB 2. “CPS Teachers Are on Strike. Here's a Look at the Big Issues at Stake,” Chicago Tribune, October 21, 2019, https://act.colorofchange.org/go/208370?t=11&akid=38256%2E4887299%2EvUYDQB 3.“Poll: Chicagoans More in Step with Teachers Than City over Walkout,” Chicago Sun Times, October 14, 2019, 4.“Teacher Strikes Are Changing. The Chicago Walkout Proves It,” Vox Media, October 17, 2019, https://act.colorofchange.org/go/208371?t=15&akid=38256%2E4887299%2EvUYDQB
https://act.colorofchange.org/go/208372?t=13&akid=38256%2E4887299%2EvUYDQB
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Help keep our movement strong.
If you're absolutely sure you don't want to hear from Color Of Change again, click here to unsubscribe.
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Across the country, low-income students are being shamed by school administrators in front of their peers because they cannot afford to pay for their lunch. Some students are forced to throw out their lunch entrees; other students go hungry. Some students have even been prevented from graduating high school as the result of accumulated, unpaid lunch fees.1 2 But we at Color Of Change believe that every student deserves to have a nutritious meal at lunch time, regardless of their race or income level. Tell Congress to end school lunch debt shaming.
School lunch debt shaming is an unfair practice. It disproportionately impacts Black and Latinx students — students whose families are often low-income due to systemic and economic barriers. But, this past June, Representative Ilhan Omar and Senator Tina Smith introduced the No Shame at School Act, legislation that will protect students and families who can’t afford the cost of lunch. If adopted, this legislation will stop school districts from having collection agencies seek students’ unpaid lunch fees, and would end humiliating practices, like wristbands and hand stamps, that schools often use to indicate a student owes fees for lunch. Tell Congress to protect families who can’t afford the cost of lunch.
At Color Of Change, we make powerful changes all over the United States. With your help, we’ve fought for better health care for Black moms, changed pay restrictions for college athletes in California, and elected legislators who care about Black people. We now have the opportunity to use our collective power to end school lunch debt shaming for good, and push for policies that protect our people. Join us in demanding that Congress the No Shame at School Act, and end lunch shaming across our country.
Until justice is real,
—Jade, Rashad, Arisha, Johnny, Future, Amanda, Evan, Imani, Samantha, Eesha, Marcus, FolaSade, and the rest of the Color Of Change team
References:
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Help keep our movement strong.
If you're absolutely sure you don't want to hear from Color Of Change again, click here to unsubscribe.
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Dear Jon.
Comcast and its executives are seeking to roll back landmark civil rights protections for Black people, while also seeking to profit from our pain and the history of our struggle.
Just two weeks before its Supreme Court challenge to our oldest civil rights law, Comcast, the parent company of film production company Focus Features, is releasing the autobiographical film Harriet, based on the formerly enslaved and abolitionist hero Harriet Tubman. Tubman risked her life countless times to free hundreds of enslaved people and lived to see the nation’s first civil rights law come to pass: the Civil Rights Act of 1866 — the same civil rights act that Comcast is currently petitioning the Supreme Court to strike down.
We cannot allow a corporation to set a dangerous precedent with our rights, while also profiting from the painful past that led to the passing of the very civil rights act it is challenging.
Donate $5 to fund our campaign demanding Comcast drop its Supreme Court petition of our oldest civil rights law.
Until justice is real,
--Jade, Rashad, Arisha, Evan, Johnny, Future, Eesha, Samantha, Marcus, FolaSade, and the rest of the Color Of Change team
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Help keep our movement strong.
If you're absolutely sure you don't want to hear from Color Of Change again, click here to unsubscribe.
Hey Jon,
It’s me, Ariana from Flint. I’ve been emailing you for weeks, and now here we are: 2 days left until we could elect a mayor who can change Flint.
It's been in the 40s and raining here in Flint, but I'm still heading out to door-knock for the fourth time this week, so I'll be brief:
To be honest with you, Jon, these last 2 days before Election Day could be more important than the entire last 5 weeks.
These are the days where we make sure that everyone knows where they need to vote, has a ride, and doesn’t forget their photo ID. These are the days where we make sure that anyone who’s still on the fence hears from us one last time, and has Sheldon Neeley’s name in their mind when they cast their ballot.
This is when we need your help the most. Will you make an urgent donation to Flint now? It will help us:
Jon, it would mean so much to me if your first donation ever to our work went towards changing my hometown for the better. Can you make an urgent donation to fund these needs and help us win this thing? Every $1 helps.
Ok, I need to get out on these doors before it gets too cold! Thank you for everything, and wish us luck!
Until justice is real,
Ariana and the Color Of Change PAC team
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Not authorized by any federal, state, or local candidate or candidate’s committee. Paid for with regulated funds by ColorOfChange PAC, 1714 Franklin St., Oakland, CA 94612.
ColorOfChange PAC is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Contributions to Color Of Change PAC are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes. This email was sent to yellow71486@. If you're absolutely sure you don't want to hear from Color Of Change again, click here to unsubscribe.
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Jon,
A billion-dollar association does not transform from a capitalistic behemoth into a progressive organization overnight. Last Tuesday, the NCAA’s Board of Governors announced that it will start a process to enhance name, image, and likeness opportunities for student-athletes, once its three divisions decide on rules for these opportunities. This is monumental — but we know the NCAA has a long history of mercilessly exploiting Black student-athletes. When California passed the Fair Pay to Play Act last month, the NCAA’s authority over Black student-athletes was directly challenged. In fact, the NCAA fought against this legislation from the time the bill was introduced until Governor Gavin Newsom signed the bill.
The NCAA’s new decision is a power move in retaliation for states attempting to govern their own college athletes. It is also a strategic opportunity for the NCAA to maintain full control of players by creating the terms for their compensation — and will likely include arbitrary limitations on how players can be compensated. We can’t leave it up to the NCAA to create fair rules in a game it never wanted to play. Even with this change, the NCAA is still making billions without fairly paying Black student-athletes for their work. We must continue to fight for legislative and regulatory oversight guaranteeing players the dignity of a fair wage.
Demand congressional legislation to end the exploitation of Black student-athletes across the country!
Until justice is real,
Jade
(see our earlier email below for more details on this campaign)
It's time to change the rules of the game! Demand that your Congressmembers guarantee fair pay for student-athletes in every state! Take Action
WE DID IT! Last Monday, after more than 20,000 petition signatures, 3 billboards, and 10,000 combined letters and phone calls made by Color Of Change members, California’s governor signed the Fair Pay to Play Act into law. Finally, after decades of being exploited, student-athletes in California have the opportunity to make money from endorsements, hire agents, and earn profits from their own names, images, and likenesses. This historic law is a major step forward in our fight against the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s (NCAA) “amateurism” policy, which disproportionately exploits Black players.
But while the Fair Pay to Play Act has opened the doors for economic opportunity in California, student-athletes in the other 49 states and Washington, D.C. will continue being exploited, unless this legislation becomes federal law. Several states, including New York and South Carolina, are already looking to pass similar laws.1 But the NCAA is still aggressively fighting to maintain full control of the student-athletes they call amateur players. They are using scare tactics and threatening to ban schools from competitions to prevent states from enacting similar laws. So we need to pressure Congress to make fair pay the standard for college athletes in every state.
Demand that the U.S. Congress guarantee fair pay for college athletes in every state.
Passing the Fair Pay to Play Act in California is the beginning of a national movement for fairness in collegiate sports, and will hopefully mark the end of the NCAA’s stranglehold on the wealth created by student-athletes. This movement transcends geographic and partisan lines - even Republicans like North Carolina Representative Warner think the NCAA has gone too far in their exploitation. He recently introduced a bill in Congress, the Student-Athlete Equity Act (HR 1804), which would strip the NCAA of their tax-exempt status unless they begin allowing athletes to profit off their likenesses.2 Building on the momentum from California, we now have the opportunity to force open the doors of economic opportunity for Black student-athletes across the country.
By passing a federal law, we can force an end to the NCAA’s long exploitation of Black student-athletes and usher in a new golden era of collegiate sports. By opening the door to fair pay, we can empower Black student-athletes to better navigate the balancing act of college sports, honoring the demands of their team while staying on top of schoolwork. It’s time to change the rules of the game and allow student-athletes to cash in on their hard work. It’s time to #PayThePlayers.
Demand that your Congressmembers guarantee fair pay for student-athletes!
Until justice is real,
Jade, Rashad, Arisha, Johnny, Evan, Future, Amanda, Eesha, Samantha, Marcus, FolaSade and the rest of the Color of Change team
References: 1. “What's Next After California Signs Game Changer Fair Pay to Play Act into Law?,” Sports Illustrated, September 30, 2019, 2. “Student-Athlete Equity Act Would End NCAA’s Tax-exempt Status Unless They Allow Athletes to Profit,” Medium, June 5, 2019,
https://act.colorofchange.org/go/196862?t=12&akid=38914%2E4887299%2E4cZ6Xj
https://act.colorofchange.org/go/196863?t=14&akid=38914%2E4887299%2E4cZ6Xj
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Help keep our movement strong.
If you're absolutely sure you don't want to hear from Color Of Change again, click here to unsubscribe.
Jon,
I wish you could see my face right now, because I am BEAMING. After all our work, Sheldon Neeley won his race for mayor of Flint!
It’s been an amazing race, and the reason I’m smiling so big is because I’m so proud of everyone who made it happen.
Every one of us who worked on this race was a regular person in Flint, working for change because our lives and ability to thrive depend on it. And the work will go on after today, so I’m asking you: will you give a $5 victory donation to help replenish our resources as we plan for the next big elections in Flint and nationwide?
Let me give you an idea of the amazing work we, along with our all-volunteer squad, have been able to do in Flint in the last 6 weeks:
If we can do this much work in 6 weeks, imagine what we could do with enough support in the months to come as Sheldon Neeley takes office. We can hold the Mayor’s office accountable to ensuring people get clean water, that plans to improve our schools are in motion, and that they invest in real community safety. You know as well as we do that the election is only the beginning— donate $5 now to celebrate our victory and help replenish our resources for the work ahead.
This win literally would not have happened without my neighbors and friends in Flint getting out with me and spreading the word every single day for weeks now. Besides the campaigns, we were the only people working on this race— meaning many of the folks we talked to may not have heard about the election without us knocking on their doors, inviting them to events, and getting on their social media feeds.
And let’s be clear: we plan to be in Flint long after this election. This is our home. Which is why we’re already thinking about tomorrow and next month and next year. Because today, we go home to the same contaminated water, the same under-resourced schools, the same neighborhoods in need of care.
We’ve got a leader that will respond to our demands after this election. But things haven’t changed yet— now we need to get to work. Make a $5 victory donation now to replenish the resources we’ve used on this election, and help us gear up for everything that comes next to make change in Flint.
Before I go get a badly-needed night's sleep, I just want to give one more shoutout to my people in Flint. The everyday people like me in Flint who are balancing being moms, dads, aunties, uncles, teachers, coaches, breadwinners, caregivers, and so much more-- while also fighting to make Flint a better place.
This win is for them.
For my beautiful, joyful volunteer squad, who have been consistently alongside me door-knocking, event hosting, and doing all the work in-between.
For every last person in Flint who cast their vote in a resilient, defiant act of faith that we still have the power to change our realities.
And of course, for my kids, and every other child in Flint.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for standing with us.
Until justice is real,
Ariana and the Color Of Change PAC team (Arisha, Jenni, Kwesi, Shannon, Calyssa, Chad, Drew, Charles, Cristel, Daniel, Tammi, and Scott)
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Not authorized by any federal, state, or local candidate or candidate’s committee. Paid for with regulated funds by ColorOfChange PAC, 1714 Franklin St., Oakland, CA 94612.
ColorOfChange PAC is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Contributions to Color Of Change PAC are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes. This email was sent to yellow71486@. If you're absolutely sure you don't want to hear from Color Of Change again, click here to unsubscribe.
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Dear Jon,
As the lights went out across California this month, our impacted members wondered if Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) - the nation’s largest for-profit electric utility - will ever be fixed. This latest failure, resulting in the massive Kincade and Getty wildfires, is due to lack of investment in poor power lines and utility equipment. As a result PG&E has nixed the power to nearly two million homes, spanning Sonoma and LA counties.1 This move, not only disproportionately affects Black people, and other people of color, but illustrates why ownership of the for-profit utility company needs to shift from Wall Street to consumers. If PG&E were owned by those who pay for its services, Wall street would not be able to rake in billions at the expense of Californians and these preventable wildfires would not have happened.
Tell PG&E enough is enough and it must dissolve its ownership
Currently, PG&E is facing bankruptcy as it faces $30 billion in liabilities for the wildfires and they have no intention of reimbursing customers affected by their power outages.2,3 These fires will only become more detrimental and harmful for Black folks and other vulnerable populations as climate change grows. California’s dry air paired with extreme, historic winds will only exacerbate PG&E-led fires.
A recent study by the University of Washington and the Nature Conservancy found that Black people are nearly 50% more vulnerable to wildfires than white people.4 In the mid-1940s, Black migration settled into fire-prone areas, with relatively poorer socioeconomic conditions.5 Wealthier people are more likely to be able to have cars to evacuate, buy fire insurance and create a defensible space around their homes. And have the resources to rebuild.
Handing over ownership is not far fetched. The city of San Francisco offered to buy PG&E for $2.5 billion.6There are more publicly-owned and cooperative electric companies than those owned by Wall Street.7 Abrams Capital, Knighthead Capital and Redwood Capital, PG&E owners, explicitly seek to siphon money from the companies they acquire- and as we have seen with PG&E, with little concern for the wellbeing of those harmed.
Tell Wall Street it’s time for PG&E customers to be first
These wildfires didn’t have to happen. PG&E owners ignored fire risks in favor of profits. Had the owners of PG&E upgraded its infrastructure, added weather, camera, and satellite stations and not intentionally placed power lines near vulnerable trees, the growing number of fires PG&E is responsible for would not have happened. Black communities deserve better than a focus on “the bottom line” approach from predatory investors. Deliberately putting our folks in harm's way with no restitution is true to Wall Street form and the worst kind of greed.
Tell PG&E investors this electric company should belong to Californians
Until justice is real,
-Jade, Rashad, Arisha, Amanda, Evan, Johnny, Eesha, Future, Marcus, Samantha, FolaSade, and the rest of the Color Of Change team
References:
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Help keep our movement strong.
If you're absolutely sure you don't want to hear from Color Of Change again, click here to unsubscribe.
The Academy has disqualified the Nigerian film "Lionheart" from an Oscars category for including "too much English." Tell the Academy to restore the International Feature Film nomination for "Lionheart." Take Action
Jon,
Recently, Nigerian film “Lionheart” was nominated for the Best International Feature Oscar. Immediately following this milestone, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences disqualified the film from the category because the film has “too much English.” This decision is ridiculous. Because of British colonization, English is now the national language of Nigeria. To disqualify the film because of a refusal to understand Black and African experience is immoral and ahistorical. The Academy is using this reasoning as a way to continue to keep Black stories out of Hollywood spaces. Tell the Academy to add “Lionheart” back into the International Feature Film nominations!
As with many aspects of Hollywood industry, the Academy’s decision to eliminate “Lionheart” from the International Feature Film category demonstrates a clear failure to understand Black and African history. Amidst the 500+ languages spoken in Nigeria, English is the country’s official language. This is the result of a long history of colonialism between European countries and Nigeria. It is unreasonable that the Academy would then use the film’s English dialogue — the nation’s official language — as a reason to eliminate it from an Oscars category that the film deserves.
Tell the Academy to reverse their decision and add "Lionheart" back into the International Feature Film category.
And this isn’t the first time the Academy has eliminated a film from the International Feature Film category for having “too much English.” In 2015, the Afghan film “Utopia” was also eliminated from the category for the exact same reason. Ironically, the Academy recently changed the name of this award category from Best Foreign-Language Film to Best International Feature Film to make the category more inclusive. This change, and their subsequent decision to disqualify “Lionheart,” demonstrates the Academy’s hypocrisy and their commitment to diminish our stories.
It’s clear that the Academy has a history of gatekeeping for people of color. Restricting Black films that tell the stories of people of color from esteemed Hollywood spaces is a means of silencing us. But it is time for this to end. Black stories and the stories of people of color deserve to be considered for the same nominations, awards, and prestige as films that tell the stories of white people. That is why the Academy must restore “Lionheart’s” International Feature Film nomination and create clear, consistent rules for the category moving forward that don't come at the expense of Black people.
Join us in calling on the Academy to restore "Lionheart’s" International Feature Film Oscar nomination.
Until justice is real,
—Jade, Rashad, Arisha, Johnny, Future, Amanda, Evan, Imani, Samantha, Eesha, Marcus, FolaSade, and the rest of the Color Of Change team
References:
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Help keep our movement strong.
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Dear Jon.
Since the August 12th launch of the Popeyes chicken sandwich, Popeyes has sold more than 1,000 sandwiches a day--sparking a media frenzy that has led to millions of dollars in revenue.1 However, despite the wild success of the sandwich, Popeyes’ employees have not reaped the benefits of their hard work--in fact employees report being forced to stand until their legs go numb for 10-hour shifts, work over 60-hour weeks, forgo state mandated breaks, and stand on the front line of customer harassment - all while making less than $10 an hour in some states.2 The success of the company wouldn’t be possible without Popeyes’ employees who make the food, tend the registers, and in some cases, face social media humiliation in response to the popularity of the sandwiches. That’s why we’re asking Popeyes to pay its employees a living wage.
Demand Felipe Athayade, Popeyes President, implement a living wage for its employees.
Popeyes happily used parts of Black culture and language through culturally appropriated branding and marketing, sparking a social media sensation that doubled it’s projected quarter sales this year.3,4 All while treating its Black fast food employees poorly while they stand on the front-line of labor exploitation due to corporate manipulation of supply and demand.5 Restaurant Brands International, who acquired the Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen brand in March 2017, benefits from increased dividends, but Black fast food employees are receiving the short end of the stick.6
Demand fair wages for Popeyes employees.
Popeyes stores are individually franchised; therefore, making employee wages, hours, hiring, and retention of employees individual matters.7 However, Restaurant Brands International reaps the big bucks and should enforce stricter corporate policies to make a fair wages a mandate. Its moments like these where we can stand in solidarity to fight for the marginalized and powerless in the face of cultural appropriation and corporate greed. Popeyes and its parent company must be held accountable for the increased workload the demand this sandwich created.
Demand Popeyes franchises increase its minimum wage for Black fast-food employees.
Until justice is real,
--Jade, Rashad, Arisha, Evan, Johnny, Future, Eesha, Samantha, Marcus, FolaSade and the rest of the Color Of Change team
References:
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Help keep our movement strong.
If you're absolutely sure you don't want to hear from Color Of Change again, click here to unsubscribe.
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Jon, if we don’t stop Comcast, on November 13th, the Supreme Court will hear its petition to overturn the oldest civil rights law in the country — Section 1981 of the Civil Rights Act of 1866.1 A ruling in Comcast’s favor would take away our ability to achieve justice in cases of racial discrimination. It would allow businesses and people to once again block us from being full participants in the economic system.
We cannot allow Comcast to challenge our first and oldest civil rights statute.2 We must act now. Call Comcast’s executives and demand they drop this dangerous challenge to civil rights protections.
Until justice is real,
--Jade, Rashad, Arisha, Evan, Johnny, Future, Eesha, Samantha, Marcus, FolaSade and the rest of the Color Of Change team
(see our earlier email below for more details on this campaign)
References:
“Civil Rights Groups Slam Comcast for Trying to Weaken a Key Protection Against Racial Discrimination,” The Washington Post, October 2, 2019, https://act.colorofchange.org/go/199878?t=7&akid=39004%2E4887299%2EUZOwD_
Comcast and the Trump administration are working to strike down key provisions of one of the oldest and most important civil rights laws in the country: the Civil Rights Act of 1866.
For more than 150 years, this law has been a bedrock protection from racial discrimination in employment, housing, banking, and consumer and business transactions. Now, Comcast is petitioning the Supreme Court to allow racial discrimination in business transactions as long as racism is not the only reason for denying someone a service.1,2 If the Supreme Court sides with Comcast and the Trump administration, it will strike down one of the most important tools we have for protecting our communities from discrimination. Such a decision has the potential to fundamentally change how racial discrimination claims are decided for decades to come.
We cannot allow Comcast’s board and executive leadership to quietly dismantle civil rights laws so that it can pad its bottom line by discriminating against Black people. We still have time to force Comcast to withdraw its petition from the Supreme Court. But we need to act fast to turn up the pressure on its board of directors before it’s too late!
Demand Comcast withdraw its Supreme Court petition challenging the Civil Rights Act of 1866, our oldest civil rights statute.
Color Of Change has reached out to Comcast executives and board members directly to request its Supreme Court petition to be dropped. However, Comcast and its executives refuse to accept its legal defense will roll back civil rights protections. For a company that prides itself on being dedicated to diversity and inclusion in all facets of its business, it is clear these efforts may be contradicted at any time to protect the Comcast’s bottom-line.
Black people already face extensive barriers in accessing justice and economic equality in this country, and this petition would serve only to allow corporations off the hook for their discriminatory practices.
For Tatiana Denson, a 40-year-old Black woman who had the police called on her for trying to open a business checking account at a PNC Bank, or Judi Brown, a Black transgender woman who was subjected to transphobic and racist slurs and harassment by her manager and coworkers at a Circle K, this law is their only pathway to justice.3,4 Comcast’s petition would make it so that Black people like Tatiana and Judi would have to prove that racism was the only driver of a decision or denial. Instead of affirming that racism has no place in the negotiation of a commercial contract, Comcast is partnering with a Department of Justice that is openly hostile to the civil rights of Black people. Together, they condone the inclusion of racism as a legitimate basis for refusing to enter into a contract with Black people — as long as racism is not the "only reason."5
We must ensure there are proper protections for our people now and for years to come. Demand Comcast drop its Supreme Court petition for a Civil Rights Act of 1866 hearing.
Section 1981 of the Civil Rights Act of 1866 places Black people on equal footing with white Americans by outlawing conduct that would prevent our communities from developing the means to work, build wealth, or have access to the justice system to vindicate our rights. Comcast is using an important piece of legislation to win a legal battle in an effort to disregard the large-scale effects of an adverse Supreme Court decision.6 What is at stake is more important than television programming.
Comcast's persistent pursuit of a ruling undermining civil rights laws, despite our efforts to engage the corporation directly, places it at the forefront of coordinated efforts by this administration to strike down centuries of civil rights progress. Comcast must be held accountable for attempting to reverse legislation enacted to ensure the economic and civil protections of Black People. Demand Comcast drop its Civil Rights Act of 1866 Supreme Court petition.
By leveraging a relationship with an administration that pursues white nationalist ideals to block Black economic and media power, Comcast is standing on the wrong side of history, and this cannot go without consequence. It is critical that Comcast reconsider its petition to the Supreme Court, given the extensive harms that a ruling in its favor could extend to Black people, Black businesses, and Black economic equality.
Stop Comcast from setting an oppressive precedent that would make proving racial discrimination practically impossible.
Until justice is real,
--Jade, Rashad, Arisha, Evan, Johnny, Future, Eesha, Samantha, Marcus, FolaSade and the rest of the Color Of Change team
References:
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Help keep our movement strong.
If you're absolutely sure you don't want to hear from Color Of Change again, click here to unsubscribe.
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Dear Jon,
PG&E’s CEO, Bill Johnson recently stated in response to a question about the blackouts, “One of the things we did was give people the opportunity to refill their refrigerator cause their house is still there."1 Not only does Bill Johnson gets $2 million a year from Wall Street to make dangerous and reckless decisions to increase the vulnerability of Black communities, he’s just wrong. PG&E is responsible for at least 100 proven fatalities since 2018, destroying more than 20,000 homes and buildings, and immeasurable environmental catastrophes leading to food insecurity and the growing climate crisis.2
In addition to the harm caused with the most recent blackouts, there were at least 11,500 households3 that needed electricity to support medical devices like ventilators, CPAP machines and wheelchairs. Low-income and Black people disproportionately made up these households.4 Losing power signifies much more than just an inconvenience: It can be life-threatening; and this is why Californians need Wall Street out of its utilities and the households of vulnerable, Black communities.
Tell PG&E enough is enough and it’s time to dissolve its ownership
Since the city of San Francisco offered to buy PG&E, San Jose has also put together a proposal to buy the utility from Wall Street.5With there being more publicly-owned and cooperative electric companies than those owned by Wall Street, a public takeover of PG&E is gaining momentum!6
Mayors of more than 20 other California cities, including Oakland, Berkeley and Sacramento, have endorsed the idea of a public takeover while seeking intervention from state regulators.7 The mayors also sent a copy of the letter to Governor Gavin Newsom and other state officials.8 Additionally, Representative Ro Khanna of California’s 17th district has public expressed a public takeover of PG&E, stating “For-profit does not work!"9
Abrams Capital, Knighthead Capital and Redwood Capital, PG&E owners, explicitly seek to siphon money from the companies they acquire- and as we have seen with PG&E, with little concern for the wellbeing of those harmed. We cannot allow for Black communities to fall prey and continue to be on the receiving end of “the bottom line” approach of #PGEProfits.
Tell PG&E this electric company should belong to Californians and not Wall Street
Until justice is real,
-Jade, Rashad, Arisha, Amanda, Evan, Johnny, Eesha, Future, Marcus, Samantha, FolaSade, and the rest of the Color Of Change team
References
1. “PG&E CEO Makes $2 million a year.” Activist Post. November 7, 2019.https://act.colorofchange.org/go/214187?t=9&akid=38995%2E4887299%2E1nK8z6
2. “Camp Fire, deadliest in California history, caused by PG&E electrical transmission lines.” May 2019.https://act.colorofchange.org/go/214138?t=11&akid=38995%2E4887299%2E1nK8z6
3. “How PG&E’s Power Shutoffs Sparked an East Bay Disability Campaign.” KQED News. November 6, 2019.https://act.colorofchange.org/go/213538?t=13&akid=38995%2E4887299%2E1nK8z6
4."How PG&E’s Power Shutoffs Sparked an East Bay Disability Campaign.” KQED News. November 6, 2019.https://act.colorofchange.org/go/213538?t=15&akid=38995%2E4887299%2E1nK8z6
5.“San Jose’s plan to turn PG&E into a coop gains backing from 20 mayors.”San Francisco Chronicle. November 5, 2019.https://act.colorofchange.org/go/213536?t=17&akid=38995%2E4887299%2E1nK8z6
6."Investor-owned utilities served 72% of U.S. electricity customers in 2017.” August 15, 2019.
7.“San Jose’s plan to turn PG&E into a coop gains backing from 20 mayors.”San Francisco Chronicle. November 5, 2019.https://act.colorofchange.org/go/213536?t=20&akid=38995%2E4887299%2E1nK8z6
8.“San Jose’s plan to turn PG&E into a coop gains backing from 20 mayors.”San Francisco Chronicle. November 5, 2019.https://act.colorofchange.org/go/213536?t=22&akid=38995%2E4887299%2E1nK8z6
9. “Rep.Ro Khana Backs Public Takeover.” Huffington Post. November 1, 2019.https://act.colorofchange.org/go/214200?t=24&akid=38995%2E4887299%2E1nK8z6
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Help keep our movement strong.
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Jon,
Earlier this year, New York state made history and took a huge step towards ending mass incarceration with the help of advocates, community organizers, and Color Of Change members like you. Now racists everywhere from law enforcement to the media, and even Trump, are trying to smear our wins for justice and incite fear before the laws go into effect. We can't let them.
Communities worked hard to pass historic legislation that overhauled New York's broken jail system by instituting bail reform that means thousands of people who have not been convicted of a crime will no longer suffer in jail simply because they can't afford bail.1 The law doesn't go into effect until January, but local officials are preparing to release eligible people in December so there isn't too much of a backlog in January.2 It only makes sense. But then the New York Post wrote multiple inflammatory articles claiming 900 criminals would be released onto the street and spread lies that New York City Mayor Bill De Blasio would be giving people Mets tickets and gift cards as a "reward."3 And Trump jumped on the bandwagon with one of his infamous tweets. The city hasn't even determined what their supervised release program will need to look like or expand to for people released under the new law yet.4 And it's not even confirmed that Mets tickets are a part of the plan. But for the past four years, NYC's supervised release program has helped people meet their needs in order to make it back to court. They get $10 gift cards to put food on the table, cellphones so they can get court reminders, and metrocards so they can show up to court.5 These are basic necessities that help families who couldn’t afford bail navigate the justice system and stay together--and it's working better than jail.
Trump and the NY Post are lying to scare people. But we aren't scared. And we can't be silent. The stakes are really high in New York. Lawmakers are already working against the new bail law to roll it back--and the country is watching. If we all stand up and demand the New York Post corrects their articles and tells the truth, we can put an end to this smear campaign against justice. Will you sign the petition
Sign the petition: The NY Post must stop spreading lies and fear about criminal justice reform.
Since the launch of New York City's supervised release program in 2016, the Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice said more than 15,000 people have entered the program, 92 percent of them had no felony re-arrests while in the program. And 87 percent of all participants made every court appearance while in program.6 The NY Post is trying to scare people into thinking the $12 million program is dangerous and a waste of taxpayer dollars, but it costs $828 per day to jail one person at Rikers Island7--and we know how dangerous it is there. Kalief Browder nearly died on Rikers Island and later committed suicide because of the trauma he faced there--all because of an unjust bail system that kept an innocent young man locked up without any help. It would cost taxpayers nearly $273 million per year to jail the same 900 people who will instead be freed to be with their families, get back to work, and fight their cases from a position of freedom.
Here’s the truth about the New York Post’s and Trump’s lies:
The real problem is that far too many people are going to jail to begin with - a problem that the new pretrial justice laws were designed to address. Many New Yorkers have been jailed for months or even years while presumed innocent and fighting the charges against them. But even one day in jail can totally derail a person’s life.10 They can lose their jobs and housing. The state may take their children away. The new pretrial justice laws ensure people aren't jailed for being poor. And they force prosecutors to guarantee a speedy and fair trial, where they turn over the evidence they have in a timely fashion. All of these changes are positive for the state of New York and the rest of the country where other lawmakers are looking to what happened here as a model of how to address their own jail crises. Already GOP lawmakers have used this hysteria to introduce legislation that would make the bail reform law less effective and maintain the status quo rather than maintain the presumption of innocence.11 The lies Trump and the NY Post are spreading have a real effect that could rollback all of our progress.
This isn't the New York Post's first time trying to incite irrational and racist fear against change. Earlier this year, the publication caught heat for publishing a cover story of Rep. Ilhan Omar, fashioning her in front of the burning Twin Towers to stoke racist, xenophobic fear based on her Muslim faith.12 It sparked a boycott of the paper's sales in bodegas across New York City. We need to send New York Post a message that we won't stand idly by while they try to decimate the hard work communities in New York have done for decades to transform the jail crisis--which has cost taxpayers millions of dollars without increasing public safety. They need to correct the lies in their articles. They must stop spreading misinformation. And together, by calling out their unethical "reporting" we can create a counter-narrative that fights back with the hard truth: ending mass incarceration makes us all safer and brings us closer to real justice in this country.
Sign the petition.
Until justice is real,
--Clarise, Rashad, Arisha, Scott, Erika, Malachi, Marybeth, Marena, Madison, Leonard, Tamar, Neosho, and the rest of the Color Of Change team
References:
1. "Highlights of New York's 2019 Bail Reform Law," Vera Institute for Justice, July 2019
2. "City Courts Are Getting A Jump Start on Bail Reforms Ahead of January," Gothamist, 4 November, 2019
3. "Nearly 900 city inmates may be freed before bail-reform law takes effect," New York Post, 3 November 2019
4. City Courts Are Getting A Jump Start on Bail Reforms Ahead of January," Gothamist, 4 November, 2019
5. Ibid
6. Ibid
7. "Comptroller Stringer: Despite a Decline in Incarceration, Correction Spending, Violence, and Use of Force Continued to Rise in FY 2018," NY Comptroller's Office, 22 January 2019
8. City Courts Are Getting A Jump Start on Bail Reforms Ahead of January," Gothamist, 4 November, 2019
9. "Neighborhood Stat: Strengthening Public Safety Through Community Empowerment," Center for American Progress, 2 October 2019
10. "If We Left Everybody Go There Would Be No One In Prison," NY Times, 13 May 2018
11. "NY Bail Reform Would Be Curbed Under GOP Proposals In Legislature," New York Law Journal, 7 November 2019
12. "The New York Post's Craven Ilhan Omar Cover Was An Insult to All New Yorkers," GQ Magazine, 12 April 2019
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Help keep our movement strong.
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Dear Jon,
The Missouri Attorney General is stopping Lamar Johnson, an innocent Black man, from reuniting with his family.
In 1995, Lamar Johnson was falsely accused, wrongly convicted and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. More than two decades later, St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner discovered multiple instances of prosecutorial misconduct in Lamar’s case including the bribing of the prosecution’s key eyewitness, who later recanted his testimony.2
Now as part of an effort to right the wrongs of tough-on-crimes policies, Kim Gardner has petitioned the courts to hear the evidence of innocence and grant Lamar a new trial. But Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt is BLOCKING Lamar's new trial and release. Schmitt claims that Gardner has no authority as a prosecutor to correct a miscarriage of justice and that the state technically cannot request a new trial for a defendant.3 This is morally reprehensible — why wouldn't he want to support freeing an innocent man?
It’s time for Schmitt to stop playing political games with people’s lives. That is why we are demanding that Schmitt immediately end his efforts to block Gardner’s motion for a new trial and reverse course by joining hundreds of community advocates and legal experts in securing Johnson’s freedom.
Tell Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt: Defend Lamar Johnson's freedom
It is not unusual for police officers to manipulate the evidence in order to lock Black people away. We have seen police officers and prosecutors coercing false confessions, tampering with evidence, and lying under oath all to keep Black people in cages. From the infamous case involving the Exonerated Five to more recently, Dontae Sharpe, a Black man wrongly convicted and incarcerated for two decades -- it is no secret that law enforcement will go to extraordinary and even unethical lengths to harm Black people. This blatant abuse of power needs to be addressed and stopped.
In Lamar’s case, the claims were downright ridiculous. Police officers claimed that Lamar miraculously left his home, traveled three miles to commit murder, fled on foot for three miles back to his apartment -- all under 5 minutes.4 Most shockingly, Johnson was not even released after the men actually responsible for the crime came forward and confessed, both in 1996 and 2002.5 The racist criminal justice system in Missouri has essentially robbed Lamar of his life and promising future. There are literally hundreds (if not thousands) of falsely accused people locked up in cages. However, in the past three years, there have only been 13 exonerations in Missouri.6
The last thing AG Eric Schmitt should be doing is blocking any time attempt to free this Black man. Gardner should be commended not bullied for her efforts. We need more elected officials doing the right thing and addressing the harm of mass incarceration, especially in the cases of those who are innocent.
All across the country, prosecutors are using conviction review units (CRUs) to free people from prison. For instance, as a result of the State’s Attorney’s Kim Foxx's investigation of prosecutorial misconduct, nearly 40 incarcerated people have been reunited with their families.7 In the same vein, AG Schmitt can now correct the mistakes made by the criminal legal system 2 decades ago-- he can help reunite Lamar with his loved ones and return him to his beloved community. Lamar should not have to wait another day in prison.
Until justice is real,
--Scott, Rashad, Arisha, Erika Clarise, Malachi, Marybeth, Marena, Madison, Leonard, Tamar, Neosho, and the rest of the Color of Change team
References:
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Help keep our movement strong.
If you're absolutely sure you don't want to hear from Color Of Change again, click here to unsubscribe.
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Jon,
We won historic legislation all but ending cash bail in New York--and now it’s under threat. Before the law could even be implemented, racists everywhere from law enforcement, to the media, and even Trump have launched a smear campaign against it. The hard work of thousands of community organizers, advocates, and Color Of Change members like you could go down the drain. But we won’t let the racists win--are you with us?
Because of our fight, thousands of people who have not been convicted of a crime will no longer suffer in jail simply because they can't afford bail. The law doesn't go into effect until January, but local officials are preparing to release people who are in stuck in jail because they couldn't pay bail early so there isn't too much of a backlog in January. It only makes sense. But last week the New York Post wrote multiple inflammatory articles claiming 900 criminals would be released onto the street and spread lies that New York City Mayor Bill De Blasio would be giving people Mets tickets and gift cards as a "reward." The city hasn't even determined what their supervised release program will need to look like for people released under the new law yet. And it's not even confirmed that Mets tickets are a part of the plan. These are clever lies that the NY Post is telling to scare people into thinking we need mass incarceration.
We know the truth and we have a plan to defeat this smear campaign against justice. Meeting community needs is proven to increase community safety way more than jails ever could, but we need more people to know that. So we’re launching a campaign to spread the truth about what ending mass incarceration really means and we need your help to do it.
Will you chip in $4 to help us get the truth out about NY Post’s scare tactics?
The NY Post reaches over 400,000 people everyday and is the third most read paper in New York, following the NY Times and the Wall Street Journal. If we can’t stop them, what they’re doing will work. Lawmakers have already introduced new legislation to roll our bail reform win back--and the country is watching. But with the support of members like you, we can do full scale media advertising that will combat the lies NY Post and law enforcement is spreading--that looks like meeting everyday New Yorkers where they are to tell them the truth. With your donations we can do things like put up bus stop and radio ads, and hire staff to work on a media strategy full-time. We’re up against really powerful opponents with a huge platform, but if we all put our support together, one by one, person by person, we can defeat them.
Releasing people pre-trial is working better than jail, which is costing taxpayers A LOT more without improving public safety. In fact, extensive research--and real-life examples from across New York State show that LESS reliance on incarceration actually delivers MORE public safety. For the past four years, NYC's supervised release program has helped people meet their needs in order to make it back to court. They get $10 gift cards to put food on the table, cellphones so they can get court reminders, and metrocards so they can show up to court. These are basic necessities that help families who couldn’t afford bail navigate the justice system and stay together. In New York City, the jail population has dropped from 22,000 to 7,000 over the past three decades but at the same time crime is lower than ever before. How? Legislators, advocates and stakeholders focused on keeping people out of jail, and investing more in community-based resources such as housing, treatment, services and care. The result? Less incarceration and more public safety.
The real danger is inside of cages, not in granting people their rightful freedom. Kalief Browder nearly died spending two years in solitary confinement on Rikers Island and later committed suicide because of the trauma he faced there. He was innocent and should have never been jailed in the first place.
Despite the New York Post’s racist scare tactics, we aren't scared. And we can't be silent. The stakes are really high in New York. If we can put an end to this smear campaign, it will mean this law gets implemented without hiccups and we can keep moving towards real justice in this country.
I support the TRUTH, not NY Post’s lies.
Until justice is real,
--Clarise, Rashad, Arisha, Scott, Erika, Malachi, Marybeth, Marena, Madison, Leonard, Tamar, Neosho, and the rest of the Color Of Change team
References:
1. "Highlights of New York's 2019 Bail Reform Law," Vera Institute for Justice, July 2019
2. "City Courts Are Getting A Jump Start on Bail Reforms Ahead of January," Gothamist, 4 November, 2019
3. "Nearly 900 city inmates may be freed before bail-reform law takes effect," New York Post, 3 November 2019
4. City Courts Are Getting A Jump Start on Bail Reforms Ahead of January," Gothamist, 4 November, 2019
5. Ibid
6. Ibid
7. "Comptroller Stringer: Despite a Decline in Incarceration, Correction Spending, Violence, and Use of Force Continued to Rise in FY 2018," NY Comptroller's Office, 22 January 2019
8. City Courts Are Getting A Jump Start on Bail Reforms Ahead of January," Gothamist, 4 November, 2019
9. "Neighborhood Stat: Strengthening Public Safety Through Community Empowerment," Center for American Progress, 2 October 2019
10. "If We Left Everybody Go There Would Be No One In Prison," NY Times, 13 May 2018
11. "NY Bail Reform Would Be Curbed Under GOP Proposals In Legislature," New York Law Journal, 7 November 2019
12. "The New York Post's Craven Ilhan Omar Cover Was An Insult to All New Yorkers," GQ Magazine, 12 April 2019
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Help keep our movement strong.
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Dear Jon.
World Wrestling Entertainment Inc. (WWE) must be held accountable for using racist imagery while profiting from our image, likeness, and the physical labor of Black wrestlers.1
Albert Hardie Jr. (aka Jordan Myles), a professional Black athlete and employee of the WWE, had his name used to sell shirts with highly offensive anti-Black “sambo” imagery. In addition, the WWE is blaming Hardie for the release of this racist merchandise.2 The WWE has been getting away with creating a racist work environment, in which Confederate flags are flown, racial slurs are the norm, and Black wrestlers are not paid equally to white wrestlers and are not given the same opportunities to compete for championships.3,4,5
Wrestling is a guilty pleasure that blurs the lines of reality; however, Black wrestlers are tired of their reality being an entertainment storyline that denies blatant racism. Four WWE major events are planned to take place in California this December.
Demand California Attorney General, Xavier Becerra, investigate the racist workplace practices of WWE.
Sambo imagery was created during slavery and unfairly depicts Black people as being lazy and uneducated. It is a triggering reminder of the pain of our struggle.6 In the long line of WWE champions, there has been only one of mixed race, The Rock, whose father, Rocky Johnson, was a Black wrestler.7 This fact alone speaks to the internal racism that runs rampant in the WWE and to how the WWE uses controversy and racist tropes to its advantage. Racism in the WWE must be stopped, because entertainment spin does not make up for the damage of racism.8
The WWE reaps the benefits of Black viewership and Black physical labor, and it should not perpetuate racist storylines, imagery and toxic work environments. We must hold the WWE accountable for continuously exploiting the work of Black athletes. With regular RAW, NXT and other high profile events hosted in California we can hold them to some of the highest workplace standards in the country by calling on California Attorney General, Xavier Becerra, to investigte the work place discrimination and racism happening within the WWE.
Demand California Attorney General, Xavier Becerra, investigate racism in the WWE.
Someone in your household may be tuning in to this week’s “WWE Raw,” believing that this is “just” entertainment. But on a closer look, you can see the WWE trafficking in harmful images and narratives. Anti-Black and negative narratives of Black people in media have led to police killings of unarmed Black people, tougher prison sentencing, unfair treatment in schools, and more.
The WWE’s fan base is more than 25% Black, and we have the power to hold the WWE accountable.9,10 We have the opportunity to activate our political voice and effect change within an industry that profits from our labor and our viewership. It is time we challenge the status quo and shape the entertainment we deserve.
Demand California Attorney General, Xavier Becerra, investigate the racism Black wrestling independent contractors experience in the WWE.
Until justice is real,
--Brandi, Jade, Rashad, Arisha, Evan, Johnny, Future, Eesha, Samantha, Marcus, FolaSade and the rest of the Color Of Change team
References:
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Jon,
At Color Of Change, we often talk about how district attorneys, while incredibly powerful actors in the criminal justice system, are also relatively obscure, flying under the radar and operating away from public scrutiny.
That’s why we launched one of our biggest research projects Winning Justice, a first of its kind directory of each prosecutor in all 2,400+ counties across the country. Winning Justice brings greater visibility to the power of the DA’s office by featuring critical information about every prosecutor including their political party, race, gender, how long they’ve been in office, and where they stand on our 6 demands.1
While this information has enormous potential for our organizing work, it also poses an enormous task in keeping it up to date.
To meet that need, Color Of Change is hosting our first ever Sip & Search event this month in Washington, DC!2 We’ll be sharing some background on our prosecutor work and then delivering a free training on super effective research skills that our members can use to learn about their elected officials. For the rest of the evening, we will work together to start uncovering information about local prosecutors that will be featured on Winning Justice.
Our Sip & Search will give our members the tools they need to learn about their elected prosecutors, while also keeping Winning Justice up to date and accurate. These events are such an exciting opportunity to meet this crucial need while also sharing research skills with our amazing members-- but to execute events like this, we need your support.
Will you chip in $4 to help fund our research trainings?
Prosecutor races occur every 4 years but they are not held uniformly across the country. Last year, over 1,000 counties in 25 states held prosecutor races and this year, counties in another 5 states held their own. That means that every year there are results from both primary and general elections and a new batch of candidates that must be reflected on Winning Justice so that it remains accurate.
Without research on what elections are occurring each year, Winning Justice can quickly fall into disrepair and hold information that’s out of date. That makes the website not just ineffective but potentially harmful for organizers that rely on its information to hold their prosecutors accountable.
These trainings present an opportunity to build out a squad of researchers to join us in maintaining this site— and that starts with our first Sip & Search this month and the 4 we hope to host throughout 2020.
$4 would go a long way to funding the creation of our research materials, securing venue spaces, and helping us train our members in how to uncover the truth about our local prosecutors. Will you help us?
Opportunities like this are new ways that Color Of Change is bringing together our members and sharing the tools needed for them to build power alongside one another and us. Making sure these events can remain free and as robust as possible is a huge part of how you too, can be a part of this movement to shine a light on these powerful actors in the criminal justice system and hold them accountable.
Jon, will you help support us in training a new squad of researchers?
Until Justice is Real,
-- Erika, Rashad, Arisha, Scott, Tamar, Clarise, Madison, Leonard, Marena, Marybeth, and the rest of the Color Of Change team
References:
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Jon, imagine you've been arrested and are waiting for your day in court. The toilet doesn't work in a shared cell with standing room only because there's no running water at all. The floor is the only seating option for the 11 hours you're detained in the "bull pen." There's no one available to treat your medical condition and the bugs in the food have made you even more ill. A restrictive lockdown has been in affect for days, disrupting communication with your loved ones and triggering mental health symptoms. And you know your family just can't afford a $1500 bail bond right now.
These are just some real-life examples of the many dangerous problems at Cuyahoga County jail. Nine people have died since 2018. Overall, the conditions are so inhumane that people are taking desperate measures to escape.1 This jail is "one of the worst in the country" and a local judge has vowed to stop sending people there who are charged with nonviolent offenses.2,3 The jail is stealing futures every day but Prosecutor Micheal O'Malley has the power and discretion to immediately reduce the jail population and minimize the harm the system is having on our community. O'Malley's office is prosecuting 81 percent of the cases in Cuyahoga County jail. As County Attorney, O’Malley holds the power to decide whether many of these people, especially those awaiting trial, can come home. And there's three ways he can that: 1) stop detaining people because they can't afford bail, 2) treat children like children, and 3) stop sending people to jail for mental illness and addiction. Communities want more from their elected prosecutors across the country and O'Malley was recently targeted in public protests to take action on these very doable steps.4 If we can keep the momentum going, we can push O'Malley to make a commitment to using his power to reduce the jail population.
Jon, add your name to the petition demanding Prosecutor O'Malley take action.
Chantelle Glass, a Black woman and mother of three, thought she was going to die when jail guards assaulted her with pepper spray causing her asthma to flare up.5 She was incarcerated for an unpaid traffic ticket and was brutalized when she asked to make a phone call. She is not alone in this experience. Several guards from Cuyahoga jail have been charged for their violence in recent years and there is a class action lawsuit pending.6
Regardless of whether the conditions and violence at the jail are resolved, basic decency and a real concern for public safety would oblige Prosecutor O’Malley to stop sending so many people to the Cuyahoga County Jail.
That's why we're joining with the Campaign for a Just Prosecutor to demand County Attorney Micheal O'Malley commit to do the following:
Tell Prosecutor O'Malley that he has the power to transform the criminal system in Cuyahoga and help people escape the violence and conditions of the county jail.
“There is something critically wrong with our County Jail, and our criminal justice system, that when a non-violent detainee is booked into our county jail, they’re immediately placed in what could be considered Death Row,” LaTonya Goldsby, Black Lives Matter Cleveland, told The Appeal.10 Activists on the ground with our partners at the Coalition to Stop the Inhumanity at Cuyahoga County Jail have been leading the movement to transform the criminal system and hold officials accountable in Cuyahoga. Coalition members have been canvassing Cleveland neighborhoods to hear about people’s experiences with the jail and build its campaign against the county executive and other jail officials. They recently set their sights on the role of the prosecutor in overpopulating the jail and replicating wins from the prosecutor accountability movement all over the country.
Color Of Change members have been active in organizing for progressive prosecutors in Philadelphia, St. Louis, PG County, and more. We know that when we fight we win. There are thousands of Color Of Change members in Cuyahoga and our collective extended networks are even bigger. Together, we can build the kind of public pressure to get the attention of the elected prosecutor and get him to implement these demands by reminding him who he is supposed to work for. Sign the petition now. Then share it with your friends and family and on social media.
Until justice is real,
--Scott, Rashad, Arisha, Erika, Clarise, Malachi, Marybeth, Marena, Madison, Leonard, Tamar, and the rest of the Color Of Change team
References:
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Help keep our movement strong.
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Jon,
Last Wednesday, under Acting Oakland Unified School Board President Jody London’s watch, parents were physically barred from participating in a school board discussion that has the potential to completely change the trajectories of their children’s futures.1 In spite of escalating protests from teachers and parents, Oakland Unified School District is moving along plans to close up to 24 schools over the next three years.2 The vast majority of these schools, many of which are known for developing culturally competent curriculum and tight-knit relationships with the communities they serve, are located in predominantly Black and Brown neighborhoods in East and West Oakland.
The fight to protect our schools is the fight to protect our communities.
When schools leave our communities, the vital resources they provide our students and their families leave with them. The underinvestment in Black students' education that Oakland's school closures represent has been mirrored in nearly every major city in the country. If we do not take action now, the complete disregard Black students are being shown in California will undoubtedly continue to go unchecked across the nation. This is why we are demanding that Acting School Board President Jody London place a moratorium on all school closures in the Oakland Unified School District today.
Will you sign the petition and forward this email to make sure your voice is heard? Add your name here.
From Chicago to D.C. to Philadelphia, the rate of school closures in predominantly Black neighborhoods, especially those with rising rates of gentrification, has jumped dramatically in the past ten years3. Studies show that these closures hit Black students the hardest. While white students are “significantly more likely to transfer to high performing schools,” Black students who get displaced rarely benefit academically or otherwise from their new placements4, widening the achievement gap that the historic Brown v. Education decision to end racial segregation in education once sought to close. For so many of our communities, schools are one of the only institutions that still provide consistent support and resources to both Black children and their families5. Once those schools shut down, Black students get left behind, with no real plan in place to ensure that the new schools they attend have the appropriate resources to guarantee their success or their safety. What happens in the fight for both equity and equality in education in Oakland will set the stage for what's possible for our communities across the country for years to come. We have to make it our business to support all Black students' right to a stable education today.
Black kids deserve stability in education. Take action to demand Acting President Jody London place a moratorium on all school closures in the district NOW.
Systems built without our input will not meet the needs of our communities. Our children should not have to be shuffled out of their own communities for the false promise of a quality education - our fight is for a deeper investment in the schools that they already attend. While the Oakland Unified School District continues to spend well over 6 million dollars a year on hiring police officers at schools who criminalize, traumatize, and harshly punish our children, they refuse to meaningfully invest in the teachers, counselors, and nurses who have been proven to support their growth and potential 6. That isn’t right! Take action today to let President Jody London know that she has a responsibility to invest in the solutions her constituents want, not to ignore their concerns and lock them out of this process. Sign now to demand that Acting President London and the board of directors put a moratorium on all school closures immediately.
Sign now to let Acting President Jody London know we want a moratorium placed on Oakland school closures now.
Until justice is real,
—Kwesi, Arisha, Shannon, Chad, Dominique, Daniel, Corina, Imani, Quiana, Sadie, Ariana, and the rest of the Color Of Change team
References:
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Help keep our movement strong.
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Jon,
Last week, a Minnesota school forced students to throw away their hot lunch if they had just $15 in school lunch debt. Not only were the students’ lunches thrown away, but they were humiliated in front of their classmates as cafeteria staff called out students for their debt. School administrators are punishing students because their family can’t afford the cost of lunch. These kinds of actions are cruel, and we must do something to intervene.
We’re working to erase school lunch debts for Minnesota students. Chip in $5 to help erase a student's debt and ensure students are able to have a hot meal at lunchtime.
Too often, students whose families have low incomes are shamed by school administrators because they can’t afford their lunch. But students and their parents don’t deserve to be shamed because they can’t afford the cost of lunch. Shaming practices are unfair, and they disproportionately impact the Black and Latinx students whose families have low incomes due to systemic economic barriers. This inequity is why we want to clear students’ lunch debt altogether.
Chip in $5 to help eliminate school lunch debt for these students.
Color Of Change members are powerful, and you continue to show up when we need to fight back against the systems that hurt our people. We need you now, more than ever, to help us as we work to ensure that every single day, Black and Latinx students in Minnesota are able to have a hot lunch to eat and won’t be shamed for it.
Chip in $5 to end school lunch debt for Minnesota students.
Until justice is real,
—Jade, Rashad, Arisha, Johnny, Future, Amanda, Evan, Imani, Samantha, Eesha, Marcus, FolaSade, and the rest of the Color Of Change team
References:
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Jon,
The National Collegiate Athletic Association has taken its exploitative, anti-Black policies to the next level and is currently forcing a teenager to pay an $11,500 fine over a financial decision he did not make.
Freshman basketball star James Wiseman is the latest victim of the NCAA’s draconian amateurism rules. Wiseman was a high school senior when his coach, former NBA star Penny Hardaway, gave his family $11,000 to move to a better school district.1 The NCAA became aware of the situation and has been targeting Wiseman and his team, the Memphis Tigers, ever since: suspending the star from 12 games and requiring him to pay a fine of $11,500.2 The NCAA knows that Wiseman, an unpaid student-athlete, cannot afford to pay this fine. This is a vindictive move to control Wiseman the way the NCAA tries to financially control all Black student-athletes.
Demand that the NCAA drop this malicious fine immediately!
The NCAA is not only harming the young star’s financial well-being; it is also robbing him of future earning opportunities. Wiseman is a potential #1 pick in the upcoming NBA draft. This suspension could cause him to fall down the draft, costing him millions. The NCAA cannot continue to exploit and harm Black student-athletes.
NBA players, presidential candidate Andrew Yang, and sports influencers are calling the NCAA out for its ridiculous punishment.[3] The pressure to hold the NCAA accountable for its anti-player and anti-Black policies has intensified since the Fair Pay to Play Act was introduced and passed in California. And even though the NCAA recently succumbed to national pressure to allow athletes to earn money from the use of their names, images, and likenesses, the organization is still attempting to sabotage players financially. As we fight for a long-term solution to end the NCAA’s exploitation, we have to stop them from sabotaging this young athlete’s opportunity for success.
Demand that the NCAA drop its vengeful fine against James Wiseman today!
Until justice is real,
Jade, Rashad, Arisha, Johnny, Evan, Future, Amanda, Eesha, Samantha, Marcus, FolaSade and the rest of the Color of Change team
References:
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Help keep our movement strong.
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Jon,
For Thanksgiving, we’re so thankful for all the ways Black women have made the work at Color Of Change possible and lay the groundwork for us to fight for Black people every day. Black women continue to be at the forefront of every progressive movement in this country, fighting for the collective liberation of all people, and at the same time, they rarely have people fighting in their corner. That’s why at Color of Change we center Black women, we fight to protect Black women, we free Black women from cages, and most importantly we follow the lead of Black women.
Our elected officials and decisionmakers continue to let down Black women each and every day and they’re not afraid to do so. We know that we can’t wait around for our politicians to finally start to care enough about Black women to protect them. They are not going to save us, so that's why we show up for ourselves. And that’s also why it’s important to support and fund the work of organizations that fight for Black women not just when their votes are needed, but each and every day because when we fight for Black women, everyone benefits. The journey towards our collective freedom won't be easy and will be a struggle but we know it is what's right because so many of our lives depend on it.
We’re fighting for Black women each and every day. Not just when we need their vote. Can you support our movement of standing up for Black women by chipping in $8?
At Color Of Change, you show up with us every day to win justice for Black women. When two Black women, Dyma Loving and Iesha Harper, were brutalized by cops in Miami and Phoenix this year, respectively, we fought back and got a cop charged with a crime and an officer fired from the force. When dozens of Black women were locked in cages earlier this year simply because they couldn’t afford to post bail, we rallied to raise money to get them freed just in time for Mother’s Day. And we’re calling on governors across the country to exercise their clemency power to free Black women survivors, like Cyntoia Brown and Liyah Birru, who is still incarcerated.
We’re not begging for anything from our elected leaders. We’re not asking to be given a seat at the table. We’re demanding that we not be forgotten and declaring that any policy that doesn’t serve our people is an anti-Black one.
Can you help us continue our legacy of fighting for Black women by contributing $8?
We were founded in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, one of the deadliest natural disasters this country has seen and Black people were left for dead. Literally left stranded on their rooftops. And our elected leaders couldn’t have cared less, so we were founded to create the conditions where decisionmakers are held accountable and face consequences when they fail us. Not much has changed since 2005 for Black women. Black pregnant women are neglected by doctors even when they’re fighting for their lives right in the hospital, Black child-bearers are criminalized when taking their healthcare into their own hands, and Black trans women have a life expectancy age of 35 years old. There is still so much more work to be done and we’re in the fight for the long run. We’re doing more than just saying #TrustBlackWomen. We trust them, fight for them, and center them in all of our work.
Until justice is real,
--Scott, Rashad, Arisha, Clarise, Erika, Malachi, Marybeth, Marena, Madison, Leonard, Tamar, Neosho and the rest of the Color Of Change team
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Help keep our movement strong.
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Over the last two weeks, there has been a series of racist incidents on Syracuse University’s campus.
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A Black Syracuse Alum just started a petition to Syracuse University Chancellor Kent Syverud to: Hold Syracuse students accountable for their racist acts!
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Dear Jon, I just started a petition titled "Hold Syracuse students accountable for their racism!" A series of racist incidents have taken place on Syracuse University’s campus. Black students are being targeted with racist graffiti and racial slurs. A white supremacist manifesto from the New Zealand shooter was posted online to a Greek life forum and sent to several students’ phones.1 And a Black woman was verbally attacked by white fraternity members, who shouted the N-word at her.2 These incidents are jeopardizing Black students’ safety on campus. As an alum, I was disturbed. But I was not surprised. Join me in supporting Black Syracuse students as they demand accountability for students who commit racist acts. This is not the first instance of racism at Syracuse. Earlier this year, it was reported that a white student used a gun to pistol-whip and terrorize Black students at a party.3 Last year, a group of Theta Tau fraternity members performed and posted racist skits online. Although the students were suspended, some of them were allowed to return to class and to continue to learn alongside the same Black students who were harmed by their actions.4 The University’s insufficient responses to this pattern of bigotry demonstrates a blatant disregard for the health and safety of Black students. Join Black Syracuse students in calling on the University to implement anti-racist policies on campus. The University’s lackluster response here is unsurprising. Syracuse Chancellor Kent Syverud seems to care more about shutting down parties than protecting Black students. His vague commitments in response to these incidents show he’s not willing to take a strong stand against racism. Black students — people who have had to work two, three, four, or five times as hard to get into, and stay in, college — are having their college experience destroyed. We cannot allow white Syracuse students to keep threatening their Black peers. We will continue to support the Black community at Syracuse as they push for changes to university policies and for a campus where every Black student feels safe.5 By signing the petition, you will support Black students as they demand:
Join me in demanding that Syracuse create a safe campus for Black students. Thank you, References:
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Join us and start your own petition on OrganizeFor today!
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Help keep our movement strong.
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Dear Jon,
On November 8th, we had a chance to witness something that rarely happens. Tondalao Hall, a Black mother who was sentenced to 30 years for “failure to protect” her children from abuse was released from Mabel Correctional Facility in Oklahoma. She served 15 years behind bars simply for surviving domestic violence while her abuser, Robert Braxton, was never held accountable.
As I watched Tondalao reunite with her family I was both relieved and overjoyed. It was a special moment that so few incarcerated women get to experience. And that special moment that was hard-fought and won by community organizations like Project Blackbird. Project Blackbird, led by Candace Liger, is an organization that works to reimagine freedom for people and communities impacted by the criminal legal system. For years, community organizers in Oklahoma and advocates across the country pressured the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board, District Attorney David Prater, and finally Governor Stitt to release Tondalao from prison. Without Black women's unwavering commitment to center and defend Black women, Tondalao may have never been released. Now we need to raise $20,000 before 2020 to welcome her home and ensure her successful restoration.
Chip in $3 to support Tondalao and her family this Giving Tuesday.
Tondalao’s release happened one week after Governor Stitt approved the largest single-day mass commutation in the state's history, and just a few weeks after the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole board unanimously recommended Tondalao's commutation.1 As the result of a ballot initiative to declassify simple drug possession and low-level property offense, over 400 incarcerated folks were released to join their loved ones.2 And even though Tondalao's release didn't meet the requirements to be a part of the single-day mass commutation, it did create the momentum that Project Blackbird needed to demand her immediate freedom.3 There is no telling where Tondalao would be without other Black women leading the charge against this injustice and refusing to allow it to go unchallenged. The painful truth is this: Tondalao is just one of the thousands of Black women across the country who are criminalized for surviving abuse, incarcerated, and then separated from their families. While we continue to work to end these violent systems and institutions, we must do our part to ensure the people who suffer the indignity of incarceration are supported once they come home.
Tondalao is home. And she needs our support now more than ever. Will give $3 to support her as she rebuilds her life?
The future is bright for Tondalao. In the 15 years she sat behind bars she became a licensed cosmetologist -- an important milestone that will undoubtedly help her get started on a career after her release. Still, this transition will be challenging. Formerly incarcerated people face real barriers to resources that many of us take for granted such as housing, employment, healthcare, and so much more. We want to make sure she and her family never have to worry about basic necessities during this time. Jon, your contribution is crucial for Tondolao as she begins this next phase of her life.
Will you chip in to Tondalao's freedom fund?
Until justice is real,
--Clarise, Rashad, Arisha, Scott, Erika, Malachi, Marybeth, Marena, Madison, Leonard, Tamar, Neosho, and the rest of the Color Of Change team
References:
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Help keep our movement strong.
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Jon,
Imagine if the 2020 election was the first time you ever got to vote (maybe it is!).
For the past 4 years, you’ve had to watch as Donald Trump, his administration, and right-wing Congresspeople incited violence against people of color, threw children at the border in cages, threatened reproductive rights, refused to protect you from gun violence, and so much more. But now you’ve finally turned 18, and this is your first chance to use your voice and change the path of this country.
What a first election to be voting in, right?
We know these young people are angry, scared, and tired of not having a say-- and with your support, we could be the first people to reach them to turn that passion into action. Be one of the first to donate to our Black Youth 2020 fund today-- you can help us reach our Giving Tuesday goal of starting 2020 with $10,000 for this work!
Let us know what you chip in for Black youth. Even $1 makes a difference:
Young people today are part of the most racially diverse generation in our country’s history. In 2020, voters between 18 and 23 are expected to be 45% people of color; in comparison, voters 56 and older are projected to be about 75% white.1
And we know these young people want to vote. In the 2018 midterm elections, Black youth turnout was 35%, compared to just 24% in the 2014 midterms.2
With your support and the right plans, we can reinforce this rising tide of young Black voters. We’re launching new tools and resources to help flood the polls with new Black voters in 2020. Donate $5 to our Black Youth 2020 fund between now and Giving Tuesday and be a part of hitting our $10,000 goal!
We’ve been experimenting all of 2019 with new tools for young Black audiences. For example, we know that young people are much more likely to be on YouTube than Facebook these days, so we’ve begun testing YouTube ads to reach them. Another innovation is our Messenger chatbot, a tool that helps people learn more about our races and campaigns by chatting on an app, just like talking to a live person.
Your donation will allow us to deploy these tools far and wide in 2020, targeting young Black people in cities and states where their votes can literally change the course of elections-- meaning new district attorneys, new Congresspeople, and of course, a new president.
But to do all that, we need the funding to take our new tools to a national scale. Invest in Black youth this Giving Tuesday to support our Black Youth 2020 fund and help us start off 2020 with $10,000 to mobilize young Black voters!
Until justice is real,
Arisha, Jenni, Drew, Charles, Sabrina, Daniel, Tammi, Cristel, Scott and the Color Of Change PAC team
Sources
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ColorOfChange PAC is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Contributions to Color Of Change PAC are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes. This email was sent to yellow71486@. If you're absolutely sure you don't want to hear from Color Of Change again, click here to unsubscribe.
"America's Got Talent" has a bigotry problem. Tell advertisers to drop "America's Got Talent!" Take Action
Jon,
“America’s Got Talent” fired Gabrielle Union for being ‘too black.’ In a recent update, news was released that Gabrielle Union was not only fired from NBC’s competition show “America’s Got Talent” for speaking out against bigoted content, but was subjected to criticism because “her rotating hairstyles were ‘too black’ for the audience.”1,2 This kind of behavior is dehumanizing to Union, Black viewers, and Black people everywhere, and America’s Got Talent must be held accountable.
Demand that advertisers who sponsor “America’s Got Talent” immediately drop the show.
Please see the email below for more information about this issue.
“America’s Got Talent” must be held accountable. Recently, Gabrielle Union supposedly left her role at reality competition show “America’s Got Talent” because she was “busy.” Since then, it has come to light that Union was fired from the program for speaking out against the show’s racism and sexism. “America’s Got Talent” is a show that reaches millions of people. And Gabrielle Union is reported to have increased the show’s viewership.3 It is not only unacceptable that this show has a bigotry problem, but that they fired their wildly popular Black host for speaking out against it.
It’s 2019 and we believe it is about time for shows that permit bigotry to lose their platform — and their funding. Tell advertisers to drop “America’s Got Talent.”
This is not the first time “America’s Got Talent” has had problems. In 2017, Nick Cannon left the show because of their attempts to “silence and control [his] outspoken voice.”4 And, it’s been reported that the show “replace[s]...women and blacks at Simon [Cowell]’s whim.”5 This history of sexism and racism problems at the show demonstrate a blatant disregard for the wellbeing of the Black entertainers they hire, and shows a level of carelessness towards viewers that must change.
One of the most effective ways to change behavior of TV executives and decision-makers behind-the-scenes is to eliminate a show’s funding source. Join us in calling on advertisers to drop “America’s Got Talent.”
But it is not only bigotry behind-the-scenes that’s a problem here. The decision to remove Gabrielle Union from “America’s Got Talent” sets a precedent that Black women — and our voices — don’t matter. Black women work tirelessly, today and throughout history, to make invaluable contributions to activism, politics, art, entertainment, and culture. Our successes come with great sacrifice, and are the result of perseverance, resilience, and hard work. America’s Got Talent’s decision to remove Gabrielle Union from the show sends the message that Black women are disposable. At a time when Black women are too often abused, ignored, or disregarded, this decision is not just wrong, it’s dangerous.6
Tell advertisers to take a stand against America’s Got Talent’s bigotry and drop the show for good.
Until justice is real,
—Jade, Rashad, Arisha, Johnny, Future, Amanda, Evan, Imani, Samantha, Eesha, Marcus, FolaSade, and the rest of the Color Of Change team
References:
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Help keep our movement strong.
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Jon,
The NCAA continues to criminalize Black student-athletes for not having money. Last year, Chase Young, a star defensive football player for the Ohio Buckeyes, sought after his dream of having his family see him play in one of the biggest football events of the year, The Rosebowl. He had to borrow money from a family friend to pay for airfare for his family to travel for the game, and he paid the family friend back. But the NCAA put Young under investigation, and suspended him two games, forcing him to sit out of games that jeopardized his chances of winning the Heisman trophy.1
In Memphis, the NCAA is sabotaging basketball star, James Wiseman, for the financial support that his family was given, without his knowledge, when he was in high school. Wiseman’s then high school coach, Penny Hardaway helped pay for him and his family to relocate to a better high school.2 But because of this, the NCAA started an investigation and is blocking him from playing.3
The Investigations of Chase Young and James Wiseman demonstrate that the NCAA cannot be trusted to manage the finances of Black student-athletes. This is why we need Congressional oversight on fair pay for Black student-athletes.
Demand that Congress institute legislation to end the exploitation of Black student-athletes across the country!
The dollar amount of Chase Young’s airfare and James Wiseman’s family support is miniscule when compared to the billions NCAA will make off of these athletes this season. The NCAA signed a TV deal with CBS Sports and Turner Broadcasting to air its March Madness tournament that will make them a billion dollars a year.4 Yet NCAA is criminalizing Chase Young and James Wiseman over thousand-dollar transactions meant to help their families.
The NCAA recently succumbed to national pressure to allow athletes to earn money from the use of their names, images, and likenesses. But because this is the NCAA, we know there will be arbitrary limitations for how and when players can earn and spend their own money. The scrutiny over student-athlete finances will only increase as the players are exposed to more economic opportunity, as seen in the cases of James Wiseman and Chase Young. We can’t leave it up to the NCAA to create fair rules for student-athletes.
Color Of Change members fought and won fair pay for our student-athletes in California. Now, we must make sure we do the same for student-athletes around the nation. Federal legislation must be created to limit the authority of the NCAA in determining economic opportunities for Black student-athletes. Several members of Congress are already on board to end NCAA’s dictatorship.
Demand federal legislation to protect them from NCAA’s exploitation!
Until justice is real,
Jade, Rashad, Arisha, Johnny, Evan, Future, Amanda, Eesha, Samantha, Marcus, FolaSade and the rest of the Color of Change team
References:
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Help keep our movement strong.
If you're absolutely sure you don't want to hear from Color Of Change again, click here to unsubscribe.
Hey Jon,
I'm sure your inbox is flooded with Cyber Monday deals right now. That's why I'm going to keep my message short. This Cyber Monday, I'm asking you to donate to Color Of Change PAC so we can elect District Attorneys that are invested in Black communities. District Attorneys are among the most powerful roles in the criminal justice system, and it's crucial that we have your support to elect DAs that Black folks can trust.
We need to raise $200,000 by December 31st to make sure we're adequately funded to get good DAs elected in difficult races throughout 2020. Will you help us?
YES -- I believe that Black people deserve local leaders that can be held accountable in the fight for a more fair and equal criminal justice system. I’ll support Color Of Change PAC on Cyber Monday with a $10 donation.
Until justice is real,
Arisha
(P.S. Check out this email below I sent last week about why you should support our #GivingTuesday campaign.)
Jon,
November 28th is #GivingTuesday and our case is simple: your contributions will help Color Of Change PAC elect District Attorneys that are invested in justice for Black communities.
YES -- I believe that Black people deserve local leaders that can be held accountable in the fight for a more fair and equal criminal justice system. I’ll support Color Of Change PAC on #GivingTuesday with a $10 donation.
In 2020, we are reaching a tipping point in the movement for racial justice. Not only are we working to finally get rid of Trump, but we’re working to help elect officials whose work impacts Black people even more directly -- District Attorneys in critical target areas nationwide.
Your donations give Color Of Change PAC the flexibility to help elect DAs that are accountable to Black people in a way few organizations can — we meet Black people where they are. Whether it’s hosting brunches fostering Black joy and getting folks informed about elections, or educating Black folks online through Facebook and YouTube election ads, we are committed to making sure hundreds of thousands of Black people have a chance to be heard at the polls.
With your help, we can raise funds to build independent Black political power through winning crucial local elections for communities that deserve justice. By supporting our #GivingTuesday campaign today, you’re showing your commitment to the bigger picture.
Our fight is bigger than just unseating Trump. District Attorney is one of the most powerful roles in our criminal justice system. They set prosecutor priorities and help shape sentencing. They can either choose to acknowledge that policing and prosecution are systematically racist and commit to changing this reality -- or they can continue maximizing conviction counts by any means necessary. We believe that America can do better. We believe that America must do better by Black folks and all those unfairly targeted by bad District Attorneys.
We need to raise $200,000 by December 31st to make sure we're adequately funded to get good DAs elected in difficult races throughout 2020. Help us hit our $25,000 #GivingTuesday goal. Will you chip in $10 today?
Until justice is real,
Arisha, Jennifer, Drew, Charles, Cristel, Scott, Tammi, Daniel and the Color Of Change PAC team
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Paid Pol. Adv. paid for by ColorOfChange PAC, 1714 Franklin St., Oakland, CA 94612, independently of and not authorized or approved by any federal, state, or local candidate or candidate’s committee.
ColorOfChange PAC is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Contributions to Color Of Change PAC are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes. This email was sent to yellow71486@. If you're absolutely sure you don't want to hear from Color Of Change again, click here to unsubscribe.
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Dear Jon,
Since starting three years ago, the National Bailout Collective1 has bailed out over 450 Black women and caretakers across the country. In Maryland, over 50 Black women escaped the nightmare of a jail cell.
In preparation for next year’s Black Mama's Bail Out, local organizers in Maryland are taking their efforts to the next level by launching the first-ever #FreeBlackMamas house. The #FreeBlackMamas house will be a communal space for Black women to rest easy, breathe and clear their heads, get healthy, and most importantly, build their case for when they go back to court.
We know that getting released from jail is only half the battle. Once a Black woman is freed, she will need to find the resources to fight her charges, but that becomes increasingly difficult to do once her life has been disrupted by money bail. That is why we are raising money for #FreeBlackMamas DMV, so local activists can provide housing to recently bailed out Black women for at least one year. The #FreeBlackMamas house represents a chance to beat the odds.
On this Giving Tuesday, it would mean so much to have your first-ever donation go towards the #FreeBlackMamas house. Consider giving the gift of peace and stability to Black mamas today.
Black women often serve as anchors for many Black families. Once a Black woman is jailed, she is more likely to disappear into the system because there is hardly anyone to support her. She is often alone. And while a Black woman sits in a cage, awaiting trial, she could lose her job, her home and in some circumstances, even her children.
Thankfully, we have another vision that is powered by our love for Black women. In the #FreeBlackMamas house, Black women will receive access to legal support, career coaching, and the chance to participate in wellness programs such as art, yoga, and so much more. Black women will also be able to connect with each other as they begin to navigate the criminal legal system. This is Black love in action. This is what true community looks like. And this is where you come in, Jon. We need your support to make it happen.
If we raise $20,000 in the next 4 weeks, the #FreeBlackMamas House can get off to a good start. Here's how.
For too long, the money bail system has wreaked havoc in our community. In fact, the two billion dollar bail bond industry is quite literally profiting from the separation and destruction of Black families. But we are creating something new -- something more powerful with the #FreeBlackMamas house. Since we started doing Mama’s Day Bailouts 458 women have been reunited with their families. We can do so much more -- but it starts with your contribution.
Until justice is real,
-- Clarise, Rashad, Arisha, Scott, Erika, Malachi, Marybeth, Madison, Leonard, Marena, Tamar, Neosho and the rest of the Color Of Change team
References:
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Help keep our movement strong.
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Stand with the students of Del Paso Elementary Demand that the San Juan Unified School district meet our six demands! Take Action
Ms. Kincaid, a parent-volunteer at Del Paso Elementary school in Sacramento, California, recently taught a lesson about the art and activism that occurs in communities and in schools. She encouraged students to create a poster detailing a cause they care about. Four students at the school chose to create art in support of Black Lives Matter. But, when the classroom teacher, Mr. Madden, saw these projects, he thought them to be too political, and he threw one of the student's projects away.1
Mr. Madden tried to silence students who were inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement. Stand with the students of Del Paso Elementary School against efforts to silence their support of Black Lives Matter.
When Ms. Kincaid spoke to school authorities about Mr. Madden’s decision to throw out the students’ projects, the school principal and other administrators not only supported the Mr. Madden’s decision, but also banned Ms. Kincaid from being an art docent.
Stand with the students and parents of Del Paso Elementary to demand the school district reverse its discriminatory decision.
This seemingly one-off incident is part of a history of anti-Blackness in California schools. Recently, Black students in three different California school districts were targeted and treated with hostility.2 One of those three school districts banned Black Lives Matter signs and stickers.3 And Black students in California and across the country are 3.4 times more likely to be disciplined than white students.4 Other students focused their projects on topics like the environment, and those projects were deemed worthy. Throwing out students’ Black Lives Matter projects sends a message to Black children and other children at California schools that Black people’s dignity and humanity is not important. It also sends a message to the students that they should be ashamed of Black Lives Matter. But students should not be shamed for supporting Black Lives Matter; they should be encouraged!
Ms. Kincaid and students are fighting back. They hired an attorney who sent a letter to the Superintendent of the school district last month. Mr. Madden, the classroom teacher, and school administrators are not above that law, and they cannot prohibit these students’ Black Lives Matter posters, which are considered protected speech under the California education code.5 We must hold them accountable for silencing students’ voices and denying the dignity and humanity of Black people.
In collaboration with other civil rights orgs, we demand that the school:
Demand that the San Juan Unified School district reverse their discriminatory decision, and meet our six demands!
Until justice is real,
Jade, Rashad, Arisha, Johnny, Amanda, Evan, Future, Eesha, Samantha, Marcus, FolaSade, and the rest of the Color Of Change team
References:
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Help keep our movement strong.
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Dear Jon,
Netflix has been streaming a reality show called “Border Security: America's Front Line,” a series that follows Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents as they “safeguard the nation’s crossings.”1 But what CBP does is far from making this country safe. Time and time again, CBP has made it clear that it’s dedicated to carrying out Trump’s racist, xenophobic agenda. Its agents have been targeting racial minorities, separating children from their families, abusing LGBTQ+ people, and engaging in other heinous acts.2,3,4 Airing a program that glorifies these atrocities is disturbing.
Tell Netflix to prohibit reality series that portray law enforcement.
CBP habitually demonizes Black and Latinx people. It creates fear in our communities and makes our people feel unsafe in their own homes. “Border Security: America’s Front Line,” however, make CBP agents look like heroes. But there is nothing heroic about an agency that tear-gassed refugees, continues to jail migrant children, and has even denied people necessities like soap and flu vaccines.5 What this show really does is perpetuate xenophobia and create fear and hysteria toward immigrants and Black communities.
Tell Netflix to stop streaming reality shows that glorify law enforcement.
Increasingly, Black migrants are seeking safety through the United States-Mexico border, and law enforcement’s demonization of Black people knows no bounds.6 By racially profiling our people and creating fear among our communities, law enforcement agencies make Black Americans and vulnerable Black migrants feel unsafe in their own homes and unwelcome in this country. Despite these disturbing realities, Netflix’s “Border Security: America’s Front Line” glorifies law enforcement agents, and neglects to show the atrocities that agencies like CBP regularly commit. This show is perpetuating fear and hysteria toward Black communities and immigrants, and it is unacceptable that Netflix continues to stream it.
Join us in demanding Netflix remove programs portraying law enforcement from its platform.
Until justice is real,
—Jade, Rashad, Arisha, Johnny, Future, Amanda, Evan, Imani, Samantha, Eesha, Marcus, FolaSade, and the rest of the Color Of Change team
References:
Photo: Institute for Policy Studies.
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Help keep our movement strong.
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Dear Jon,
The University of North Carolina (UNC) is currently providing financial support for the headquarters of the Sons of Confederate Veterans. Funding for this hate-filled group came at the expense of two university centers: the Center on Poverty and Workforce Development and the Center for Civil Rights. There's no mistaking what's unacceptable about this. A state university is prioritizing funding for a certified hate group,1 whose primary function is to promote white supremacy, over institutions that respond to the needs of Black people and vulnerable communities.
Tell the University of North Carolina governing board it should not be funding the Sons of Confederate Veterans
In addition, UNC gave the Sons of Confederate Veterans $2.5 million to keep its “Silent Sam” Confederate statue after students and other university supporters removed it last spring2. The Sons of Confederate Veterans is a violent organization. The statue was erected in 1913 by a former UNC trustee as he whipped a Black woman for insulting it.3 Their mission statement, “committing to the vindication of the Civil War,4” is a continuous reminder that they are heavily invested in a return to slavery. The way the governing board has bent over backwards for neo-Confederates makes its actions loud and clear: the University of North Carolina system does not foster a community that cares about Black lives.
Sign our petition demanding the Board of Governors stop funding white supremacy with state university dollars.
After the governing board’s $2.5 million contribution was disclosed, the Sons of Confederate Veterans referred to the outcome as a victory, following their unsuccessful attempt to sue the university for the student removal of this tribute to slavery. The governing board insisted on secrecy surrounding their funding and did not want the $2.5million donation to be made public.5 The Board’s failed attempts to censor these dealings tell us even they knew they were wrong.
The most shameful thing about all this is the university is funding hate at the expense of two essential centers that would truly support and grow the institution and surrounding community. The governing board fired the attorneys affiliated with the Civil Rights Center6 and had to return funds that supported its Center on Poverty and Workforce Development.7 For the Board of Governors to use the university's platform and money in this way is a slap in the face to justice-minded North Carolinians and any Black person affiliated with the university.The University of North Carolina Board of Governors is a part of a violent cornerstone of the white South that ensures Black people remain in political, economic, and social subordination. We must push back.
Tell the Board of Governors to stop funding Confederate hate.
Until justice is real,
-Jade, Rashad, Arisha, Amanda, Evan, Johnny, Eesha, Future, Marcus, Samantha, FolaSade, and the rest of the Color Of Change team
References:
1. “Neo-Confederates." Southern Poverty Law Center.https://act.colorofchange.org/go/220883?t=9&akid=39720%2E4887299%2EvASR3U
2. “UNC's Deal to Give Confederate Group $2.5 million Comes Before Lawsuit.” News and Observer. December 2, 2019.https://act.colorofchange.org/go/220884?t=11&akid=39720%2E4887299%2EvASR3U
3. "Who is Silent Sam."University of North Carolina Library. 1912 - 1914. https://act.colorofchange.org/go/220884?t=13&akid=39720%2E4887299%2EvASR3U
4."Sons of Confederate Veterans." SCV.org. December 3, 2019. https://act.colorofchange.org/go/220886?t=15&akid=39720%2E4887299%2EvASR3U
5.“Read the Victory Letter a White Nationalist Sent His Followers After Receiving $2.5 million from UNC.” BoingBoing. December 5, 2019.https://act.colorofchange.org/go/220887?t=17&akid=39720%2E4887299%2EvASR3U
6.“UNC Center for Civil Rights Attorneys Are Out of A Job.” News & Observer. October 19, 2017. https://act.colorofchange.org/go/220888?t=19&akid=39720%2E4887299%2EvASR3U
7.“No More Poverty in North Carolina:UNC Governing Board to Close School's Poverty Center.” Washington Post. February 5, 2015.https://act.colorofchange.org/go/220888?t=21&akid=39720%2E4887299%2EvASR3U
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Jon,
Once again, Governor John Bel Edwards is allowing corporate greed to endanger Black people’s lives in Louisiana. Formosa Plastics has applied to Louisiana’s Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to build a 9.4 billion dollar petrochemical plant in the predominantly Black community of St. James Parish, Louisiana.1 And with several permits already moving through the department successfully, it looks like they are going to be approved. The problem? Formosa Plastic’s plant proposes to emit a chemical that a 2016 EPA study has proven causes cancer, “even with limited exposure.”2 There is no other way to say it. If this chemical plant is built, Black people will die. This is why we must speak up now, before it’s too late.
Let Governor John Bel Edwards know we won’t sit by while corporations poison our people. The time to protect our communities is now.
This isn’t the first chemical plant that has been approved in the region. The stretch of the Mississippi river where the company intends to build has long been referred to as “Cancer Alley” after the parish adopted a land-use plan that designated large swaths of agricultural land for industrial use in 2014.3 Since then, several multi-billion dollar companies have built major manufacturing plants that emit some of the highest levels of waste and pollution in the country in a region where Black people make up just under 50% of the population. This is unacceptable.
Another Black community poisioned by corporate greed and abandoned by the government. We cannot allow this to happen. Sign now.
Time and time again, the state of Louisiana has demonstrated that it values profit more than it values Black people’s lives. According to a ProPublica analysis, the air around Formosa’s plants is more toxic with cancer-causing chemicals than 99.6% of industrialized areas of the country4. Just last month, Formosa Plastics was required to pay residents of Texas $50 million dollars for the impact of illegally dumping billions of plastic pellets and other pollutants into Lavaca Bay and other waterways. Still, despite the devastation the company has caused across the country, DEQ seems poised to grant them more land, resources and space. And despite the fact that Formosa’s currently-operating PVC site in Baton Rouge has been out of compliance with the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act for the past three years, Governor John Bel Edwards recently announced a 332 million dollar investment of taxpayer dollars into the company’s expansion in Louisiana.5 This isn’t right.
Formosa Plastics is counting on us to turn a blind eye to the disaster it is creating. Tell Governor John Bel Edwards that it’s his duty to stop them.
We’ve long known that pollution takes its greatest toll on the health of Black communities, who are often left with few resources or recourse. Environmental racism continues to place Black people in close proximity to pollution and other environmental hazards.6 Black children suffer disproportionately from asthma, and are seven to eight times more likely to die of asthma than white children.7 Communities of color face nearly 40% more exposure to toxic air pollution than white communities.8 Formosa Plastics is counting on environmental racism and to get away with their crimes and Governor John Bel Edwards is giving them the free pass they need to do it. We can’t let that happen.
Sign now to demand that Governor John Bel Edwards does his job and protects his constituents. Take action to stop Formosa Plastics from poisoning Louisiana’s Black communities.
Until justice is real,
—Jade, Rashad, Arisha, Johnny, Future, Amanda, Evan, Imani, Samantha, Eesha, Marcus, FolaSade, and the rest of the Color Of Change team
References:
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Help keep our movement strong.
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Dear Jon,
You fought with us and together, we won! Earlier this year, we began to fight the injustice of hair discrimination against Black people across America. Because of your support, Color Of Change and the Crown coalition got bills passed in California, New York and New Jersey.1 And now, after weeks and months of work, federal legislation has finally been introduced to Congress!
We are almost there! Support us in getting federal protections passed to end hair hate in our lifetime!
Hair discrimination isn't just a tool of gatekeeping, it has serious impact on our health as well. Just last week, we learned that hair straighteners are linked to higher cancer rates in Black women.2 The expectation that Black women conform for 'professionalism' and outdated standards of 'beauty' is literally killing us. We deserve a fair shake. We deserve to be unapologetically Black. We deserve better than this.
Join us in getting is incredible legislation passed in our lifetime!
And it's not just Black women. Across America, kids are being shamed for having hair that is too Black, telling them again and again they aren't good enough; that Black isn't good enough. Black kids like 6 year old Clinton Stanley Jr.3 was sent home from A Book’s Christian Academy for having locks, 11 year old Faith Finnedy4 was sent home from Christ the King for wearing box braids to school, and 8 year old Marian Scott who was told she could not participate in her school picture day because of her hair.5
Black children everywhere deserve to be proud of who they are and our job is to pave the way for them.
Right now, we need your help to finish this fight. What's clear is that when we fight, we win. You made your voices heard for the first few rounds, and now it's time for us to stop hair hate in its tracks completely.
Until justice is real,
--Jade, Rashad, Arisha, Evan, Johnny, Future, Eesha, Sam, Folasade, Marcus, Amanda, and the rest of the Color Of Change team
References:
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Help keep our movement strong.
If you're absolutely sure you don't want to hear from Color Of Change again, click here to unsubscribe.
Here's how we'll do it
Hey Jon,
2019 is coming to an end, and I want to thank you.
Thank you for all you’ve done this year to bring Black Joy into our world. Thank you for all the ways you’ve used your voice to build power in Black communities. Thank you for signing our petitions, for reading our emails, for engaging with us on social media, for sharing the word about racial justice with your people. A movement is nothing without the folks who make it up, and you have been a crucial part of our movement for Black people this year.
But Jon, there is one more thing you can do as a part of this movement: help make sure we have the resources we need to launch into 2020.
We have 14 days left in the year and I’m not exaggerating when I say that even $1 helps. So please don’t hesitate to give anything you can today to invest in winning for Black people.
In 2019, one of our biggest accomplishments was electing a new mayor in Flint, Michigan, Sheldon Neeley. Neeley is already in office, and we are holding him to his campaign promises to ensure clean water, good education and safe communities to the people of Flint.
We experimented with lots of new tactics in the Flint race, from YouTube ads to talking to folks through Facebook Messenger to community debate watch parties. Since then, we’ve been reflecting on everything we learned, and dreaming and strategizing together on how to scale it up everything for big races across the country in 2020.
In 2019, we refined our skills. In 2020, we’re bringing them to the front lines. In District Attorney races, Congressional races, and of course the presidential race, we’ll be engaging Black communities like no one else, building leaders and inspiring a massive Black wave at the polls.
Jon, you have 14 days left to support us in 2019. Launch our 2020 movement by donating just $1, or whatever you can.
2020 is going to be one of the most challenging years of our lives-- but with people like you standing with us, I have a pretty good feeling we can come out with some game-changing wins for Black people.
Thank you for all you do, Jon. Happy holidays, and have a new year bursting with Black Joy.
Until justice is real,
Arisha, Jenni, Drew, Charles, Tammi, Daniel, Cristel, Scott and the Color Of Change PAC team
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Paid Pol. Adv. paid for by ColorOfChange PAC, 1714 Franklin St., Oakland, CA 94612, independently of and not authorized or approved by any federal, state, or local candidate or candidate’s committee.
ColorOfChange PAC is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Contributions to Color Of Change PAC are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes. This email was sent to yellow71486@. If you're absolutely sure you don't want to hear from Color Of Change again, click here to unsubscribe.
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Jon.
We have less than 30 days to raise $10,000 in order to put books written by Black authors into the hands of NYC public school students. Our children deserve an education that reflects and empowers them, and we can make a difference going into 2020. In this season of giving, will you chip in $10 to support our kids?
Black New York City public school children are about to complete yet another semester in school without having read a single book containing characters who look like them, live like them, or have similar experiences. Without curricula to reflect them, our history and childhood experiences are being erased.1
Jon, last year, in response to over 20,000 Color Of Change members taking action, the New York City invested $23 million to provide implicit bias and culturally responsive practice training over the next four years. And this year, thanks to you, NYC has adopted a formal definition for “culturally responsive education.”2 We won’t stop fighting until we have a curriculum change, but that doesn’t mean our children have to wait.
Of the 42 authors in the Mayor's Pre-K for All curriculum, there are zero Black writers, and of the 121 in the Mayor's 3-K curriculum, only three are Black - while 109 are white.3 Children cannot be what they cannot see - will you join Color Of Change to provide them with books that provide a world of possibility and potential?
Jon, your donation could make a huge difference in a child's life. Here’s how:
Racism and bias in schools constitutes a national crisis, and more work needs to be done to ensure that culturally responsive education policies and curriculum are implemented — not just defined.
You can make a difference this school year by gifting a book that will provide cultural enrichment and the joy of reading to a New York City elementary school student.
Until justice is real,
--Jade, Rashad, Arisha, Amanda, Evan, Johnny, Future, Eesha, Samantha, Marcus, FolaSade, and the rest of the Color Of Change team
References:
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Help keep our movement strong.
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Dear Jon,
Imagine a world where every Black person is free -- free from the real threat of mass incarceration. Imagine no longer having to fear or experience separation from loved ones or having to choose between being dragged through the criminal legal system. At Color of Change, this is the world that we are trying to create for Black people. And we need your support to do it.
It's no secret -- the criminal legal system targets Black people at every turn. One-third of Black men will face a felony conviction in their lifetime and Black people are almost 6 times more likely to be incarcerated than white or Latinx people.1 And Black women are the fastest-growing segment of the prison population in the United States -- making up 29 percent of the incarcerated population but only around 7 percent of the total population.2 This system of punishment is steeped in racial bias from over-policing to disproportionate sentencing practices. Black people are still more likely to be arrested face higher charges, and sentenced for longer periods of time. But with your help, we can put a wrench in the system.
Give BLACK this holiday season and help make justice real.
This year, you have been instrumental in some of the major wins. It’s because of supporters like you, who have signed petitions, shown up at rallies or joined the fight online, that we’ve been able to get one step closer to ending mass incarceration. If you support our work today, then you’ll be helping us to sustain our campaign efforts to build a more just world for Black people in 2020. Your support will go a long way to ensure we can publicly pressure decision-makers to meet our demands through both online and offline tactics including digital ads and billboards that help build momentum right before a petition delivery, rally, or press conference.
And so far, you’ve played a huge part in helping us push the needle in the right direction. Here is just a mini snapshot of our wins in 2019:
We did this together, Jon. We could not do this without you. We are building a community at Color of Change that creates REAL life wins for Black folks. And this is just the beginning. We want to head into 2020 with much-needed resources to KEEP winning. And that's where you come in. Jon, help make justice real.
Yes, I will contribute to building a better world for Black folks in 2020.
Until justice is real,
--Clarise, Rashad, Arisha, Scott, Erika, Malachi, Marybeth, Marena, Madison, Leonard, Tamar, Neosho, and the rest of the Color of Change team
P.S. Make your donation monthly you'll get an Until Justice is Real tote in the mail!
References:
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Help keep our movement strong.
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Dear Jon,
We’re hosting our inaugural Black Mama’s Bail Out Toy and Winter Coat Drive!
This past May, Color of Change members like you helped us raise over 1 million dollars for National Bail Out’s1 third annual Black Mama’s Day Bail Out. Because of the support of people like you, we were able to bail out dozens of mamas and caregivers from jails across the country, just in time to spend Mother’s Day with their children and families. Your support didn’t end there, y’all helped us fund year-long fellowships with National Bail Out, that gave fellows resources to contribute back to their communities and bail out other Black people. This is the power we have as a community when we support each other, we can beat systems that were created to destroy us.
The Black mamas and caregivers of the Bail Outs and ALL Black caregivers sacrifice so much for their loved ones day in and day out, so it’s only right that we give back to them so they have one less thing to worry about during the holidays. We’re gifting them, their children and families with toys, winter clothes, and other essential items all season long, and we need you to join our drive so we can bring as much Black joy to these families as possible.
Jon, will you join our toy and winter clothes drive for the bailed-out Black mamas and caregivers by pitching in $15.
Community support and our deep-rooted love for one another are so vital to combat the trauma mass incarceration causes so many of our loved ones. We know that it’s our communities that keep us safe, protect us, and help us heal, and not systems of power like the police. This is how we as a community are showing up for Black families affected by incarceration -- first, we bailed them out so they can be in their family’s loving embrace, then we ensured they have the resources they need to thrive post-release, and lastly, we’re spreading much-needed Black joy during the holiday season and beyond. We’re showing up for Black families in ways that our elected leaders and governing bodies should be doing for us daily.
And while it’s important that our Black caregivers and their babies wake up to gifts and toys this Christmas, we also have to rally as a community to provide them with winter clothes and essentials so basic things like getting to school daily is not a problem. Color Of Change will be collaborating with National Bail Out and their partners to get wish lists from bailed out mamas and caregivers for the things they need the most.
Give back for the holiday season by contributing $15 so we can purchase gifts, winter clothes, and toys for the children of the Black Mama’s Day Bail Out.
Beyond this holiday season, we will continue to support these Black mamas, their babies, their families, and free even more Black mamas and caregivers from cages. If we can provide them with the resources they need to thrive this holiday season and beyond, our next annual Black Mama’s Day Bail Out squad will be even stronger and we can ensure more bailouts for families.
Yes, count me in to support the Black families of the Bail Out!
Until justice is real,
--Scott, Rashad, Arisha, Clarise, Erika, Malachi, Marybeth, Marena, Madison, Leonard, Tamar, Neosho and the rest of the Color Of Change team
References:
1. The National Bail Out collective is a Black-led and Black-centered collective of abolitionist organizers, lawyers, and activists building a community-based movement to support our folks and end mass incarceration. Learn more, join their mailing list, and get involved at http://act.colorofchange.org/go/122870?t=9&akid=40126%2E4887299%2E8AE3jW
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and her name is Arisha.
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Paid Pol. Adv. paid for with regulated funds by ColorOfChange PAC, 1714 Franklin St., Oakland, CA 94612, independently of any candidate. Not authorized or approved by any federal, state, or local candidate or candidate’s committee.
ColorOfChange PAC is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Contributions to Color Of Change PAC are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes. This email was sent to yellow71486@. If you're absolutely sure you don't want to hear from Color Of Change again, click here to unsubscribe.
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Dear Jon,
Netflix is streaming a reality show called “Border Security: America's Front Line,” a series that follows Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents as they “safeguard the nation’s crossings,” despite the fact that CBP has demonstrated its dedication to harming immigrants and Black communities.
This program, and other reality programs about law enforcement, glorify the atrocities that law enforcement agencies commit. But, we at Color Of Change are working to stop programs like this from airing. Take action with us now and tell Netflix to stop streaming shows reality shows that portray law enforcement.
Please see the email below for more information about this issue.
Netflix has been streaming a reality show called “Border Security: America's Front Line,” a series that follows Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents as they “safeguard the nation’s crossings.”1 But what CBP does is far from making this country safe. Time and time again, CBP has made it clear that it’s dedicated to carrying out Trump’s racist, xenophobic agenda. Its agents have been targeting racial minorities, separating children from their families, abusing LGBTQ+ people, and engaging in other heinous acts.2,3,4 Airing a program that glorifies these atrocities is disturbing.
Tell Netflix to prohibit reality series that portray law enforcement.
CBP habitually demonizes Black and Latinx people. It creates fear in our communities and makes our people feel unsafe in their own homes. “Border Security: America’s Front Line,” however, make CBP agents look like heroes. But there is nothing heroic about an agency that tear-gassed refugees, continues to jail migrant children, and has even denied people necessities like soap and flu vaccines.5 What this show really does is perpetuate xenophobia and create fear and hysteria toward immigrants and Black communities.
Tell Netflix to stop streaming reality shows that glorify law enforcement.
Increasingly, Black migrants are seeking safety through the United States-Mexico border, and law enforcement’s demonization of Black people knows no bounds.6 By racially profiling our people and creating fear among our communities, law enforcement agencies make Black Americans and vulnerable Black migrants feel unsafe in their own homes and unwelcome in this country. Despite these disturbing realities, Netflix’s “Border Security: America’s Front Line” glorifies law enforcement agents, and neglects to show the atrocities that agencies like CBP regularly commit. This show is perpetuating fear and hysteria toward Black communities and immigrants, and it is unacceptable that Netflix continues to stream it.
Join us in demanding Netflix remove programs portraying law enforcement from its platform.
Until justice is real,
—Brandi, Rashad, Arisha, Jade, Johnny, Future, Amanda, Evan, Imani, Samantha, Eesha, Marcus, FolaSade, and the rest of the Color Of Change team
References:
Photo: Institute for Policy Studies.
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Help keep our movement strong.
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Paid Pol. Adv. paid for with regulated funds by ColorOfChange PAC, 1714 Franklin St., Oakland, CA 94612, independently of any candidate. Not authorized or approved by any federal, state, or local candidate or candidate’s committee.
ColorOfChange PAC is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Contributions to Color Of Change PAC are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes. This email was sent to yellow71486@. If you're absolutely sure you don't want to hear from Color Of Change again, click here to unsubscribe.
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Predatory lenders are showing up in places you might never expect.
Payday lenders are no longer only providing loans through brick-and-mortar stores in Black communities. Payday lending mobile apps are experiencing a surge in popularity, and can be easily accessed through Apple’s App Store. Much like payday loan stores, payday lending apps market themselves as quick fixes for low-income people. In reality, these apps trap people in loans with outrageous interest rates and impossible payment schedules.1
Call on Apple to restrict payday lending mobile apps and advertisements on their platform.
Although they may seem less manipulative because they charge less than brick-and-mortar payday loan stores, payday lending apps are just as bad. Much like payday stores, these apps use loans disguised as short-term relief to trap communities of color in debt and “systematically strip wealth from low-income communities.”2 Between their high interest rates and their easy access, payday loan apps have the potential to financially destroy Black families through unmanageable terms, continual refinancing, and high default rates.3,4
Black and low-income communities turn to payday loans because they advertise that they’ll help in financial emergencies. According to USA Today, 46% of Americans cannot come up with $400 if needed for an emergency.5 Payday lenders take advantage of our families’ most vulnerable moments to provide high-cost loans that, over time, widen the wealth gap between Black and white families.6 We must put a stop to these immoral practices.
Tell Apple to ban payday lending apps.
As a Color Of Change member, you’ve supported us over the years as we’ve fought against payday lenders’ harmful practices. But the popularity of payday lending apps shows us that our work is far from over. Tech leaders like Google and Facebook have already taken steps to prohibit payday lending stores from advertising on their platforms. We want to see Apple step up and join this impactful work. If Apple restricts payday lending apps from appearing in the App Store, they can help to protect families of color and low-income people from being trapped in lifelong debt.
We must protect our communities from lifelong debt. Tell Apple to keep payday lending apps out of the App Store.
Until justice is real,
—Brandi, Rashad, Arisha, Jade, Johnny, Future, Amanda, Evan, Imani, Samantha, Eesha, Marcus, FolaSade, and the rest of the Color Of Change team
References:
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Help keep our movement strong.
If you're absolutely sure you don't want to hear from Color Of Change again, click here to unsubscribe.
It’s clear we’re going to need to come out stronger than ever before to protect Black voters and win for our people in this brand new decade. Are you with us?
Wow Jon -- we only have a few hours left in this decade! Can you believe that?
Over 360 people have donated to support our end-of-decade push, but I’m reaching out because we haven’t heard from you.
You still have time-- join them to make sure we can come out stronger than ever to win for Black people in 2020. Donate today before the year ends.
Thank you,
Norm
Hey Jon,
You haven’t gotten an email from me before, but I wanted to introduce myself. My name is Norm, and I’m the new Chief Financial and Administrative Officer at Color Of Change PAC.
Usually, I stay behind the scenes, but with just a few days left in 2019 and a lot going down, I needed to speak up. 2020 is already shaping up to be a huge battle for us--this month in Georgia, over 300,000 voters were purged from the rolls, and another 230,000 are at risk in Wisconsin.
These purges disproportionately affect voters of color, students, and low-income people.1
Stacey Abrams lost the governor’s race in Georgia in 2018 by 21,000 votes. The number of purged voters is 14 times more than that.1
Trump won Wisconsin in 2016 by 22,000 votes. The number of voters at risk of purge is more than 10 times that.1
It’s clear we’re going to need to come out stronger than ever before to protect Black voters and win for our people in this brand new decade. Are you with us?
Yes I’ll donate $20.20 before the year ends for a powerful 2020.
Yes I’ll donate another amount.
We’ve spent most of this year making plans for 2020, and it has the potential to be the biggest year in our history. Here’s some of our vision:
I’ll be honest with you Jon: my finance team and I know better than anyone that these plans are going to take a lot of money to pull off. But I’m reaching out to you because I know that if we can do all this, then 2020 could change the course of our history.
Jon, the budgets I approve are largely made up of dollars from people like you. So I'm not exaggerating when I say this is one of the most important things you can do to support us. Will you make an end-of-decade donation so we can win big for Black people in 2020?
Yes, I’ll donate now to make this the decade of Black Joy and Black Power!
Thank you for all you do,
Norm
CFAO
Color Of Change PAC
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Paid Pol. Adv. paid for by ColorOfChange PAC, 1714 Franklin St., Oakland, CA 94612, independently of and not authorized or approved by any federal, state, or local candidate or candidate’s committee.
ColorOfChange PAC is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Contributions to Color Of Change PAC are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes. This email was sent to yellow71486@. If you're absolutely sure you don't want to hear from Color Of Change again, click here to unsubscribe.
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Dear Jon,
I’m Jade, Interim Senior Campaign Director for the Media, Culture, and Economic Justice team, and I hosted the first ever Color Of Change, Black People’s Brunch: AfroTech Edition at the nation's largest Black tech conference. It was empowering to see Black people come together to talk about how those working in the tech field and those working in civil rights organizations must collaborate. Not only did we laugh, dance, and sing together but we also broke down the barriers between Black people working in tech and those working in civil rights organizations who will shape the tech industry.
I’m truly grateful for the experience to discuss social justice and the challenges and triumphs of the tech space, and how these things overlap. The daily fight for racial and social justice can be exhausting and seeing the impact of our work in real time was deeply empowering. But I know my teammates would also be inspired, engaged, and energized about continuing to fight for Black liberation in tech spaces. Jon, will you make a pledge of $10 to ensure my team can attend AfroTech 2020 and remain on the cutting edge of tech issues that directly affect Black people and Black communities?
Over the past year, we’ve accomplished major wins in tech accountability:
In 2020, we plan to take on even more tech accountability work. We all know that Silicon Valley has a diversity issue and it’s reflected in the policies and algorithms that shape our online experiences.1 As of today, Twitter continues to allow white nationalists to organize, harass members, and use its platform as a megaphone for hate speech.2 Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg continues to give anti-Black forces the reach to promote their agenda by spreading racist ideologies.3 These are only three examples of why we must remain on the frontlines fighting for safe digital spaces for Black and Brown people to share, connect, inspire, and be free from hate speech and physical harm.
This is where you come in, Jon. We need your support to send our team to AfroTech 2020 with a pledge of $10.
If we raise $20,000 in the next 2 weeks of December, we can send our entire team to AfroTech 2020 and host another Black People's Brunch: AfroTech Edition. Here is how you may support this important work:
No worries if you are unable to give the amounts above. No donation is too small. We need your help to bring this vision to life. Chip in what you can to support sending the Media, Culture, and Economic Justice team to AfroTech 2020!
Since AfroTech started, it has been a revolutionary experience for Black tech entrepreneurs, engineers, executives, computer programmers, and media moguls who are often the only Black people in the room at their jobs. This year’s conference brought 10,000 Black folks in tech to Oakland. In 2020, we want to make sure justice for Black people is a central theme in tech conversations - by having Color Of Change on the ground to tell about it.
Help us make that happen. Chip in $10 to send the Media, Culture, and Economic Justice team to AfroTech 2020!
Until justice is real,
--Jade, Rashad, Arisha, Evan, Johnny, Future, Eesha, Samantha, Marcus, FolaSade, and the rest of the Color Of Change team
References:
Lauren Frias, “Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg had an undisclosed dinner with Trump and Peter Thiel at the White House,” Business Insider, November 20, 2019, https://act.colorofchange.org/go/215616?t=14&akid=40145%2E4887299%2E7t2HG_.
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Help keep our movement strong.
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Dear Jon,
The country's leading publisher and bookstore, Penguin Random House and Barnes & Noble, just applied literary Blackface to celebrate Black History Month.
Earlier this week, Barnes & Noble and Penguin Random House announced the impending release of a project in honor of Black History Month. And just as quickly as they released the project, they canceled it due to massive online backlash. Titled “Diverse Editions,” the initiative aimed to increase engagement in “classic” books like Peter Pan, Frankenstein, Moby Dick, and Alice in Wonderland by releasing covers that reimagined characters as Black people and people of color.1 Although this may have seemed like an honest effort to promote diversity, in reality, the project was misguided and harmful. These so-called “diverse” covers didn’t highlight Black stories or Black authors, but instead pasted Black faces on top of stories that remain overwhelmingly white and undeniably racist.
Tell Barnes & Noble and Penguin Random House to make real investments in promoting books written by Black authors, not literary Blackface.
Despite what Barnes & Noble and Penguin Random House may think, putting the face of a person of color on the covers of white stories is not real inclusion. Instead, it sends a dangerous message to people all over the world that white stories are more acceptable, more valuable, and more worthwhile than Black stories. It also sets a harmful precedent that it’s okay for companies to take advantage of Black faces and diversity trends to increase their profit margins.
Barnes & Noble and Penguin Random House should promote Black authors and stories, not profit from literary Blackface.
Barnes & Noble and Penguin Random House’s decision has far-reaching impacts. Many of the “classic” books these companies chose to release in the “Diverse Editions” initiative originally became popular when Black authors and books with Black protagonists were frequently banned from publication. And books like Moby Dick and Peter Pan are not only overwhelmingly white, but contain harmful stereotypes of the characters of color they do feature. Some books, like The Secret Garden, for instance, were openly hostile toward Black characters. To place a Black version of a character on the cover of a story that is not only white, but promotes hostility toward Black people, is confusing, misleading, and harmful for the Black people who may opt to read them.
Books have a great deal of power. Books help children and adults alike understand themselves and their history, embrace their identity and culture, and internalize positive representations of themselves. But when books are not representative of our communities, we lose out on powerful stories that can help us imagine and accomplish our greatest dreams. Because of their enormous power, it is necessary for Barnes & Noble and Penguin Random House to take additional steps to promote books by Black authors and authors of color, and ensure that our stories are being told. With just 6% of children’s and young adult books published in the U.S. in 2018 written by Black authors, these companies should be finding ways to get more Black authors published.2
Join us in telling Barnes & Noble and Penguin Random House to promote more Black authors and Black stories.
Until justice is real,
—Brandi, Rashad, Arisha, Jade, Johnny, Future, Amanda, Evan, Imani, Samantha, Jenette, Ciera, Eesha, Marcus, FolaSade, and the rest of the Color Of Change team
References:
Photo: AM New York
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Help keep our movement strong.
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Dear Jon.
The New York City Police Department (NYPD) has targeted Black people, neighborhoods, and even children with the use of unregulated facial recognition technology and must be stopped.1,2
On the second day of the new year, more than three weeks after the US House of Representatives voted to impeach him, President Trump ordered the assassination of Iranian Commander Qasem Soleimani.3,4 In response, the NYPD released statements in preparation for possible retaliation, but made no mention of how increased security will put Black communities in harm's way.5 With no oversight for the use of facial recognition technology, Black New York City residents run the risk of winding up in a unregulated police database, or even arrested and prosecuted, due to the inaccuracy of this technology and its disproportionate use against our communities.
In the face of current events, now is the time for New York City Speaker Corey Johnson to sign the Public Oversight of Surveillance Technology (POST) Act into law and require the NYPD to submit information to the public about the surveillance technology it uses.
Demand New York City Speaker Corey Johnson pass the POST Act to rein in facial recognition technology.
NYPD surveillance tools present a danger to all New Yorkers, more specifically Black New Yorkers. The NYPD’s arsenal of spy tools, at its core, is a flawed form of surveillance that comes at the expense of basic human rights, security, and privacy. A recent study performed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology has scientifically proven that facial recognition technology is inaccurate, and miscategorizes the faces of women and Black people, who are one hundred times more likely to have a false positive reading.6,7
In a test conducted by the American Civil Liberties Union, the facial recognition technology used by Amazon and known as Rekognition, incorrectly matched the photos of 28 members of Congress with mug shots of individuals with previous arrests. Alarmingly, these false matches also disproportionately identified six members of the Congressional Black Caucus.8 Police violence against Black people is at an all-time high and we cannot allow lawmakers to ignore how facial recognition programs and increased homeland security so often result in potentially violent interactions with the police.
Demand New York City Speaker Corey Johnson prioritize Black New York City residents and regulate NYPD’s use of facial recognition technology.
New York City Council members introduced the Public Oversight of Surveillance Technology (POST) Act, which requires the NYPD to disclose how it utilizes electronic surveillance tools, more than two years ago.9 Passing this bill comes with the overwhelming support of New Yorkers and a veto proof majority from Councilmembers. The POST Act has been championed by Speaker Corey Johnson since its inception and his continued support would come at the defense of Black New York City residents.
Police should never have access to highly invasive technology such as ”X-ray vans” and “Stingray” cell phone towers that track cell phone user locations. However, since this technology is currently in use, there must be policies and procedures that control it.10 It’s long past time that Speaker Corey Johnson follow through with his commitment to the POST Act and enforce regulations requiring that the NYPD be transparent about its experimentation on its citizens.
Demand Speaker Corey Johnson pass the Public Oversight of Surveillance Technology (POST) Act.
Color Of Change successfully fought for the San Francisco Board of Supervisors to adopt the Stop Secret Surveillance Ordinance, banning San Francisco agencies from acquiring or using facial recognition technologies. Our efforts to hold elected officials accountable for racially biased technologies has the strength of 30 partner organizations to ensure this invasive technology does not further oppress and harm our communities. Cities such as Oakland, California and Somerville, Massachusetts have banned the use of facial recognition, and other cities are demanding oversight and accountability.11
Sign the petition: Demand Speaker Corey Johnson pass the POST Act.
Until justice is real,
--Brandi, Rashad, Arisha, Evan, Johnny, Jade, Future, Eesha, Samantha, Marcus, FolaSade, Jenette, Cierra and the rest of the Color Of Change team
References:
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Help keep our movement strong.
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Happy New Year, Jon.
We’re only a few days into a new year, and the news cycle is dominated by reports of Trump’s impeachment and an impending war. But we must remain vigilant and focused on the issues affecting our people and communities. It’s a new decade, a fresh start, and another opportunity for us to build on the foundation for Black liberation. Will you start your new year with a $5 donation to support our continued fight? If you can’t decide now, please keep reading.
Last year exposed some of the most toxic and harmful ways that institutions and corporations attempted to target, surveil, silence, oppress, and marginalize us:
These are only a few examples of why we must start the new year with a renewed commitment to fight systems of oppression on all fronts: government, technology, media, culture, and education. Will you donate $5 to support this urgent work? If you still can’t decide, Jon, continue reading to learn how we plan to create our vision of the future.
Thanks to your support we had major wins last year that changed many of the written and unwritten rules of our society, but we still have so much to do. This year we plan to:
Thank you Jon, for reading this far. It’s members like you who take the time to act and support our work that allows us to continue fighting to change the written and unwritten rules of society.
Start the new year with a $5 donation and support this urgent work so we can move closer to realizing the justice we all deserve.
Until justice is real,
--Brandi, Rashad, Arisha, Evan, Johnny, Jade, Future, Eesha, Samantha, Marcus, FolaSade, Jenette, Cierra and the rest of the Color Of Change team
References:
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Help keep our movement strong.
If you're absolutely sure you don't want to hear from Color Of Change again, click here to unsubscribe.
Tech companies are endangering our communities on a massive scale! Demand that Facebook, LinkedIn, and Venmo ban Clearview from scraping our data Take Action
Facial recognition startup, Clearview has been scraping our user data from Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Venmo, and handing it over to law enforcement. Clearview is an inherently dangerous company that collects images of our faces from across the Internet - completely violating the terms of service agreements between users and the platforms.1 Even more dangerous is the fact that the CEO of Clearview has known ties to white nationalists.2
This is bound to disproportionately harm Black people. Facial Recognition Technology is proven to misidentify Black people more than other groups, and Clearview’s use of social media photos ensures that it will be even more inaccurate than already problematic government systems of identification. Since Clearview is directly sharing this information with law enforcement, Black people are bound to be wrongfully targeted for arrest. Even Attorney Generals recognize how dangerous this app is - the state of New Jersey has banned officers from using Clearview!3
Facebook, Venmo, LinkedIn and other social media companies that allowed Clearview to break their privacy agreements have a responsibility to do everything they can to rein in this exploitative company.
Demand that Facebook, Venmo, LinkedIn, and other platforms take legal action against Clearview for systematically violating their terms of service.
The potential for police to abuse this dangerous surveillance is already unfolding. Despite the fact that the NYPD’s facial recognition unit told its officers that it did not want them to use Clearview because of its lack of security and the potential for abuse, there are reports that at least 36 rogue NYPD cops have used Clearview thousands of times on their personal phones.4
Once again, tech companies are endangering our communities on a massive scale. So far, Twitter is the only social media company to send a cease-and-desist letter to Clearview, while Facebook - which also owns Instagram and WhatsApp, accounting for 2.1 billion daily users - has once again been slow to protect them. We are calling on every company involved to take legal action and demand that Clearview stop stealing their user data.
Demand that Facebook, Venmo, LinkedIn and other platforms take legal action against Clearview for systematically violating the terms of service.
When users sign up for these platforms, they are given an expectation of privacy, along with statements that these companies do not sell their data to other companies. Yet Clearview is completely disregarding these agreements and scraping user data for its anti-Black motives. If Silicon Valley’s self-proclaimed "good guys" can't protect us from "bad guys" like Clearview, then it’s time for government regulation that can prevent this type of harm.
It’s impossible for Silicon Valley companies to claim they can prevent and contain these problems on their own, when they are the ones behind them. Clearview was backed financially by Peter Thiel - a Facebook board member and loyal friend of Donald Trump. As a board member of Facebook who either knowingly or unknowingly compromised its user data - Thiel is violating his legal responsibility to protect Facebook users from predatory third parties.
Facebook must be held accountable for (once again) not protecting user data. LinkedIn, Venmo, and every other company involved must also take the necessary steps to secure the privacy of their users. While these companies must act now to stop Clearview before it is allowed to do any further damage, it’s also time for them to accept that strong regulation and oversight of their industry is needed to protect us.
Demand that Facebook, LinkedIn, and Venmo send, “cease and desist” letters to Clearview immediately, in order to protect their users from any further harm!
Until justice is real,
Brandi, Rashad, Arisha, Johnny, Amanda, Evan, Future, Eesha, Samantha, Marcus, FolaSade, Jennette, Ciera, and the rest of the Color Of Change team
References:
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Help keep our movement strong.
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Black women prosecutors are under attack
Dear Jon,
It’s the first week of Black History Month, and we’re thinking about the history-making work of Black women DAs across the country.
One of these women is Kim Foxx, Cook County State’s Attorney. Her work to change the criminal justice system in Chicago and its suburbs has already begun changing the lives of thousands of people, including so many Black families targeted and broken by the war on drugs.
Kim Foxx is changing the course of Black history in Cook County, but she’s facing a tough re-election race, with 3 opponents and attacks from the police and media. You can help us re-elect her-- will you make a $1 donation (or whatever you can give!) to support us as we fight for Kim Foxx?
Foxx was elected in 2016, and in her four years, she has:1
But Kim Foxx's historic impact extends beyond the ways she's changing lives in Cook County.
Since her election, a wave of progressive prosecutors nationwide have followed her lead, many of them Black women. Rachel Rollins in Boston, MA. Diana Becton in Contra Costa County, CA. Satana Deberry in Durham, NC. And more!
This wave is historic in a country where 95% of elected prosecutors are white and only 1% are women of color.2
These women not only are more representative of the communities they serve, they also often have experienced firsthand the devastating impacts that prosecutors can have on families and communities. They know the justice system has been broken in so many ways since its foundation, and are working to address that at its roots every day
If Kim Foxx is re-elected, she'll have 4 more years to transform the justice system and will continue inspiring more Black women prosecutors to do the same. But police and her opponents won't make this race easy-- donate $1 now to support Kim Foxx's re-election!
Jon, thank you for supporting the transformative work of Black women prosecutors this month, and every month. Happy Black History Month from all of us.
Donate to Make History
Until justice is real,
Arisha, Jenni, Drew, Charles, Calyssa, Candice, Audrey, Cristel, Scotty, Daniel and the Color Of Change PAC team
Sources
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ColorOfChange PAC is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Contributions to Color Of Change PAC are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes. This email was sent to yellow71486@. If you're absolutely sure you don't want to hear from Color Of Change again, click here to unsubscribe.
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Dear Jon.
Twitter is allowing advertisers to target users based on their support for white nationalism and other racist ideologies.
A recent test by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) exposed Twitter’s paid ad policies which allow advertisers to target users who have posted or searched racist keywords.1
According to Twitter, targeting users based on sensitive categories such as political affiliation or beliefs, racial or ethnic origin, or religious or philosophical affiliation or beliefs, is against its paid ad policy.2 However, the BBC successfully ran ads targeting audiences using white supremacist key words, even after Twitter claimed it did a policy review to prevent this happening. By allowing paid ads to target users who have posted or searched white supremacist keywords, Twitter is allowing white nationalist movements to grow and organize on its platform which can result in real-life violence against Black users. Vijaya Gadde, Twitter’s senior executive responsible for writing and enforcing the rules on Twitter, must enforce stricter rules to stop white nationalist marketing on the platform.
TAKE ACTION NOW: Demand Twitter’s Vijaya Gadde enforce stricter policies and ban white nationalists from the platform.
Twitter continues to compromise the safety of its Black users by blatantly ignoring the severity of white nationalists on its platform. Last November, Color Of Change and Change the Terms Coalition delivered over 100,000 petition signatures demanding Twitter remove hate speech and white nationalists from the platform. Vijaya Gadde, Head of Twitter Legal and Policy, should use the full extent of her power to protect online users from hate speech and ban white nationalists from the Twitter platform.3
TAKE ACTION NOW: Demand Twitter’s Vijaya Gadde enforce stricter policies and ban white nationalists from his platform.
Until justice is real,
--Brandi, Rashad, Arisha, Evan, Johnny, Jade, Future, Eesha, Samantha, Marcus, FolaSade, Jenette, Cierra and the rest of the Color Of Change team
References:
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Help keep our movement strong.
If you're absolutely sure you don't want to hear from Color Of Change again, click here to unsubscribe.
![[photo of Jesse Williams]'Watch The Video. Learn The Truth'](https://images.registercheck.com/email/4677-4d4944bc-2f40eb2496.jpg)
Jon--we are in a critical moment.
Our movement to end mass incarceration is winning, but scare tactics, fearmongering, and lies are threatening to roll back everything we've fought so hard for.
Justice Not Fear is a powerful campaign we created with Jesse Williams to expose fear for what it is and spread the truth: jails and prisons don't make us safer but investing in our communities does.
We know you stand on the right side of justice--so we're counting on you to watch the video and then take action. Now more than ever, we must protect the reforms that get us closer to safer and more just communities.
Law enforcement is using fear to stop transformation and justice all over the country, but most recently and urgently in New York. For years communities fought hard and won monumental legislation that ended cash bail for most low-level offenses, meaning thousands would no longer be jailed simply because they were too poor to pay for their freedom. But prosecutors and police are launching a coordinated campaign to stoke fear about the changes to cash bail as part of an effort to roll back these reforms.
And the scary thing is, it's working. Just days into the new law, New York lawmakers are already pushing for changes that would completely unravel bail reform and send more people to jail than before.1 They're using the same polarizing scare tactics that created mass incarceration to perpetuate it.
One thing we know is that to stop fear, we must spread the truth.
Help us spread the truth and go to JusticeNotFear.org to take a stand against mass incarceration.
Until justice is real,
--Clarise, Rashad, Arisha, Scott, Erika, Malachi, Marybeth, Marena, Madison, Leonard, Tamar, Neosho and the rest of the Color Of Change team
References:
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Help keep our movement strong.
If you're absolutely sure you don't want to hear from Color Of Change again, click here to unsubscribe.
Happy Hour w/ style!
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Dear Jon,
RSVP for Color Of Change PAC’s Sip and Search on Sunday, February 9, 2020!
We’re hosting our first electoral Sip & Search to learn more about what’s on the ballot in Los Angeles County. Have you perfected the art of the 15-minute social media scan before your first date? Or maybe you’re the friend that cross-references restaurant reviews before landing on a place to eat dinner. Whether you’re going down rabbit holes on Google or getting lost in a Wikipedia search, more than likely you engage in research every day. In fact, you use research tools so often you may not realize how much of an expert you are.
Come research with us this Sunday to learn what’s on your ballot.
You’ve unwittingly developed strong research skills, so let’s put those skills to work for an even bigger purpose. We have less than a month until the primary election and vote by mail ballots are now available. These ballots can be confusing and the language isn’t always obvious, so we’re hosting this social research event to ensure that Black and Brown voters have the vital information to reimagine their communities and make an informed vote.
Join us for Sip & Search: A Research Happy Hour.
At our Sip & Search, you’ll learn more about Color of Change’s PAC efforts to engage with Black voters in the local community and our plan to elect a district attorney that will advance criminal justice reform in Los Angeles County. Black voters have always pushed the needle towards progress and this election will depend on us making an informed choice and sharing what we know with others in our network. Join us while we laugh, dance, sip and search to educate ourselves and others on the impact of this election. This is an event for the whole family so sign up and bring the squad! Are you down to Sip & Search with COCPAC?
WHEN: Sunday, February 9th | 4:00-6:00 PM
WHERE: 4331 Crenshaw BLVD, Next door to The Metaphor Club
WHAT YOU'LL NEED: A computer, tablet, smartphone, and access to the Internet
RSVP today to join us at Sip & Search. We need your help to change the system.
Until justice is real,
Shannon
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Ad paid for by ColorOfChange PAC, colorofchangepac.org. Not authorized by any federal, state, or local candidate or a committee controlled by a candidate. |
ColorOfChange PAC is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Contributions to Color Of Change PAC are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes. This email was sent to yellow71486@. If you're absolutely sure you don't want to hear from Color Of Change again, click here to unsubscribe.
Hi Jon,
We are proud to officially endorse George Gascón for Los Angeles County District Attorney in the March 3rd primary election. He’s an experienced advocate committed to leading criminal justice reform and ending mass incarceration.
This DA race is one of the most important races in the country. Black Angelenos, who make up only 8% of the county’s population, comprise a third of LA’s jail population, which is the largest in the country.1 To make matters worse, nearly a quarter of the people killed by law enforcement officers are Black.2 Since 2012, DA Jackie Lacey has continued to disproportionately send Black people to jail and refuse to prosecute officers who kill us.
It’s time to rebuild our failed criminal justice system with a DA we can trust. Join me and sign the pledge to say you want Jackie Lacey out of office and George Gascón in as LA’s new District Attorney!
As the former San Francisco District Attorney and former Assistant Chief of the LAPD, Gascón has been at the forefront of innovative criminal justice initiatives. Some of the specific ways he’s fought for change in California include:
George Gascón is committed to helping undo the damage Jackie Lacey has done to Black communities in LA over the past 8 years. As District Attorney, Jackie Lacey has made life significantly worse for Black people. Here are examples of what she has done:
Los Angeles deserves a District Attorney that is 100% committed to ending racial disparities in our criminal justice system, not perpetuating them. On March 3rd, we have the power to bring accountability, transparency, and integrity back to the LA District Attorney’s Office by voting for George Gascón in the District Attorney Primary Election. It’s time to say #ByeLacey once and for all. Are you in?
Yes, indeed. #ByeLacey! I stand for progressive criminal justice reform and will vote for George Gascon!
Until justice is real,
- Arisha, Jenni, Drew, Charles, Scott, Daniel, Tammi, Cristel and the Color Of Change PAC team
References
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Ad paid for by ColorOfChange PAC, colorofchangepac.org. Not authorized by any federal, state, or local candidate or a committee controlled by a candidate. |
ColorOfChange PAC is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Contributions to Color Of Change PAC are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes. This email was sent to yellow71486@. If you're absolutely sure you don't want to hear from Color Of Change again, click here to unsubscribe.
Jon,
Every day, innocent Black people are imprisoned in our country, but we rarely see their stories on the big screen. That’s why I’m so proud to have had an opportunity to work on Just Mercy, a film that hit theaters on January 10 and tells the story about modern day hero Bryan Stevenson and his Equal Justice Initiative. Will you join us to see the film in theaters?
As an actor and producer on the film, with my company Outlier Society, this is a story that I know has real implications in our world today. Authentic storytelling can serve as a powerful deterrent to the fear and racism that drive our justice system. When faced with the human emotion and devastating impact of injustice, we must demand change. We must work together to keep the story from repeating itself.
We hear too often of individuals who face or challenge unjust charges in the news. Meanwhile, entire families, communities and whole generations have been swept up into these necessary fights for freedom.
The story of Just Mercy is one of community, justice and redemption on death row. It's the story Black communities across the country face with evolution of slavery: our criminal justice system.
Just Mercy will bring the full story out of the shadows and I hope you are able to come out on this weekend to see what hope and fight looks like.
See you in theaters,
Michael B. Jordan
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Help keep our movement strong.
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Dear Jon,
The New Hampshire presidential primary happens today, and it's already shaping coverage about the candidates' futures in the race. And by now, I’m sure you’ve seen the headlines about the chaotic reporting process for the Iowa Democratic Caucus. But the scramble over a glitchy app is only a fraction of the much larger problem of letting two of our country's smallest, least representative states kick off our presidential election season.
Black people are the most consistent and reliable voting bloc in the Democratic party yet they make up only about 4% of Iowa’s residents and only 2% of New Hampshire’s population. Iowa still has one of the most restrictive voting bans that forces people with felony convictions to jump through hoops to have their voting rights restored, which disproportionately impacts Black and brown residents caught up in the criminal injustice system.
It’s time to stop allowing the least representative states in our nation influence over who is on our ballots.
Tell the Democratic National Committee (DNC) to switch to a fairer, more inclusive primary election process.
The outcome of Iowa and New Hampshire’s first-in-the-nation elections impacts the choices available to every voter. Candidates who are deemed unviable often drop out of the race in the days following these contests. Black voters should not be an afterthought and deserve to have an early say in setting the pace for the presidential race.
By rethinking the order of the primaries and allowing Black voters to be heard, the DNC could help make our presidential elections far more representative of all of us, rather than just a privileged few.
Raise your voice and urge them to make primary elections fairer and more accessible for all.
Until justice is real,
--Rashad, Arisha, Jennifer, Sabrina, Drew, Charles, Scott, Daniel, Tammi, Cristel and the rest of the Color Of Change team
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Help keep our movement strong.
If you're absolutely sure you don't want to hear from Color Of Change again, click here to unsubscribe.
Join us for our first ever research happy hour in L.A!
Hey Jon, I just wanted to follow up to make sure you saw this invitation to our event this Sunday!
We're looking forward to sipping and searching with you! Click here to RSVP now so we know how many people to expect.
See you Sunday!
-Shannon
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Dear Jon,
RSVP for Color Of Change PAC’s Sip and Search on Sunday, February 9, 2020!
We’re hosting our first electoral Sip & Search to learn more about what’s on the ballot in Los Angeles County. Have you perfected the art of the 15-minute social media scan before your first date? Or maybe you’re the friend that cross-references restaurant reviews before landing on a place to eat dinner. Whether you’re going down rabbit holes on Google or getting lost in a Wikipedia search, more than likely you engage in research every day. In fact, you use research tools so often you may not realize how much of an expert you are.
Come research with us this Sunday to learn what’s on your ballot.
You’ve unwittingly developed strong research skills, so let’s put those skills to work for an even bigger purpose. We have less than a month until the primary election and vote by mail ballots are now available. These ballots can be confusing and the language isn’t always obvious, so we’re hosting this social research event to ensure that Black and Brown voters have the vital information to reimagine their communities and make an informed vote.
Join us for Sip & Search: A Research Happy Hour.
At our Sip & Search, you’ll learn more about Color of Change’s PAC efforts to engage with Black voters in the local community and our plan to elect a district attorney that will advance criminal justice reform in Los Angeles County. Black voters have always pushed the needle towards progress and this election will depend on us making an informed choice and sharing what we know with others in our network. Join us while we laugh, dance, sip and search to educate ourselves and others on the impact of this election. This is an event for the whole family so sign up and bring the squad! Are you down to Sip & Search with COCPAC?
WHEN: Sunday, February 9th | 4:00-6:00 PM
WHERE: 4331 Crenshaw BLVD, Next door to The Metaphor Club
WHAT YOU'LL NEED: A computer, tablet, smartphone, and access to the Internet
RSVP today to join us at Sip & Search. We need your help to change the system.
Until justice is real,
Shannon
| Donate |  |
 |
|
Ad paid for by ColorOfChange PAC, colorofchangepac.org. Not authorized by any federal, state, or local candidate or a committee controlled by a candidate. |
ColorOfChange PAC is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Contributions to Color Of Change PAC are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes. This email was sent to yellow71486@. If you're absolutely sure you don't want to hear from Color Of Change again, click here to unsubscribe.
Photo Description: Incarcerated workers on Parchman Farm, taken by overseers, 1930s
“You ultimately judge the civility of a society not by how it treats the rich, the powerful, the protected and the highly esteemed, but by how it treats the poor, the disfavored and the disadvantaged....”
-- Bryan Stevenson
Dear Jon,
Parchman Prison is Mississippi’s oldest prison, and it’s also hell on earth. It’s plagued with a history of convict leasing, torture, systematic rapes, and inhumane conditions. And even though it’s been over 40 years since several whistleblowers, including incarcerated people, have sounded the alarm about the harmful conditions,1 little has changed for those confined behind the walls of the prison.
So it’s no surprise that over the last few weeks things took a turn for the worse. Five people were murdered in their cells.2 Traumatized and scared for their safety, incarcerated men took to social media for help and what they shared was horrific. Claims were made that it was prison guards who gave the assailants keys to people’s locked cells and aided in the attacks. Dozens of videos were shared from inside the prison showing people being stabbed to death. Pictures revealed dead and bloodied bodies filling cells, pipes leaking water and flooding cells, molded walls caving in on themselves, and up to six people sleeping side by side in a cell with nothing more than a sheet to cover their bodies.
In spite of all the cries for help, the Mississippi Department of Corrections and Governor Philip Bryant have failed to address the documented inhumane conditions inside the prison. We need to take action now to protect the incarcerated folks at Parchman before someone else is harmed, or even worse another person killed.
Jon, we will not let the state of Mississippi sweep the Parchman Prison crisis under the rug. We need you to demand action, to demand answers and to demand accountability from the state of Mississippi RIGHT NOW!
Power concedes nothing without a demand, that’s why we need you to join us in the fight to bring justice to Mississippi. We can’t do this without you, Jon.
Until justice is real,
--Scott, Rashad, Arisha, Malachi, Erika, Clarise, Marybeth, Leonard, Madison, Tamar, Neosho, and the rest of the Color Of Change team
References:
1. "ACLU Strikes Deal to Shutter Notorious Unit 32 at Mississippi State Penitentiary", ACLU, 4 June 2010. https://act.colorofchange.org/go/226226?t=8&akid=40326%2E4887299%2EaifKzJ
2. "Five Prisoners Have Died In A Notorious Mississippi Prison In 10 Days. Officials Blame Gang Violence, Activists Say There's More To It", Blavity, 8 January 2020. https://act.colorofchange.org/go/226227?t=10&akid=40326%2E4887299%2EaifKzJ
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Help keep our movement strong.
If you're absolutely sure you don't want to hear from Color Of Change again, click here to unsubscribe.
STAND WITH BLACK ATHLETES! Demand the International Olympic Committee drop its ban on political protest! Take Action
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) just implemented an oppressive policy to silence the free expression of Black athletes during the Summer Olympics.1 The policy bans athletes from kneeling, raising their fists, or wearing signs or symbolic armbands. At a time of heightened political awareness and the threat of a world war, athletes who take a stand for justice are being told to “shut up and play.”
There is no real peace in the absence of justice and there is no victory when individuals are silenced.
The policy is extremely problematic because, as we know, “taking a knee” and “raising fists” are directly associated with justice for Black people. And with no clearly defined consequences in the policy, the IOC has the power to come up with arbitrary punishments that can be implemented differently for individual athletes. The IOC’s policy is a direct attack on athlete activists like gold medalist Gwen Berry who boldly raised her fist in protest last year.2
It’s time for corporate sponsors as well as the US Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC) to stand for the rights of athletes.
Demand that the USOPC and corporate sponsors of the Tokyo Olympics tell the IOC to drop this oppressive anti-protest policy.
The historical purpose of the Olympics was to bring humanity together, not only to celebrate athletic excellence, but also, to “to build up a strong and more valiant and above all, more scrupulous and more generous humanity”.3 Setting limits on political speech and censoring marginalized voices and populations - who are often denied access to global stages - is in direct opposition to the stated intention of the Olympics.
Black athletes and activism are inextricably linked. Since racial integration in sports began, Black athletes have been celebrated as representatives for their cities, states, and countries, while at the same time bearing witness to the horrific treatment of their people. Black athletes have earned the right to elevate their causes on the winners’ platform and express their pride in winning. In 1959, high jumper Rose Robinson paved the way when she sat down during the national anthem at the Pan American Games in protest of the war, injustice, and hypocrisy.4 The world will never forget the 1968 photo of John Carlos and Tommie Smith raising their fists after winning the 200 meter-dash. Just last year, after decades of being shut out from the Olympics, these men were inducted into the USOPC Hall of Fame for their historic protest.5
Following in their footsteps, two gold medalists at last year’s Pan American Games - Gwen Berry and Race Imboden - continued the legacy of athlete activism by protesting during the national anthem of their medal ceremonies.6 And now, the IOC has created this oppressive policy, clearly in retaliation, while stating that the mission of the Olympic Games is to bring the entire world together and facilitate the understanding of different views.
Olympics athletes train for decades and receive tiny stipends while generating billions of dollars for the IOC.7 The corporate sponsors of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics stand to make millions from ad campaigns that feature medalists. We must demand they respect the free expression of Black athletes.
Many of the corporate sponsors of the Olympics are industry leaders whose company missions and values that are in direct contrast with silencing free expression. We will not allow them to be complicit as the IOC attempts to control Olympic athletes. Additionally, the US Olympic & Paralympic Committee - a congressionally chartered non-profit organization - has a legal obligation to defend the right of Black athletes to protest. With the Olympics a few months away, we need to put as much pressure as possible on these companies and the USOPC to stand with athletes.
Demand that Olympic Sponsors and the US Olympic & Paralympic Committee affirm their support for freedom of speech!
Until justice is real,
Brandi, Rashad, Arisha, Johnny, Amanda, Evan, Future, Eesha, Samantha, Marcus, FolaSade, Jennette, Ciera, and the rest of the Color Of Change team
References:
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Help keep our movement strong.
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Dear Jon,
This weekend, football is confronted with the history of America’s greatest sin and the beautiful legacy Black people created in spite of it. Superbowl 54 and the beginning of Black History Month - the intersection of the Black athletes that America loves for their on field greatness and who are told to “shut up and play” when they demand justice.
It has been almost 3 years since Colin Kaepernick was exiled from the NFL for calling out police violence against Black men, women and children, but his legacy endures as athletes around the country continue to join him in protest. And this year, the International Olympics Committee (IOC) is taking a page from the NFL’s playbook in a transparent effort to silence Black athletes. The IOC created new rules to silence athlete-activists like Gwen Berry, the gold medalist who boldly raised her fist in protest at last year’s Pan American games. The Olympics have a long history of tokenizing Black athletes for their athletic ability at world sporting events while completely ignoring the oppressive conditions we face at home.
Whether it’s the NFL, NCAA, or the IOC, sports behemoths continue to prove that they don’t care about Black lives outside of us competing and making money for them.
This is why we are fighting for the rights of our Olympic athletes, for economic opportunity for our exploited student-athletes and alongside activists like Colin Kaepernick. We are consistently on the front lines standing with Black athletes. Will you support our movement?
Many of us will gather around screens this weekend to enjoy the festivities of the game with family and friends. We will see commercials where the NFL and countless corporations will paint themselves as advocates for change and leaders of the movement. But as a Color Of Change member, Jon, you can separate who is exploiting the movement for greater sales revenue from who is doing the real work and making real-world impact on the lives of Black people.
Throughout Black History Month and all of 2020 we will be honoring the athletes who stand for our communities and fighting to hold those who deny Black athletes their right to protest and those who exploit their labor accountable. From pushing for federal legislation that would allow Black student-athletes to make a fair wage for their labor, to pressing corporate Olympic sponsors and the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee to stand with protesting Olympians, to calling out the NFL for co-opting our movement while continuing to blackball Colin Kaepernick.
From the Superbowl to the Olympics, you can count on Color Of Change to fight for and with Black athletes. Can we count on you to help fund our fight?
Since racial integration in sports began, Black athletes have been celebrated as representatives for their cities, states, and country, while at the same time bearing witness to the horrific treatment of their own people. We stand on the shoulders of the A&T Four, who on February 1, 1960 began the lunch counter sit-ins that would eventually spark sit-ins across the country and high jumper Rose Robinson who first sat down during the national anthem at the Pan American Games in 1959 and refused to be a political pawn of McCarthyism. Black athletes like Paul Robeson, Muhammad Ali, and Curt Flood sacrificed everything to move us forward. US Olympians Tommie Smith and John Carlos were ostracized by their own US Olympic Committee for decades.
We come from a long history of giants who stood up so we could sit down, who put their lives on the line, and who lifted their fists so we could have pride. And as it was then, it’s up to us now to continue that legacy of activism and put up a strong fight against any corporation, institution, or government that attempts to silence Black people.
This Black History Month, take a stand with Color Of Change and help us further the fight for our people with a donation.
Until justice is real,
Brandi, Rashad, Arisha, Evan, Johnny, Jade, Future, Eesha, Samantha, Marcus, FolaSade, Jennette, Cierra and the rest of the Color Of Change team
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Help keep our movement strong.
If you're absolutely sure you don't want to hear from Color Of Change again, click here to unsubscribe.
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Dear Jon.
Twitter silenced Black comedian Jaboukie Young-White and suspended his account on Martin Luther King Jr. day because Young-White criticized the FBI’s role in King’s assassination.1,2 Yet Twitter refuses to suspend the account of Richard Spencer, president of the National Policy Institute, and other white-supremacist organizations that have been classified as hate groups by the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC).3
At the expense and safety of Black people, who make up 26% of Twitter users, Twitter has selectively applied the rights of free speech and the First Amendment.4 While CEO Jack Dorsey is the face of the multi-million dollar social media company, it is Vijaya Gadde, Head of the Twitter Legal and Policy team, who writes and enforces platform rules for millions of Twitter users and has the power to ban white nationalists from Twitter.5
SIGN THE PETITION: DEMAND VIJAYA GADDE BAN WHITE NATIONALISTS FROM TWITTER.
The suspension of a popular Black comedian who spoke truth to power demonstrates how Twitter selectively decides when its platform policies should be enforced. While Gadde’s team suspended Jaboukie’s Twitter account for calling out the FBI, Gadde hypocritically posted a famous Dr. King quote, “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.”6 Like so many other companies, Twitter wants the reputation of uplifting Dr. King’s legacy, without taking steps to defend the Black users who actively carry it.
Vijaya Gadde must exercise the full extent of her power as Global Lead for Legal, Policy, Trust and Safety at Twitter and ban white nationalists from the platform.
SIGN THE PETITION: DEMAND VIJAYA GADDE BAN WHITE NATIONALISTS FROM TWITTER.
Until justice is real,
--Brandi, Rashad, Arisha, Evan, Johnny, Jade, Future, Eesha, Samantha, Marcus, FolaSade, Jenette, Cierra and the rest of the Color Of Change team
References:
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Help keep our movement strong.
If you're absolutely sure you don't want to hear from Color Of Change again, click here to unsubscribe.
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Dear Jon.
Black History Month can be a traumatic time for Black school children. Many Black and Brown students are instructed by teachers who don’t have enough knowledge or understanding of Black culture to adequately instruct them about our history. At Hamden, Connecticut’s West Woods Elementary, in a district where 90% of the teachers are white and 60% of the students are Black, a 10-year old girl was cast in a school play as “Enslaved African 2.” She was instructed to lie down as if in a slave ship and speak about how much pain she was in. Those were her only speaking parts in the play.1,2
There is no reason that Black school children should be subjected to violent Black History Month curriculums and activities every year. These cruel and ignorant practices inflict harm on their identity and self-esteem as a result of their teachers’ lack of cultural competence and implicit bias training. Replicating the horrors of the Trans-Atlantic Slave trade as a method to instruct is an obvious misstep that has serious consequences on the educational experience of students, especially young Black girls. The Hamden Board of Education must consider the many incidents that have gone unreported and have directly affected the educational journey of Black students under Daniel M. Levy’s leadership.
SIGN THE PETITION: Demand the removal of principal Daniel M. Levy for allowing racist instruction at West Woods Elementary.
Racism and bias in schools is a crisis that requires district-wide support, curriculum changes, and teachers who reflect the student population in order to undo racism in classrooms. Eighty percent of public school teachers are white,3 while Black girls are 16% of the female population in U.S. public schools.4 Every year there are reported incidents of students being made to re-enact racial trauma. Research shows that white teachers have lower expectations for students of color, and are significantly less likely to expect Black students to finish high school and college.5 This event has illuminated the reality that Hamden schools, and public schools overall, require deep and intentional work to equip teachers with the training and resources to adequately instruct Black students. It is time for Hamden schools to acknowledge the history of racism in our society and the multi-pronged ways in which it manifests both explicitly and covertly in scholastic settings.
The tendency for white teachers to “not see color,” or to instruct using racially violent educational material, creates conditions for students to experience racial trauma that can have long lasting effects throughout their educational journey. As principal in a school district where more than half of the student body is Black, Daniel M. Levy was grossly negligent in ensuring his staff was adequately prepared to instruct during Black History Month.
Demand the removal of principal Daniel M. Levy for allowing racist instruction at West Woods Elementary.
Jon, you have never wavered in your commitment to our children, specifically young Black girls, and we know you will show up again for them. You’ve stood up for four 12-year-old Black and Latinx girls who were strip searched at their middle school.6 You’ve called on the Blue Valley Board of Education to investigate the racism Camille Sturdivant experienced when her dance coach said that, “her skin clashed with the color of the uniforms,” and her, “Black skin would cause the audience to look at [her] and not the other dancers.”7,8 Black girls will continue to face racist abuse in schools until those in power are held responsible for their actions. By demanding the removal of principal Daniel M. Levy we can begin the process of undoing racism within the Hamden Public School District and hold those in power accountable for denying Black girls the education they deserve.
SIGN THE PETITION: Demand the removal of principal Daniel M. Levy for allowing racist instruction at West Woods Elementary.
Until justice is real,
--Brandi, Rashad, Arisha, Evan, Johnny, Jade, Future, Eesha, Samantha, Marcus, FolaSade, Jennette, Cierra and the rest of the Color Of Change team
References:
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Help keep our movement strong.
If you're absolutely sure you don't want to hear from Color Of Change again, click here to unsubscribe.
Hey Jon,
Are you registered to vote in the LA County District Attorney election happening March 3rd?
Check my Registration Status
This DA race is one of the most important races in the country. That's why we’re working hard to elect George Gascón. He's a progressive prosecutor committed to undoing the damage Jackie Lacey has done to Black communities in LA over the past 8 years.
We hope you’ll join us in voting for George Gascón, but in order to do that, you have to make sure you’re registered. Click here to check your registration status.
If you’re not registered, here are 4 ways to get registered to vote:
OK, now that you know how to register, we need to get other people out to vote for George Gascón too! It will be way more convincing for your friends and family to hear about the importance of voting from you, someone they know and trust, than from us.
Click one of the buttons below to share this graphic with at least 5 friends and family in LA!
Post to Facebook ?
Share on Twitter ?
Share by Email ?
Jon, spreading this information is key to our victory. The more people in our communities know about the voter registration deadlines, the closer we are to having progressive criminal justice reform. Let’s keep fighting for the next 18 days to win for LA!
Until justice is real,
Arisha, Jenni, Drew, Shannon, Charles, Tammi, Scotty, Corina, Destanie, Daniel, and the Color Of Change PAC team
P.S. If you're excited to talk about why you're voting for George Gascón, we want to hear your story and share it on our social media! Click here to record a 30-second video about why you support Gascón for LA County District Attorney.
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Ad paid for by ColorOfChange PAC, colorofchangepac.org. Not authorized by any federal, state, or local candidate or a committee controlled by a candidate. |
ColorOfChange PAC is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Contributions to Color Of Change PAC are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes. This email was sent to yellow71486@. If you're absolutely sure you don't want to hear from Color Of Change again, click here to unsubscribe.
Police and political opponents are using Jussie Smollett to drag down Kim Foxx. Don't fall for it.
Dear Jon,
We wanted to send you a message to address head-on the treatment of Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx by politicians and the media this week in light of the new indictments against actor Jussie Smollet.
Let’s be clear: these attacks on Kim Foxx, just 1 month before the election, are about more than just the Jussie Smollett case.
They are a coordinated effort by police, conservative politicians, and others invested in upholding mass incarceration in Cook County to undermine Kim Foxx because she is a threat to their power.
These attacks likely aren’t going anywhere-- but Kim Foxx isn’t going anywhere either, if we can help it. If you are as angry as we are about these manipulative smears, the best way to prove them wrong is by convincing voters to re-elect Kim Foxx. Invest $1 to join our efforts to reach thousands of people and win this election.
While police and Foxx’s opponents have spent a year now feeding the public sensational distractions related to Jussie Smollett, they’ve conveniently ignored all of the massive improvements she’s made to the lives of thousands in Cook County. In just four years, she has:
Kim Foxx has also admitted that she could have handled the Jussie Smollett case better, and has already made changes in her office to make sure nothing like that happens again. She apologized, took accountability, and is making changes. That’s about all we can ask of anyone who makes a mistake, and a lot more than most politicians will do.5
We’re choosing to prioritize the real, structural changes Kim Foxx is making to protect, heal and free thousands of Black and brown people over one sensationalized case. If you agree with us, then chip in $1 now to help us use these last 30 days to convince thousands of voters in Cook County to ignore the lies and re-elect Kim Foxx.
Attacks on people who dare to stand up to power are nothing new in this country, especially when they’re Black women. Kim Foxx has been under attack since the day she took office, especially by police and prosecutors. In April 2019, the Fraternal Order of Police in Cook County bussed officers into Chicago to protest for her resignation after the Smollett case, and were joined by multiple white supremacist groups like the Proud Boys.6 In July they released a public letter to continue to undermine her, saying they had a “deep mistrust” in her office.7
Now her opponents Bill Conway, Bob Fioretti, and Donna More are recycling the police’s talking points to attack Kim Foxx in debates and political ads.
Foxx’s opponents would rather spend their money and time on bringing Foxx down than on building up systems of safety and support for the people of Cook County.
Meanwhile, Kim Foxx is giving young kids and returning citizens second chances.
She’s reuniting families.
She’s clearing people’s names so they can get jobs, homes, and loans and live their lives again.
Who would you rather see in the Cook County State’s Attorney’s office the next 4 years?
If your answer was Kim Foxx, then we’re on the same page. We have 1 month left to convince 1000s of voters to re-elect her. Please, donate $1 now to help us get there.
Donate to defend Kim Foxx
Until justice is real,
Arisha, Jenni, Drew, Charles, Daniel, Cristel, Tammi, Calyssa, Audrey, Scotty and the Color Of Change PAC team
Sources
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Paid for by ColorOfChange PAC, colorofchangepac.org, not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee, and no candidate is responsible for the activities of the committee.
A copy of our report filed with the State Board of Elections is (or will be) available on the Board's official website, elections.il.gov, or for purchase from the State Board of Elections, Springfield, Illinois.
ColorOfChange PAC is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Contributions to Color Of Change PAC are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes. This email was sent to yellow71486@. If you're absolutely sure you don't want to hear from Color Of Change again, click here to unsubscribe.
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“I do not think of political power as an end. Neither do I think of economic power as an end. They are ingredients in the objective that we seek in life. And I think that end of that objective is a truly brotherly society, the creation of the beloved community.”
-- Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Christian Century Magazine, July 1966
When Dr. King spoke of beloved community, he wasn’t referring to some unattainable goal far off in the future. How do we apply his idea of beloved community right now, in this moment, how do we love and support each other? What does beloved community mean to you, Jon?
At Color Of Change, beloved community means standing up when there is an injustice against Black people. It means refusing to remain silent in the face of 400 years of interconnected, accumulative oppression and violence against us. Color Of Change staff and members design and implement the kind of campaigns that make it just a little easier for us to ultimately live in community together. We are doing the crucial work of engaging a critical mass of people to fight for justice with every petition signed, phone call made, and dollar donated-- we are changing the landscape and expanding what is politically possible for our people.
We are only able to do this work because our members pitch in what they can, as often as they can. Can you pitch in $3 today,Jon?
The internet didn’t exist when Dr. King was doing his work against the triple evils of poverty, racism, and militarism. In attempting to honor his legacy and that of so many freedom fighters before him, Color Of Change has been a project to use modern digital tools to create space for that sense of beloved community. So that no matter where we are in this country, we can use the tools and networks built by this organization and our partners to have each other’s backs in these uncertain times.
Our work touches communities from coast to coast and everywhere in between. It is an honor and a privilege to get to serve our people and we are so grateful that we live in a time of heightened awareness of the challenges we face, the power we need to win, and an increasing willpower to win it. We know we have everything we need and we are dedicated to getting as close as we can to King’s vision of beloved community in our lifetimes.
Your support makes all of this work possible. Can you make an offering in the name of Dr. King, our ancestor in the fight for full civil rights?
Until justice is real,
--Clarise, Rashad, Arisha, Scott, Erika, Malachi, Marybeth, Marena, Madison, Leonard, Tamar, and the rest of the Color Of Change team
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Help keep our movement strong.
If you're absolutely sure you don't want to hear from Color Of Change again, click here to unsubscribe.
Hey?Jon,
Being a Black person living in America feels increasingly difficult. We are trying to survive two deadly viruses at the same time: Covid-19 and racism. I am tired, and I know you must be too.?
This email has been difficult to write, but I must tell you the truth: we are experiencing a nationwide voter registration crisis due to the coronavirus. In several states, voter registration numbers fell by close to 50% since 2016, including in Texas, North Carolina, Maryland, Missouri, and Kansas.1 Even worse, Virginia has 73% fewer registrations last month than it did just four years ago,2?and New Jersey saw a near-73% drop.3?
Due to Covid-19, on-the-ground voter registration events are no longer feasible, and we need to keep our field organizers and members safe. Black voters already experience heightened voter suppression in this country, and added barriers to voter registration make it even more difficult for us to vote. But?Jon, we cannot give up. I believe that we can turn our collective pain from this moment into Black political power.?
Color Of Change PAC is even more committed to making sure Black people have full access to the ballot box. Increased access starts with educating thousands of Black voters about how to register online or by mail during this pandemic. In order to activate Black folks to register before the November elections, we will be sending texts, running ads, and hosting virtual voter registration events.?
I can't promise that voting will immediately solve inequities Black people experience every day in this country. But it is one of the best ways we can use our voices to elect leaders that are accountable to Black communities and understand that we need change now.
If you are financially able, please donate whatever you can to our rapid-response Black voter registration program.?With your generous donation, we will have the resources necessary to reach as many Black voters as possible virtually before November.
Choose which donation amount feels right for you:
Donate $5
Donate $10
Donate $25
Donate $50
Donate $100
Until justice is real,
Arisha, Jenni, Drew, Charles, Tammi, Cristel, Alex, Scotty,?Daniel, and the Color Of Change PAC team
References:?
1.?https://act.colorofchange.org/go/248416?t=13&akid=42979%2E4887299%2ElBgwnb
2.?https://act.colorofchange.org/go/248304?t=15&akid=42979%2E4887299%2ElBgwnb
3.??https://act.colorofchange.org/go/248417?t=17&akid=42979%2E4887299%2ElBgwnb
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Paid Pol. Adv. paid for by ColorOfChange PAC, 1714 Franklin St., Oakland, CA 94612, independently of and not authorized or approved by any federal, state, or local candidate or candidate's committee.
ColorOfChange PAC is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Contributions to Color Of Change PAC are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes. This email was sent to yellow71486@. If you''re absolutely sure you don''t want to hear from Color Of Change again, click here to unsubscribe.
I'm going to be honest
Jon,
Let's get right down to it: Joe Biden and Kamala Harris have clearly won this election, and the final vote count will prove it.
And they won thanks to Black voters, and thanks to our volunteers,?members and donors. Not only did Black voters turn out in record numbers -- Black communities and leaders made racial justice a central issue in this campaign, which motivated millions of people to vote.
In a year filled with darkness, our Voting While Black program created spaces filled with light. We centered Black joy as a source of empowerment, from text-a-thons to Black Women's brunches. Our National Weekend of Black Joy in Black communities ensured that our friends and family were in good spirits, protected and proactive about making a plan to vote.
Together, we started about 6.1 million text conversations with Black voters and we called close to 640,000 Black voters. We sent nearly 4 million pieces of direct mail, all with critical information about how to vote, and about candidates in dozens of different races. Our digital ads were seen almost 70 million times this year.
Watch my video message below for more of my thoughts on how the movement for racial justice got us here, and will continue to drive us forward.
Jon, whatever lies ahead, I know we'll be side by side in the struggle-- to catch one another, lift one another up, and remind one another?that we are much more powerful than we even yet realize.
As we learn more about these results, we''ll reach out with actions and next steps. But for now, I'm so glad you're a part of this movement to build a safe, just, equitable future for Black people.
Until justice is real,
Rashad and the Color Of Change PAC team
P.S. You can watch the recording of our post-election member call from last night here, including words from our PAC Executive Director Arisha Michelle Hatch
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Paid for by ColorOfChange PAC,? Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee. |
ColorOfChange PAC is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Contributions to Color Of Change PAC are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes. This email was sent to @. If you''re absolutely sure you don''t want to hear from Color Of Change again, click here to unsubscribe.
In the LAPD's Metropolitan Division, police officers falsified records, misidentified Los Angelenos as gang members and presented false evidence to prosecutors. Over 750 people will have the once-in-a-lifetime chance to clear their names.
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Jon,
The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) has been caught lying AGAIN.
In the LAPD's Metropolitan Division, police officers falsified records, misidentified Los Angelenos as gang members and presented false evidence to prosecutors --- all of which may have resulted in the wrongful arrest, conviction, and incarceration of hundreds of Black and brown people in the County.1
Despite this new development, District Attorney Jackie Lacey refuses to reopen every single case handled by LAPD's Metropolitan Division. At a recent press conference, DA Lacey announced that her office would do an initial review and would intervene if the officer's statement was the sole piece of evidence.2 She goes on to express her disappointment with the officers'' actions as well as her concern that the public will view the criminal justice system in a negative light.
Don''t be fooled, Jon. DA Lacey is just shifting blame and refusing to acknowledge the significant role her office played in upending the lives of hundreds of Black and brown people. DA Lacey holds the primary responsibility of checking the veracity of criminal allegations. Yet, she failed to do so. Instead, she treated the words of cops as the infallible truth.
DA Lacey's lack of oversight placed Black and brown people in cages and ruined their chance at a normal life. Hundreds of Black and brown people have been convicted, locked up in cages, and are suffering the collateral consequences of having a criminal record. Many who were coerced to take a bad plea deal in the first place, now have restricted access to jobs, housing, proper childcare, and no hope of upward mobility. Quite frankly, reopening all of these cases is the very least her office can do.
DA Lacey has an ethical obligation to address this police misconduct and blatant abuse of power. Yet, she continues to drag her feet, proving once again she lacks the moral clarity needed to hold corrupt police officers accountable.
Here is where you come in, Jon. DA Lacey needs to hear directly from you. She needs to know that the community members are closely watching her office and will not tolerate any attempt to protect police officers who knowingly inflict harm on our communities.
Sign the petition: Demand DA Jackie Lacey reopens ALL cases handled by LAPD's Metropolitan division.
The Metropolitan Division is a police unit tasked with surveillance of crime "hotspots" in the community. LAPD officials claim the division is needed in order to monitor spikes in crime and keep community members safe from violent activity. But here is the truth: LAPD police officers repeatedly lied to justify their racial intimidation, profiling, and harassment of Black and brown people on an everyday basis. Several of the individuals falsely accused by the LAPD are sitting in a cage at this very moment.
This is not the first time that DA Lacey has chosen the police over the people of Los Angeles. In her seven years as lead prosecutor for LA County, DA Lacey has not prosecuted a single officer for a fatal shooting.3 Worst of all, DA Lacey places the final responsibility of correcting this most recent injustice on defense attorneys including public defenders who are already overworked, underpaid, and lack the resources to properly represent their clients. The District Attorney's office already receives SIX times the amount of money the Office of the Public Defender receives on a yearly basis. Now she wants to make some of our least supported community advocates work to reverse past convictions. It is outrageous and unconscionable.
Over 750 people will have the once-in-a-lifetime chance to clear their names of any wrongdoing. Therefore, it is absolutely critical for district attorneys like Jackie Lacey to intervene in this clear case of police misconduct.
The people of Los Angeles deserve better. Sign this petition demanding DA Lacey throw out ALL cases recommended by the LAPD's corrupt police unit.
It is no secret that law enforcement will go to extraordinary lengths to harm Black people. Police officers have a sworn duty to protect and serve, but time and time again, police will violate people's rights, tamper with evidence or testimony, take part in corruption or commit violence and harassment against Black communities. Simply put, the police cannot police themselves.
That is why prosecutors all across the country are starting conviction review units. In Cook County, State's Attorney's Kim Foxx investigated hundreds of cases of misconduct, resulting in nearly 40 incarcerated people reuniting with their families. State's Attorney Marilyn Mosby created a list of untrustworthy Baltimore police officers and worked extensively to wipe out 790 convictions. It''s time for District Attorney Jackie Lacey to follow the lead of reform-minded prosecutors.
Tell District Attorney Jackie Lacey: Do the right thing. Reopen LAPD's cases NOW.
Until justice is real,
--Scott, Rashad, Arisha, Erika, Malachi, Marybeth, Ernie, Leonard, Madison, McKayla and the rest of the Color Of Change team
References:
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Please help keep our movement strong.
Make a Donation
?
All the final things you need to know
Jon,
Election Day is on Tuesday! This is the last call!
I want to thank you for sticking with us through this long election season,?Jon. We have some final voting information below, but we hope you can also take a moment to reflect on the fact that while this election is huge, it is also just one step on the path towards creating the just world we seek. Elections are a tool in our toolbox; they are not the ends we seek.
So whatever happens on Tuesday, take care of yourself, take care of your people, and keep your eyes and heart on the vision ahead.
Now, at this point, hopefully you've gotten all the information you need on how to vote, but if you haven't here's one last reminder!
And make sure to share this with friends and family so they vote too!
5 Steps to Voting this Election Season
Step 1: Are you registered to vote?
Step 2: How are you voting?
Step 3: Who and what should you bring?
Step 4: Who should you vote for?
Step 5: Track your ballot
You can also share our tool where people can check their voter registration, find their polling place, and track their ballot here!
Lastly, if you''re looking for one more thing to do, sign up for our final textathons for Black voters on Monday and Tuesday below!
That's all for now,?Jon. Please find space for rest and care, and we'll see you in the struggle.
Until justice is real,
Jenni, Arisha, Drew, Corina, Bill, Hillerie, Kaya, Destanie, Scotty and the Color Of Change PAC team
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Ad paid for by ColorOfChange PAC, colorofchangepac.org. Not authorized by any federal, state, or local candidate or a committee controlled by a candidate. |
ColorOfChange PAC is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Contributions to Color Of Change PAC are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes. This email was sent to @. If you''re absolutely sure you don''t want to hear from Color Of Change again, click here to unsubscribe.
To win justice for Black people, we have to keep fighting. Can we count on you to become a sustaining supporter of Color Of Change today? YES, COUNT ME IN!?
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Jon --
In just a few short months, the world as we know it has changed. People are stepping off the sidelines and taking to the streets to defend Black lives.1 "Defund the police" has sparked a national conversation on what real community safety could look like. And leaders of the movement for Black lives are running for elected office - and winning.2?
At the same time, we know that so much has stayed the same. These positive changes were born out of outrage over the continued murder of Black people at the hands of emboldened vigilantes and racist cops. And so many years later, in response to so much tragedy, we still must adamantly affirm until it is true in our streets, in our schools, in our courthouses, everywhere: Black Lives Matter.?
Will you stand with us to continue the fight for Black lives, Jon? Become a sustaining supporter of Color Of Change today, and help power the movement for justice.?
This summer, that movement for justice looked like protests in response to police brutality. Police brutality hasn't gone away - neither can we. To win justice for Black people, we have to keep fighting. Here are just a few fights Color Of Change is leading right now:?
We'll be blunt: All of this critical work takes resources, and we're relying on supporters like you to help power the fight for Black lives.
It's time to take our fight to the next level. Can we count on you to become a sustaining supporter of Color Of Change today? Just $3 a month makes a huge difference, Jon - and gets us one step closer to building a more equitable world for Black people.
BECOME A SUSTAINING SUPPORTER NOW
Right now, we're at an inflection point. What we choose to do at this moment will not only define who we are but also who we can be. Color Of Change is choosing to stay the course, to fight harder than ever to confront and dismantle the systems that disproportionately harm Black people.?
History teaches us that people-powered movements are critical to transforming our communities, Jon. Without sustaining supporters -?people like you chipping in what they can every month to support our ongoing fight for change - it becomes almost impossible to push for the progressive solutions that will make a difference.
You've taken action with us before -?thank you! - and we know we can count on you to stay in the fight with us.?
Chip in $3 a month to power our movement to end police violence, hold corporations accountable, and defend Black lives.
Our fight is more than a moment, a trending topic, or a black square on Instagram. Painting "Black Lives Matter" on our streets won't mean much until all of us are safe on every street. And together, we'll turn our momentum into real victories for Black people.?
Until justice is real,
-- Scott, Rashad, Arisha, Erika, Malachi, Marybeth, Madison, Leonard, Ernie, McKayla, and the rest of the Color Of Change team
?
References:
1.?"Black Lives Matter may be the largest movement in U.S. history." The New York Times, 3 July 2020.
2. "Black Lives Matter Activist Cori Bush Upsets 10-Term Democratic Congressman in Primary." Slate, 5 August 2020.
3.?Say No to Money From Police. Color Of Change.?
4.?Police Foundations: Policing's Corporate-Sponsored Secret Weapon. Color Of Change.
5. "ACLU and Color Of Change Statement on Endeavour Capital''s Divestment from Predatory, For-Profit Bail Industry."?ACLU and Color Of Change.? 21 February 2020.?
6. "Selling Off Our Freedom: How Insurance Corporations Have Taken Over the Bail System." ACLU and Color Of Change.?
7. Help families stay connected with loved ones behind bars during COVID-19, and beyond. Color Of Change.?
8.?Demand Congress Pass The Martha Wright Act. Color Of Change.?
9. "How Color Of Change applies pressure to fight racial inequality." CNBC, 19 July 2020.?
10. Winning Justice - Prosecutor Directory. Color Of Change.?
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CHIP IN $3 NOW
ColorOfChange is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change.
If you''re absolutely sure you don''t want to hear from ColorOfChange again, click here to unsubscribe.
Jon, help us take "No Cash From Cops" to the next level:
?
?
One of the largest police unions in the world recently endorsed Donald Trump.
They've picked their side - and we need your help to fight back.
Become a sustaining supporter of Color Of Change PAC now.?
Jon --
Two weeks ago, the NYC Police Benevolent Association, "the largest municipal police union in the world,"1 endorsed Donald Trump's re-election. And last night, the union''s president praised Trump at the Republican National Convention.
If you know anything about police unions, this endorsement comes as no surprise. Put simply, police unions are one of the single largest threats to Black life in America.?
Police unions defend violent and abusive cops and often succeed in getting killer cops reinstated after they're fired. They use their political power to block reform and win contracts that effectively put police above the law. And they attack and threaten anyone who dares to challenge the police2 - including activists, elected officials, and people just like you,?Jon.
For police unions, money is power. They use it to buy politicians' support and block reform. That's why Color Of Change PAC launched "No Cash From Cops,"3 a national campaign to demand elected officials on both sides of the aisle refuse donations from killer cop organizations.?
Police unions are one of our main foes in the fight for Black lives. And we'll be blunt,?Jon: To take them on - and to win desperately-needed police accountability - we need resources.
Jon, will you become a monthly supporter?today to help Color Of Change PAC fight for police accountability? With your help, we'll be able to purchase digital ads to expose police unions, reduce their outsized influence on our politics, and keep fighting to defend Black lives. This couldn't be more important.
YES, I'LL CHIP IN TO HELP DEFEND BLACK LIVES
With their full-throated endorsement of Trump last night, the NYC Police Benevolent Association (PBA) has shown the world exactly where police unions stand. Yes, they support Trump's "law and order" platform and fetish for brutal policing. But this endorsement is also a tacit approval of the harm the Trump administration inflicts on Black people -?and a rebuke on police accountability of any kind.
Although this is PBA's first presidential endorsement in nearly four decades, politicians on both sides of the aisle have vied for - and gleefully accepted - the support of powerful police unions for years.
From the presidency to the city council, Republican AND Democratic elected officials know police unions are an enemy they can't afford to make. And we can't afford to sit on the sidelines while police unions buy up our democracy and enable the police violence that plagues Black communities.?
We have to fight back,?Jon - and with your continued support, we will. Become a monthly supporter of our campaign to defend Black lives and hold racist cops accountable.
In polling and at protests, Americans have spoken and are emphatic: Policing needs fundamental change. But police unions like PBA and the Fraternal Order of Police will block reform with all they've got.
Police unions aren't on our side. With only two months until the November election - in the middle of a national referendum on police - we'll be hearing more and more from them. Through their ads and endorsements, police unions will tell us exactly what they're fighting for: the ability to terrorize Black and Brown communities with impunity.
Jon, as long as police unions have a hand in local and federal politics, our communities will continue to suffer. We can't let police money upend our democracy or continue to threaten Black lives.??
Chip in $3 or whatever you can to power our "No Cash From Cops" campaign today.
Until justice is real,
-- Scott, Malachi, Ernie, and the rest of the Color Of Change PAC team
?
References:
1. The Inevitable Trump-Police Union Synthesis. New York Magazine, Intelligencer. 18 August 2020.
2.?The Fraternal Order Of Police: A Union That Stands In The Way Of Police Reforms. NPR. 8 June 2020.
3. No Cash From Cops:?Say No to Money From Police. Color Of Change.?
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Ad paid for by ColorOfChange PAC, colorofchangepac.org. Not authorized by any federal, state, or local candidate or a committee controlled by a candidate. |
ColorOfChange PAC is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Contributions to Color Of Change PAC are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes. This email was sent to yellow71486@. If you''re absolutely sure you don''t want to hear from Color Of Change again, click here to unsubscribe.
We need your help to donate toys to Black foster children in the Greater New Orleans Area.
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We want to buy holiday gifts for foster kids in the Greater New Orleans Area.??
Sign up to donate monthly to give a foster child a gift for the holidays.? ? GIVE $1 MONTHLY |
This year, we wanted to do something extra special to celebrate the holidays. So, we've partnered with Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) Jefferson, an organization that advocates for the rights of children in foster care in the Greater New Orleans Area, to purchase toys for foster kids in need. Help us give the gift of Black joy to foster children in the Greater New Orleans Area by donating $1 per month. ??
All too often, Black kids are unjustly denied the joy that many other children experience simply because of their Blackness. Studies show that Black children are seen as more guilty, more aggressive, and more adult than their white counterparts, which leads to Black kids facing unnecessary criminalization and long-term impacts like negative effects on their emotional and educational development.1,2 This is magnified for foster children who, in addition, face familial disruption and complex legal proceedings. Despite all of that, the children of CASA Jefferson demonstrate resilience and persistence, and they keep fighting to do their best with what they have.
Contribute $1 per month to help us give the gift of Black joy to foster kids in the Greater New Orleans Area.?
Black foster kids should be able to take part in the joy and excitement of the holiday season, just like any other children. But CASA Jefferson needs your help to make sure their foster kids have joyful holidays. By matching children with a dedicated advocate, CASA Jefferson ensures children in foster care have comfort, love, a consistent adult presence, and a sense of stability during legal proceedings. They are a positive resource for kids going through a difficult time, and because they do so much for their kids, we want to share some Black joy with them.?
Jon, sign up TODAY to be a monthly donor and give Greater New Orleans foster kids the gift of Black joy.?
Just $1 per month ensures we can send as much joy as possible to as many foster kids at CASA Jefferson as possible.
Until justice is real,?
-Jade, Rashad, Arisha, Johnny, Amanda, Marie, Gabrielle, Evan, Imani, Taurjhai, Stasia, Eesha, Samantha, Jennette, Ciera, Marcus, FolaSade, and the rest of the Color Of Change team
References:?
Image: Pinterest
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Please help keep our movement strong.
Make a Donation
?
Hey Jon, it''s me John Legend.?
In 2 days, we have a chance at having a progressive criminal justice system in Los Angeles. How? By saying #ByeJackieLacey and voting for George Gasc?n in the District Attorney''s race.?
As a Black LA resident, this election is not about politics; it's personal for me and my community.?Since Jackie Lacey was elected DA in 2012,?the LA?police?force has?killed?over 500 people. Most of these victims were Black and brown, and Lacey has only charged one officer.1?Many brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers, and friends of these people are still grieving and traumatized.?
Right now, you have the power to help undo the damage that DA Lacey has inflicted on our community by voting her out of office. Hundreds of vote centers are open across LA County until March 3rd.?
Click here to find a vote center that works best for you to vote for George Gasc?n in the District Attorney's race.
Next, share this vote center infographic to make sure your friends and family know where to vote too!
?
Share by Email ?
Post to Facebook ?
Share on Twitter ?
If Jackie Lacey is re-elected, Black folks' livelihood is at stake. Although we make up only 8% of the county's population, Black folks comprise a third of LA's jail population, which is the largest in the country.2?To make matters worse, nearly a quarter of the people killed by law enforcement officers are Black.3?Since 2012, DA Jackie Lacey has continued to disproportionately send Black people to jail and refuse to prosecute officers who kill us.?
After 8 long years of misconduct in the DAs office, we finally have a chance at progressive criminal justice reform. Los Angeles police officers are killing Black people, and DA Lacey continues to turn a blind eye.
I believe that we can win this,?Jon. That's why I'm emailing you right now and speaking out against Jackie Lacey. I want Black people from all walks of life to be treated with dignity and respect. There's so much work we can do to improve our communities by making them safer and healthier.
We only have 2 more days to make our voices heard. Will you make sure your friends and family know where to vote so we can finally get Jackie Lacey out of office?
Yes -- I will make sure my friends & family members are educated about the LA County vote centers by sharing this infographic right now.
Share by Email ?
Post to Facebook ?
Share on Twitter ?
Sincerely,
John Legend
P.S. --?Make sure to also vote YES on Measure R. It's a ballot measure that brings oversight, transparency, and accountability to the LA Sheriff''s Department. Measure R will directly address problems of Sheriff deputy misconduct and corruption, and demand solutions to severe overcrowding and inadequate mental health care in our jails. Click here to learn more.
References:?
1.?
https://act.colorofchange.org/go/237233?t=10&akid=41333%2E4887299%2EXzSGbT
2.
https://act.colorofchange.org/go/226633?t=12&akid=41333%2E4887299%2EXzSGbT
3. Ibid.
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Demand that PayPal cease all fundraisers to supremacist causes!
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Dear Jon,
Demand that PayPal pick a side, and cease all fundraisers to white supremacist causes!
PayPal is empowering white nationalists to raise money for Kyle Rittenhouse, the Kenosha shooter who killed two protestors at a rally for Jacob Blake. In the aftermath of the horrific murders he committed, Rittenhouse received an outpouring of support from people who see Black people as a threat. The #FightBack Foundation is actively using PayPal to process donations for Rittenhouse's legal defense. The group's mission states, "we are prepared to confront those who seek to take away the right of self-defense". Jon, we all know in this context what self-defense means. Emboldened white nationalists justify and celebrate Rittenhouse's violence. With access to raise money on PayPal, this group is doing just that!
These fundraisers are the lifeline for hate groups. It's how they build power - to pay legal fees, book travel and accommodations, and recruit new members. Without these platforms, they are cut off from their donors. As long as PayPal willfully ignores how its platform is being used to fund hate, it is complicit in white supremacy and must be held accountable. We cannot allow PayPal to enable white nationalist groups and finance their hateful, white supremacist causes.
SIGN THE PETITION: Demand that PayPal cease all fundraisers for Kyle Rittenhouse and other white nationalists!
PayPal made a commitment to stop profiting from hate. In 2017, Color Of Change successfully fought to deplatform white nationalist hate groups from PayPal, American Express, Visa and MasterCard after finding that hate groups used these sites to collect over $20 million dollars in contributions, sales, and grants. PayPal was the default bank of the white supremacist movement because it was easier for groups to embed PayPal than credit card companies. PayPal enforced a policy change with staff resources to enforce that policy. But right now, PayPal is choosing to allow the #FightBack Foundation to translate their support for racist violence into donations for Rittenhouse.
We are 2 weeks away from the 2020 elections, and the white nationalists, who Trump told to "stand back and stand by," are organizing and preparing to engage in violent attacks.?Earlier this month, the FBI thwarted a white supremacist, Trump supporting group from kidnapping the governor of Michigan. These white nationalists anticipate prosecution for their terrorizing actions, so they crowdfund to afford lawyers that will defend their attacks. We don't need another Kenosha to happen for us to recognize how dangerous and reckless these groups are. We can't let PayPal play both sides - either PayPal is standing with white nationalists or against them.
SIGN THE PETITION: Demand that PayPal condemn white supremacy and cease ties with their causes!
Until justice is real,?
-Jade, Rashad, Arisha, Johnny, Amanda, Evan, Imani, Marie, Samantha, Eesha, Marcus, FolaSade, Eesha,?Jennette, Ciera,?Gabrielle, Taurjhai, Stasia, and the rest of the Color Of Change team
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Please help keep our movement strong.
Make a Donation
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We're not surprised - we're fighting back. Join us:
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One of the largest police unions in the world recently endorsed Donald Trump.
They've picked their side - and we need your help to fight back.
Become a sustaining supporter of Color Of Change PAC now.?
Jon --
Two weeks ago, the NYC Police Benevolent Association, "the largest municipal police union in the world,"1 endorsed Donald Trump's re-election. And last night, the union''s president praised Trump at the Republican National Convention.
If you know anything about police unions, this endorsement comes as no surprise. Put simply, police unions are one of the single largest threats to Black life in America.?
Police unions defend violent and abusive cops and often succeed in getting killer cops reinstated after they're fired. They use their political power to block reform and win contracts that effectively put police above the law. And they attack and threaten anyone who dares to challenge the police2 - including activists, elected officials, and people just like you,?Jon.
For police unions, money is power. They use it to buy politicians' support and block reform. That's why Color Of Change PAC launched "No Cash From Cops,"3 a national campaign to demand elected officials on both sides of the aisle refuse donations from killer cop organizations.?
Police unions are one of our main foes in the fight for Black lives. And we'll be blunt,?Jon: To take them on - and to win desperately-needed police accountability - we need resources.
Jon, will you become a monthly supporter?today to help Color Of Change PAC fight for police accountability? With your help, we'll be able to purchase digital ads to expose police unions, reduce their outsized influence on our politics, and keep fighting to defend Black lives. This couldn't be more important.
YES, I'LL CHIP IN TO HELP DEFEND BLACK LIVES
With their full-throated endorsement of Trump last night, the NYC Police Benevolent Association (PBA) has shown the world exactly where police unions stand. Yes, they support Trump's "law and order" platform and fetish for brutal policing. But this endorsement is also a tacit approval of the harm the Trump administration inflicts on Black people -?and a rebuke on police accountability of any kind.
Although this is PBA's first presidential endorsement in nearly four decades, politicians on both sides of the aisle have vied for - and gleefully accepted - the support of powerful police unions for years.
From the presidency to the city council, Republican AND Democratic elected officials know police unions are an enemy they can't afford to make. And we can't afford to sit on the sidelines while police unions buy up our democracy and enable the police violence that plagues Black communities.?
We have to fight back,?Jon - and with your continued support, we will. Become a monthly supporter of our campaign to defend Black lives and hold racist cops accountable.
In polling and at protests, Americans have spoken and are emphatic: Policing needs fundamental change. But police unions like PBA and the Fraternal Order of Police will block reform with all they've got.
Police unions aren't on our side. With only two months until the November election - in the middle of a national referendum on police - we'll be hearing more and more from them. Through their ads and endorsements, police unions will tell us exactly what they're fighting for: the ability to terrorize Black and Brown communities with impunity.
Jon, as long as police unions have a hand in local and federal politics, our communities will continue to suffer. We can't let police money upend our democracy or continue to threaten Black lives.??
Chip in $3 or whatever you can to power our "No Cash From Cops" campaign today.
Until justice is real,
-- Scott, Malachi, Ernie, and the rest of the Color Of Change PAC team
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References:
1. The Inevitable Trump-Police Union Synthesis. New York Magazine, Intelligencer. 18 August 2020.
2.?The Fraternal Order Of Police: A Union That Stands In The Way Of Police Reforms. NPR. 8 June 2020.
3. No Cash From Cops:?Say No to Money From Police. Color Of Change.?
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ColorOfChange PAC is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Contributions to Color Of Change PAC are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes. This email was sent to @. If you''re absolutely sure you don''t want to hear from Color Of Change again, click here to unsubscribe.
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Dear Jon.
SIGN THE PETITION: Demand insurance companies prioritize the health of Black people and extend health insurance coverage.
In the past two weeks an estimated 3.5 million workers are expected to lose their employer-provided health insurance,1?leaving many of our people forced to pay for COBRA (continuation of health coverage) in the middle of a pandemic if we don't act.
The cost of COBRA coverage is estimated at $633 a month depending on the bi-weekly deductions from wages. Also, a loss in job-provided coverage will result in a switch to COBRA coverage forcing individuals to lose the tax-free benefit of the premiums being deducted from their paychecks pre-tax.2?As many Black people are facing lay-offs there should not be an expectation to shell out money for health care coverage. According to studies, the COVID-19 (coronavirus) economic freeze could cost 47 million jobs causing many of our people to be out of work and without insurance coverage.3?
An alarming number of Black people have less access to health insurance and paid leave, and many also are putting themselves in harm's way to hold on to hourly low-wage jobs for fear of losing health care coverage during this pandemic.4 This deadly choice between making a living and simply living puts unnecessary strain on our people. Black folks remain among the most vulnerable communities to be affected by coronavirus due to pre-existing health conditions such as asthma and heart disease. In Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, as of last Friday morning, 81 percent of the deaths were black people while Black people make up only 26 percent of that county.5 As of Sunday, in Chicago's Cook County 70 percent of coronavirus deaths are black, while black residents make up only 23 percent of the population in the county.6 More than ever Black people need health insurance. In a time of economic and health-related uncertainty, no person should be concerned about whether they will have health insurance.
SIGN THE PETITION: Demand insurance companies prioritize the health of Black people and extend health insurance coverage.
Roughly half of American health insurance is provided through an employer.7?If you lose your job, you're typically eligible for COBRA which will allow an employee to keep the same employer-provided health insurance. However, with claims of unemployment soaring by the day, the idea of paying a COBRA premium along with maintaining a household is absurd. According to the Federal Reserve''s 2018 report on the economic well-being of U.S. households, 40% of American adults wouldn't be able to cover a $400 emergency with cash, savings, or a credit-card. The highest jobless rate during the Great Recession, which ended in 2009, was 10%. The nation's unemployment rate could approach 32% - with over 10 million unemployment claims filed within the last two weeks.8,9?In today's volatile economic climate, no one should be expected to pay for COBRA to be protected from coronavirus.?
SIGN THE PETITION: Demand insurance companies prioritize the health of Black people and extend health insurance coverage.
Major insurance providers should step up and protect Black people instead of forcing them to shell out an outrageous fee to stay alive. Insurance companies have waived prior authorizations and co-pays but this is not enough.10?Thus far only 37 states have issued waivers to modify certain Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIP (Children's Health Insurance Program) provisions following a state of emergency declared by the Trump administration on March 13th.11?However, this expansion doesn't cover all low-income coronavirus testing and treatment - leaving Black people further excluded and targeted through policy that does not consider our needs.12
Black people are already systematically disadvantaged due to access to health care, lack of cultural competence by providers, and implicit bias in rendering healthcare services, and the threat of coronavirus adds an additional layer to these quality-of-life issues.13?Private equity vultures are seeking to exploit our country''s healthcare crisis by buying up hospitals that are saddled with debt, displacing critical healthcare staff and disrupting efforts to eradicate this virus.14?Politicians and policy makers are overlooking the nuanced needs of Black communities, while insurance companies are ignoring their main responsibility to consumers and policy holders. The basic needs of health care coverage for our people must be met to ensure proper allocation of healthcare services and coronavirus testing.
SIGN THE PETITION: Demand insurance companies prioritize the health of Black people and extend health insurance coverage.
Until justice is real,
--Brandi, Rashad, Arisha, Evan, Johnny, Jade, Amanda, Eesha, Samantha, Marcus, FolaSade, Jennette,?Cierra?and the rest of the Color Of Change team
References:
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Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Help keep our movement strong.
If you''re absolutely sure you don''t want to hear from Color Of Change again, click here to unsubscribe.
We demand reparations for the Black families Manhattan Beach has forced off their land.
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Kavon Ward, just started a petition to Mayor Richard Montgomery and the Manhattan Beach City Council: Justice for the Bruce Family
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Dear Jon, I just started a petition titled "Justice for the Bruce Family" Manhattan Beach owes the Bruce family much more than an apology. Once the owners of one of the few thriving beach resorts that Black Angelenos were allowed to patronize in the early 1900s, Willa and Charles Bruce were not only subjected to escalating racist attacks from the city's local Klu Klux Klan, but were eventually forced off their land by Manhattan Beach's own Board of Trustees. Although the Board of Trustees claimed at the time that they needed the land to build a park, we know the real reason the Bruces lost their land. From Tulsa to Forsyth County, Black people's attempts to build economic security for themselves in this country have been haunted by white terrorist violence. The land that the Bruces were forced off is no different, and represents just a tiny fraction of the nearly 11 million acres of land that Black people once had, but lost, due to fraud, deception and outright violence during the Jim Crow era. Now, after only recently acknowledging the injustice the Bruce family has faced at the hands of the city for generations, Manhattan Beach City Council is proposing that a boutique hotel be constructed on the land as a form of restitution. That's not right. That's why Anti-Racist Movements (ARMs) around the South Bay (L.A.) is partnering with Black Lives Matter to let Manhattan Beach City Council know that if they want to rectify the harms of the past, they must meet the full demands of Manhattan Beach's Black residents for restoration, restitution and reparations today. Manhattan Beach City Council needs to make good on its commitment to its Black constituents. We need reparations now. The Bruces' land and business should have been the foundation of their family's ability to build wealth, and to take care of themselves and each other. Instead, it became a source of riches for others. Not only did the city of Manhattan Beach take the Bruces' land in order to preserve the neighborhood's whiteness, but they vastly underpaid them and other Black property owners like them for the value of the land and the businesses that were taken from them. Today, with Manhattan Beach's inflated and unaffordable housing, Black people make up just about 0.8% of the city's population. That's why it's a slap in the face that the Manhattan Beach City Council is proposing the construction of a boutique hotel that will likely remain out of the reach of most of its Black residents as a form of restitution for the city's history of violence. The fact is, Manhattan Beach can't make amends for its racist past without restoring the land back to the Bruces, paying the Bruces restitution and paying reparations to its Black residents for blatantly discriminating against our community and making it impossible for us to own land in the area. Now more than ever, institutions like the Manhattan Beach City Council need to make good on their commitment to Black communities, and we're starting by demanding that they meet our residents' full demands for restoration, restitution, and reparations today. Will you sign the petition and forward this email to make sure your voice is heard? Add your name here. As protests against police violence continue, more and more institutions are coming out with statements to denounce racism. Many of those institutions are the exact same ones who have orchestrated the erosion of Black wealth and property for decades, if not centuries. Sign now to let Manhattan Beach City Council that fighting for racial justice is so much more than an anti-racism statement. It requires dedication and action behind those words. Declaring support of Black people isn't enough and task forces and modified street signs won't pacify us. If the city council truly believes Black lives matter, it must meet the full demands of its Black and Indigenous constituents for restoration, restitution and reparations in Manhattan Beach immediately. Task forces and modified street signs won''t pacify us. Let Manhattan Beach City Council know the time for reparations is now. Thank you, Kavon Ward ? ?
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Join us and start your own petition on OrganizeFor today!
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Help keep our movement strong.
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Everything you need to know to vote for George Gasc?n this week
Dear?Jon,
This is the week we decide whether LA County continues to have a District Attorney who cages thousands of Black and brown people and allows cops to kill innocent people without consequence--
--OR we elect George Gasc?n and start our community on a path towards racial justice, accountability, and real safety.
If you haven't voted yet and you care about racial justice and change to our police & criminal justice systems in LA County, vote for George Gasc?n. All the information you need is below.
If you've already voted, take a second, think about everyone you know in LA County, then share the info below with them-- you are the most powerful messenger to get them to vote!
Everything you need to know to vote for George Gasc?n this week
Step 1: Are you registered to vote?
Step 2: How are you voting?
Step 3: Who and what should you bring?
Step 4: Track your ballot
Ok lastly, here's a few more resources to help you inform people about George Gasc?n:
Let's make sure we've all done every last thing in our power to elect George Gasc?n and move towards real justice in LA County. Don't let yourself regret doing less.
And?Jon, thank you for all you do to fight for racial justice. We see you and appreciate you.
Until justice is real,
Jenni, Arisha, Drew, Corina, Destanie, Kaya, Charles, Karl?h, Scotty and the Color Of Change PAC team
P.S. You can watch some great videos from Color Of Change PAC members on why they support Gasc?n here and here. Share them, and use them as inspiration to make your own!
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Ad paid for by ColorOfChange PAC, Supporting Gascon for LA County District Attorney 2020, colorofchangepac.org. Committee major funding from: Susan Pritzker Wayne Jordan Quinn Delaney Not authorized by any federal, state, or local candidate or a committee controlled by a candidate. |
ColorOfChange PAC is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Contributions to Color Of Change PAC are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes. This email was sent to @. If you''re absolutely sure you don''t want to hear from Color Of Change again, click here to unsubscribe.
Dear Jon,?
Fox News continues to fuel election conspiracies. Demand advertisers pull their support.?After refusing to call Biden "President-elect," Fox News is now launching disinformation attacks on President-elect Biden's new Chief of Staff, Ron Klain, with the baseless allegation that he has undermined people's faith in elections.1 Fox News is even funneling misinformation from fringe far-right outlets falsely alleging that a government computer system called "Hammer" and a software program known as "Scorecard" were used to alter the vote totals in key states by subtracting votes from Trump and adding numbers to President-elect Joe Biden.2 Fox News is misleading viewers about election results and stoking political violence that will only harm Black people and our communities.
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To spread misinformation and question the validity of this election when our people showed up in record numbers to oust Donald Trump is ballot suppression. Jon, the lies must stop about this election so we can move forward and repair the harm of the Trump administration. Fox News has long since lost its credibility as a news source. As long as advertisers continue to pay Fox News to air their ads, advertisers will continue to be complicit in the spread of misinformation and Fox's unapologetic assault on democracy and our people.?
Fox News continues to make desperate plays to undermine the election results. Help us build power and demand advertisers pull their support.
Until justice is real,?
Jade, Arisha, Rashad, Johnny, Evan, Amanda, Eesha, Imani, Marie, Gabrielle, Samantha, Marcus, FolaSade, Taurjhai, Stasia, Jennette, Ciera, and the rest of the COC team
References:?
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Paid Pol. Adv. paid for by ColorOfChange PAC, 1714 Franklin St., Oakland, CA 94612, independently of and not authorized or approved by any federal, state, or local candidate or candidate's committee.
ColorOfChange PAC is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Contributions to Color Of Change PAC are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes. This email was sent to @. If you''re absolutely sure you don''t want to hear from Color Of Change again, click here to unsubscribe.
Inaccessible, Unsafe, and Disorderly
Dear Jon,
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SIGN THE PETITION: Tell the Commission That We Want Unbiased Moderators, Muted Mics, and Greater Accessibility for People with Disabilities.
Last month, the Commission on Presidential Debates ("the Commission") unveiled its list of moderators for the 2020 presidential and vice-presidential debates. The Commission vowed that these "experienced journalists would facilitate an in-depth conversation of major topics" while the "focused debate format"?would grant voters an opportunity to sharpen their views on the candidates.1?Based on the vice-presidential debate, however, we believe that we cannot trust the Commission to deliver on its promises. Not only did USA Today's Susan Page demonstrate personal bias and an inability to enforce rules, but the debate also excluded people with disabilities.?
SIGN THE PETITION: Tell the Commission that Additional Changes Must Be Made to The Remaining Debates.?
While debate moderators should be familiar with the candidates and major issues of the presidential campaigns, Susan Page's relationship with Mike Pence is suspect and inappropriate. In November 2018, Page hosted and paid for a "Girls Night" party to celebrate Seema Verma-the Trump-appointed Administrator of Medicare & Medicaid Services and prot?g?e of Mike Pence.2?The Commission should have never allowed Susan Page to moderate the vice-presidential debate-and her poor performance proved it.?When Pence interrupted Senator Kamala Harris, it was Senator Harris who reminded him that "[she] was speaking" and asked Susan Page for "equal time."3?We needed order, and she deserved respect. ?When Mike Pence's wife, Karen Pence, took to the debate stage without a mask, Susan Page did nothing. Anyone not wearing a mask "should have been escorted out."4??
SIGN THE PETITION: Tell the Commission on Presidential Debates That We Want Better Moderating.
While the Commission claims to "benefit the American electorate," it has failed to include American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters or provide accurate, real-time closed captioning services at any of the debates thus far.5?The Hearing Health Foundation estimates that approximately 48 million Americans have some degree of hearing loss.6?Jon, accessibility should not be an afterthought but a priority. SIGN THE PETITION: Tell the Commission on Presidential Debates that it must provide accommodations to the Deaf and hard of hearing community; to do otherwise is discriminatory.?
Despite our best efforts to contact the Commission on Presidential Debates, we were ignored. We need you to hold the Commission accountable for implementing accessibility measures, muted mics, and revisions to its selection criteria for moderators.?
Until justice is real,?
-Jade, Rashad, Arisha, Johnny, Amanda, Imani, Eesha, Marie, Gabrielle, Sam, Marcus, FolaSade, Jennette, Ciera, Taurjhai, Stasia, and the rest of the Color Of Change team
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References:
1.? "CPD Announces 2020 Debate Moderators," The Commission on Presidential Debates, September 2, 2020, https://act.colorofchange.org/go/274808?t=12&akid=47136%2E5670730%2ErY4Z1u; "The Commission on Presidential Debates: An Overview," The Commission on Presidential Debates, n.d., https://act.colorofchange.org/go/274809?t=14&akid=47136%2E5670730%2ErY4Z1u?
2.? Jeremy Barr, "Susan Page of USA Today criticized for hosting off-the-record event honoring Trump appointees," The Washington Post, September 10, 2020, https://act.colorofchange.org/go/274810?t=16&akid=47136%2E5670730%2ErY4Z1u?
3.? Caitlin O'Kane, "'Mr. Vice President, I'm speaking': Kamala Harris rebukes Pence's interruptions during debate," CBS News, October 7, 2020, https://act.colorofchange.org/go/274812?t=18&akid=47136%2E5670730%2ErY4Z1u?
4.? Dan Mangan, "Mike Pence and Kamala Harris vice presidential debate will have plexiglass barrier because of coronavirus concerns," CNBC, October 5, 2020, https://act.colorofchange.org/go/274813?t=20&akid=47136%2E5670730%2ErY4Z1u?
5.? "The Commission on Presidential Debates: An Overview," The Commission on Presidential Debates, n.d., https://act.colorofchange.org/go/274809?t=22&akid=47136%2E5670730%2ErY4Z1u?
6.? "Hearing Loss & Tinnitus Statistics," Hearing Health Foundation, n.d., https://act.colorofchange.org/go/274814?t=24&akid=47136%2E5670730%2ErY4Z1u?
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Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Please help keep our movement strong.
Make a Donation
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Hey?Jon,
The 2020 Census is in full swing and we're making sure we have all hands on deck so everyone gets counted.
Around 45% of people have already responded to the 2020 Census nationwide, so we wanted to do a quick check and make sure our members are getting counted before the August 14th deadline.?Let us know if you have or have not taken the census. If you have completed the census, please tell us about your experience.?
The census aims to count every single person in the nation, and that count affects how American communities share money and power. The number of people counted determines things like how much housing and food assistance the federal government gives to your state, and how many representatives your state gets in Congress. During a crisis like coronavirus, census data are used to determine how much emergency funding the federal government sends to your state.
Will you take a quick minute to share if you or someone in your household completed the 2020 census??
As we fight for what our communities need right now, we can hold our power by?filling out the 2020 Census and encouraging our friends, family and loved ones to do the same.
Until justice is real,?
Jenni, Arisha, Sabrina, Drew, Charles, Scott, Daniel, Tammi, Cristel, Alexandra, and the rest of the Color Of Change team
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Help keep our movement strong.
If you''re absolutely sure you don''t want to hear from Color Of Change again, click here to unsubscribe.
Dear?Jon,?
As soon as the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Black women knew our incarcerated loved ones' lives were on the line.?
Our members' stories of having an incarcerated loved one during a pandemic needed to be told. Keshia''s brother has all of the symptoms of COVID-19 but has been refused a test by Arkansas prison officials. Ms. Anita's son was just hospitalized for a heart condition making him more vulnerable to COVID-19 complications while he is held pretrial in a California jail. Char is 8 months pregnant and is now at home with her three children, without access to her husband's support through family visits. As she anxiously waits out the next four months before his release, each day that he remains incarcerated puts his life at greater risk. ?
This is why Color of Change and Essie Justice Group1 have joined forces --? the fight for our loved ones lives inside is urgent.
COVID-19 is rapidly spreading inside prisons, jails, and detention centers across the nation.2 Our loved ones are telling us that there are no sanitation supplies, even in the medical facilities; that they have no soap, no masks, and no ability to socially distance. Despite the imminent danger that our incarcerated loved ones face in getting COVID-19, millions of people remain behind bars across the country. Our loved ones are being left to die.?
These dire conditions did not begin with, nor will they end with COVID-19. This pandemic magnifies the devastation of the carceral system and sheds light on how prisons, jails, and detention centers have never kept our communities safe and well.?
Studies confirm that the virus is disproportionately killing Black people and financially devastating Black women.3,4 But we have almost no reliable source of information about what is happening to Black people held in cages across this country. We know we cannot trust the facilities where our loved ones are held to accurately report on the conditions inside. Prisons, jails, and detention centers are underreporting the number of confirmed cases and have no incentive to test.?
We need to do this together-we are collecting 1000 surveys from people with loved ones behind bars to find out what's really going on inside prisons, jails, and detention centers across the United States.?
We've launched the Lives On The Line Campaign to fight for the lives of our loved ones inside. With the data from the survey, we'll have the power we need to hold our public officials accountable for decisions they are making every day that put our loved ones' lives on the line.
We need you to act now. Here are two ways to join the fight to bring our loved ones home:?
Until justice is real,
Gina Clayton-Johnson, Essie Justice Group and Clarise McCants, Color of Change?
References:
1.?Essie Justice Group is a powerful organization of women with incarcerated loved ones. Visit essiejusticegroup.org for more information.
2. "''A Ticking Time Bomb:'" Advocates Warn COVID-19 is Spreading Rapidly Behind Bars." National Public Radio.?https://act.colorofchange.org/go/245830?t=10&akid=42611%2E4887299%2EIA0ODE
3.??"COVID-19 Has Infected and Killed Black People At Alarming Rates. This Data Proves It." Mother Jones. https://act.colorofchange.org/go/245831?t=12&akid=42611%2E4887299%2EIA0ODE
4.?"The Economic Devastation Of COVID-19 Is Hitting Women Particularly Hard." Huffington Post. https://act.colorofchange.org/go/245832?t=14&akid=42611%2E4887299%2EIA0ODE
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Help keep our movement strong.
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Help make sure people are ready to vote
Hey Jon,
Election Day is ONE WEEK away. I know, I can''t believe it either. This is the most essential week for Black voters to hear from us to make sure they have a plan to vote and everything they need to do it!
We''re hosting Black Joy textathons to inform Black voters every day this week at multiple times each day, so there''s space for everyone to get involved! Sign up below:
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Do your part to make sure your friends, family, neighbors, and voters across the country RSVP today to get essential information to Black voters before November! And bring a friend too!
Choose a Monday, Wednesday, or Friday texting time
Choose a Tuesday, Thursday, or Saturday texting time
Help our data team ensure our data is accurate after the textathons
Until justice is real,
Shannon, Corina, Hillerie, Bill, Destanie, Kaya, Niesha, Cam, Scotty and the rest of the Color Of Change PAC team
P.S. We''re also collecting videos from people like you about why it''s important to get out and vote, and how it impacts Black communities. Click here to make your own to share with your people!
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Ad paid for by ColorOfChange PAC, colorofchangepac.org. Not authorized by any federal, state, or local candidate or a committee controlled by a candidate. |
ColorOfChange PAC is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Contributions to Color Of Change PAC are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes. This email was sent to @. If you''re absolutely sure you don''t want to hear from Color Of Change again, click here to unsubscribe.
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Dear?Jon,??
As hundreds of thousands of people take to the streets demanding justice for George Floyd and the countless of other Black people who''ve been murdered and brutalized at the hands of the police, Bob Kroll, head of the Minneapolis police union, was quick to call George Floyd a "violent criminal," and equate the national protests to a "terrorist movement." Kroll is even actively defending the four officers who participated in killing George.1?What''s clear:?Bob Kroll is an enemy to police accountability and reform -- and for that, he must go.
It shouldn't be a surprise. Kroll is a white supremacist and racist who has worn a white supremacist badge, associated with other white supremacist cops, made many racist statements, and committed unprovoked brutality himself.2?He's said,?"I've been involved in three shootings myself, and not a one of them has bothered me."3
Join us along with our partners at Police Unions Exposed in calling on Minneapolis elected officials and police officers to denounce and publicly demand the resignation of Bob Kroll.
Kroll, like many police union leaders, is notorious for defending dangerous and abusive cops, resisting any form of accountability for police officers, and doing everything possible to block change. If we want to see change, we need to confront police unions, some of the biggest obstacles to accountability and reform. Kroll has to go, and ousting him will put other police unions on notice that we can successfully challenge their power.
When Minneapolis Mayor James Frey ended the warrior-style police training program called "killology," a system linked to the police killing of Philando Castile in nearby Falcon Heights, Kroll called the mayor''s decision "illegal" and continued providing the training that teaches police how to use lethal force against the very people they are entrusted to serve and protect.4 The former police chief of Minneapolis has called on Kroll to resign, along with the Minnesota AFL-CIO, the Minnesota Nurses Association, and Education Minnesota (a teachers' union).5
Kroll and the police union he leads aren't unique. Police unions across the country fight against police reform and accountability with everything they have. They routinely defend violent and abusive officers and often succeed in getting violent cops reinstated after they are fired. They use their political power to fight reform and win contracts that effectively put police above the law. They attack and threaten anyone who dares to challenge the police, including activists, elected officials, and everyday people.
We can be sure that every good idea for ending police brutality and abuse -- from the most basic reforms to dismantling the police altogether -- will meet with vicious opposition from police unions.
It's time to confront police unions and expose their role in perpetuating police brutality, shielding violent police from accountability, and blocking change. It's why we're partnering with a new effort, Police Unions Exposed, focused on educating everyday people about the problematic nature of police unions and their role as the anchor of unaccountable policing and enabling us to push back.
Confronting Bob Kroll and the Minneapolis police union is the first step in challenging the power of police unions across the country. By forcing Kroll out of leadership at the Minneapolis Police Federation, we can send a powerful message to police unions everywhere: if you continue to promote and defend police violence, your power will be taken away.
Bob Kroll must go. Demand MN elected officials and police officers denounce Bob Kroll and publicly demand his resignation.
Until justice is real,?
--Scott, Rashad, Arisha, Erika, Malachi, Marybeth, Madison, Leonard, Cheryl, and the rest of the Color of Change team.?
?References:
ColorOfChange is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change.
If you''re absolutely sure you don''t want to hear from ColorOfChange again, click here to unsubscribe.Jon,
We need all hands on deck to keep the oldest Black community school in the US open.
Ujamaa School is a small but mighty independent, non-profit Black community school in the Shaw/Howard University neighborhood of Washington, DC, educating children from age two through high school and boasting a 100% college acceptance rate. This school develops and prepares Black children to not only excel academically but also instills positive self-image in them and has been doing so consistently since 1968. But this year, due to the pandemic, Ujamaa has been struggling to keep its doors open.
Like too many other Black institutions that did not receive economic relief through the federal stimulus packages released earlier this year, Ujamaa has been forced to downsize its student capacity and, in turn, has lost out on necessary funding, all while operating expenses continue to accrue. Ujamaa School does not accept any money from corporations or governments in order to protect the integrity of its mission. It is completely funded by parents, teachers, alumni, and everyday people, like you and I, who love and support Black children. That's why we need your help to keep the doors of this school open.?
Jon, will you chip in to support our continuing work prioritizing Black children and culturally competent education?
Our goal is to raise $50,000 for Ujamaa School. Right now the school needs:
Yes, COUNT ME IN!
Black children are overrepresented in underperforming schools across the nation, but we know that our children are fully capable of achieving success and will thrive when in healthy school environments. The concept of Ujamaa School evolved out of a critical need to undo the miseducation of Black children in public schools by replacing it with a program that placed specific emphasis on the cultural aspects of education and by actively involving parents in the school's activities. At Ujamaa School, children as young as two years old are taught how to read, write, add, and subtract. By the time students reach the Kalfani class--9th grade in public school terms--they are in Panafrican critical thinking classes and present a seven-page term paper in front of their class every month. Ujamaa students master the SAT and go on to be outstanding college students, with an average GPA of 3.5. Keeping Ujamaa School open will ensure that there are more high-achieving Black children in an academic environment that has demonstrated its success over and over again.
Ujamaa School is Black Excellence! We must fight for the continuance of this legacy! Help power us monthly.
Founded by an organizer of the Freedom Rides and the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), Dr. El Senzengakalu Zulu is a trailblazer who also fought alongside civil rights activists Fannie Lou Hamer, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Medgar Evers, Jesse Jackson, and DC's very own Marion Barry. Ujamaa School has impacted generations of Black families in DC and continues to be a community staple in DC. "Ujamaa" is a Kiswahili word that means familyhood or cooperative economics. In that same spirit, our commitment to Black people includes us working together to protect and defend our institutions. Here's how it will work:
If 25 people give $25, the cost of one month's utility bills would be covered
If 50 people give $50, some renovations would be covered
If 100 people give $100, then the cost of insurance would be covered
Even if you can't commit to any of those amounts, we really mean it when we say no donation amount is too small. We can still reach our goal with the collective smaller donations from Color Of Change members like you. Help us make that happen. Chip in to support another 50 years of Ujamaa School building Black scholars and keeping the oldest independent Black community school in the US alive!
Until justice is real,?
Jade, Arisha, Rashad, Johnny, Evan, Amanda, Eesha, Imani, Marie, Gabrielle, Samantha, Marcus, FolaSade, Taurjhai, Stasia, Jennette, Ciera, and the rest of the COC team
ColorOfChange is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change.
If you''re absolutely sure you don''t want to hear from ColorOfChange again, click here to unsubscribe.Our democracy is at stake if Facebook doesn't clamp down on election misinformation and calls to violence.
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Facebook must remove misinformation to ensure people don''t use the platform to undermine the election.?
Tell Facebook #DoYourJob and prevent the platform from being used to influence election results.? ? TAKE ACTION |
Facebook is already causing election chaos. In just the last few days, they've allowed ads to tens of thousands of voters in swing states telling them the wrong election date, as well as Spanish-language ads filled with misinformation and anti-Black dog whistles.1,2?Too much is at stake in this election. Facebook must do their job and make sure the platform isn't used to suppress our votes or drive right-wing violence against our communities.?
Tell Facebook #DoYourJob and cut off voter-manipulating misinformation.????
To make matters worse, this week, Senate Republicans held a sham hearing with Mark Zuckerberg and the other Big Tech CEOs in an attempt to bully tech companies into allowing more election misinformation on their platforms.3?With Election Day now less than a week away, and millions of early ballots already being cast, we can't afford for Facebook to bow to pressure to make it easier for people to spread misinformation. Removing misinformation is necessary to protect our democracy. Here's what Facebook still needs to do to make sure the platform doesn't accelerate the spread of misinformation:?
Facebook has gotten away with not doing their job for long enough. And when they don't do their job, the platform is used to commit violence against us and contribute to the destruction of our democracy.?
Tell Facebook #DoYourJob and stop the spread misinformation that's influencing our election.?
Until justice real,
-Jade, Rashad, Arisha, Johnny, Amanda, Marie, Gabrielle, Evan, Imani, Taurjhai, Stasia, Eesha, Samantha, Jennette, Ciera, Marcus, FolaSade, and the rest of the Color Of Change team
References:?
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Please help keep our movement strong.
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?Dear?Jon,?
Imagine being labeled a criminal because you've survived abuse or received a "D" in school.?
Several middle and high schools in Pasco County Florida are working with the Pasco Sheriff's office to do just that. They've created a list of schoolchildren they believe might "fall into a life of crime" based on highly sensitive private information, including family history, records of past abuse, and grades.1
What's worse, Black students and those with disabilities are 2x more likely to be targeted and placed on this list.2?
Jon, no child should be labeled a "criminal" - this dangerous, racist practice must end. That's why we're calling on the Pasco School Board and Superintendent Kurt Browning to intervene NOW.?
Sign the petition. Tell Superintendent Kurt Browning and the Pasco School Board: Stop criminalizing schoolchildren.?Get rid of this database, and end the practice of sharing private information with police.
On several occasions, Superintendent Browning has gone on record touting his positive relationship with the Pasco County Sheriff's office and the need for police presence in schools. But when it comes to defending children against harassment and targeting by the police, Browning has remained silent, claiming that he is unaware of the Sheriff''s Office''s use of school data to identify kids who "might become criminals."3
Members of the Pasco school board have also denied responsibility for these dangerous data-sharing practices that label schoolchildren as young as 11 years old as "criminals," forcing them into the criminal justice system.?
Jon, labeling schoolchildren who need care and support "criminals" is shocking. But the fact is, the police already run rampant in Pasco County schools -- and Black kids are the first to be targeted.
Here are our demands:?
1.?Release demographic data for the student populations represented on this list with a comparison to the county-wide demographic data. Specifically, we demand to know the percentage of Black students, Latinx students, and disabled students represented on this list.
2. The Sheriff''s office must notify all families whose child has already been added to the list.
3. Shift budget priorities to support teachers and staff. Trained professionals who are overworked, underpaid, and under-resourced can provide academic and mental health interventions should have the needed resources to help kids instead of relying on untrained sheriff''s deputies.
Add your name: Demand Pasco's school board and superintendent erase the database and stop feeding private information to the police.
Until justice is real,?
--Scott, Rashad, Arisha, Erika, Malachi, Megan, Ernie, Madison, Ariel, Trevor, Ericka, Ana, McKayla, and the rest of the Color Of Change team
?References:
ColorOfChange is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change.
If you''re absolutely sure you don''t want to hear from ColorOfChange again, click here to unsubscribe.
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Over the summer, you were a part of the largest movement in U.S. history.1
That's right, Jon. When we looked back at our record of petition signers, one name kept showing up: Yours. You stood with us to demand justice for Black people killed by police - joining millions of others to fight for change and defend Black lives. Thank you!
Today is Giving Tuesday - and as we begin to close the door on 2020 and prepare for the fights ahead, we need to know you're still with us.
So we have to ask, Jon: Can we count on you to become a monthly supporter of Color Of Change to power the fight for racial justice? Choose an amount that feels powerful to you as an investment in our critical work ?
DONATE NOW: $3
DONATE NOW: $5
DONATE NOW: $10
OTHER AMOUNT
After setting up a recurring donation, your monthly gift will process on this day each month.
You can easily change your gift or cancel at any time.
Jon, I think we can all agree: 2020 has been a challenging and unpredictable year. But if there's one thing we know, it's that our best supporters show up and show out in the fight for racial justice - especially when we need you the most.
By signing our petitions, you let Color Of Change know that you are committed to the fight for racial justice. You joined a community of activists taking real action to defend Black lives. Just this year, Color Of Change members like you made tens of thousands of phone calls, sent thousands of texts, and amplified our demands for justice on social media. And with your help, our movement has made history - fueling an ongoing national conversation about policing2 and showing anti-Black elected officials the door.3
But we can't stop now, Jon - there's too much at stake. Confirm your commitment to the fight. Become a monthly supporter of Color Of Change today:
YES, I''LL CHIP IN TO CONTINUE THE FIGHT FOR RACIAL JUSTICE
As always, thank you for everything you do to push our movement forward.
Until justice is real,
-- Scott, Rashad, Arisha, Erika, Malachi, Ernie, Madison, McKayla, Ana, Ariel, Ericka, and the rest of the Color Of Change team
?
References:
1. Black Lives Matter May Be the Largest Movement in U.S. History. The New York Times, 03 July 2020.
2. How 'Defund the Police' went from moonshot to mainstream. Politico, 17 June 2020.
3. How Black voters and simmering protests contributed to Trump''s loss. CNN, 10 November 2020.
ColorOfChange is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change.
If you''re absolutely sure you don''t want to hear from ColorOfChange again, click here to unsubscribe.Jon, a billionaire''s son is challenging Kim Foxx
Hey?Jon,
With just 10 days left, Kim Foxx is tied in the Cook County State's Attorney race with a billionaire's son funded by Republicans and Trump donors.?
Foxx's opponent is named Bill Conway, and he's been spending millions of his father's money to run attack ads against Kim Foxx all over Chicago and Cook County. These ads are impacting voters, and it's making us nervous that this race is getting very close.?
Jon,?we don't have millions to outspend Conway, but we have people like you.? Will you rush your first $5 donation to our work today so we can?launch digital ads and send out volunteers to combat Conway's attacks?
Bill Conway has offered no platform for changing criminal justice-- in fact, he's said he wants to walk back the improvements Kim Foxx has made. Here's what we know about him:
It's up to us to make sure people know the truth about Bill Conway. Help us spread the truth by chipping in $5?to launch the urgent digital ads and volunteers we need to reach thousands of people!
In contrast to the privileged life of Bill Conway, Kim Foxx grew up in the Cabrini Green projects, and has seen the racism and injustice of the criminal legal system impact her own family.?
She is the only person in this race who has done real work to change that injustice, decreasing the prison population while crime rates still decreased.7
She is the only one who can say that she's changed over 1000 people's lives who were targeted by racist marijuana charges.8
She is the only one who can say that she's cleared the names of 94 people who were wrongfully convicted by corrupt police officers.9
The next 10 days are our last chance. If we can get thousands of voters the truth about Kim Foxx's transformative work and Bill Conway's lies, we can win 4 more years of real justice for the people of Cook County.??
Please,?Jon, rush a?$5 donation so we can reach thousands of people with digital ads and volunteer outreach before Election Day.?
Rush a donation now
Thank you for standing with us and Kim Foxx in this crucial moment for Black people, and the entire community in Cook County.?
Until justice is real,
Arisha, Jenni, Drew, Calyssa, Audrey, Charles, Tammi, Cristel, Daniel, Alex, Scotty and the Color Of Change PAC team
Sources:
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Paid for by ColorOfChange PAC, colorofchangepac.org, not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee, and no candidate is responsible for the activities of the committee.
A copy of our report filed with the State Board of Elections is (or will be) available on the Board''s official website, elections.il.gov, or for purchase from the State Board of Elections, Springfield, Illinois.
ColorOfChange PAC is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Contributions to Color Of Change PAC are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes. This email was sent to yellow71486@. If you''re absolutely sure you don''t want to hear from Color Of Change again, click here to unsubscribe.
Police unions are the biggest barrier to meaningful reform. They must be stopped.
Jon,
Police unions are one of the largest single threats to Black life in America.
The Fraternal Order of Police, also known as FOP, is the world's largest union of police officers. They are the enablers, pacifiers, and the protective body behind the police violence that plagues Black communities.?
While millions of people like you and elected leaders across the country have spoken out, rallied, and protested against police violence following the murders of Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, and Tony McDade at the hands of the police, the FOP consistently supports officers who brutalize and kill Black people.1
The FOP consistently advocates for bloated police budgets, fail to hold their officers accountable, push for militarized weapons in our communities, and aggressively push back against any meaningful reform. Police unions keep the tradition of police brutality alive and pledge blind loyalty to police officers - even the most violent of them.
You may not be familiar with the FOP and police unions, but so many of our elected leaders and politicians are. The FOP gives large sums of money to elected officials and candidates, both Democratic and Republican, in the form of political contributions. Elected leaders that claim to value Black lives cannot possibly do so if they collect checks from one of the most dangerous and racist institutions in the country.?
Jon, sign the petition to demand elected officials take the pledge to not take money from killer cop organizations.?
Political contributions are a reflection of who a candidate is. So we're calling on candidates to make good on their declarations to support Black people.?
We call on elected leaders across the nation to return and refuse political donations from police unions and the Fraternal Order of Police, which has excused, defended, and encouraged police violence for decades.
Every donation that a candidate accepts from the FOP and police unions makes them an ally to racism and police violence -and complicit with Black people dying at the hands of police.
Each time a leader of the FOP opens their mouths, they spew hatred against the very communities they are sworn to protect. The president of the Philadelphia chapter called Black Lives Matters protestors "a pack of rabid animals" following one of their officers shooting two Black people in the back.2?The president of the Minneapolis FOP called the protest about George Floyd''s death a "terrorist movement."3?And a Florida FOP president even offered to give jobs to the officers who recently brutalized two innocent young Black teens and were fired and charged for it.4
This is what we're up against. But we'll organize and fight them until they have no power in our elections, political process, and the interests of our elected leaders.?
Stop the FOP.
We must end the cycle of dirty money infiltrating our political system. Stand with us to fight against the FOP once and for all.?
Until justice is real,?
Scott, Erika, Malachi, Leonard, and the rest of the Color Of Change PAC team
Sources
1. "The Fraternal Order Of Police: A Union That Stands In The Way Of Police Reforms", NPR?https://act.colorofchange.org/go/251954?t=5&akid=43730%2E4887299%2EMt2kqH
2. "Police Union President Calls Black Lives Matter Protesters Outside Philadelphia Officer's House 'a Pack of Rabid Animals'", NBC Philadelphia?https://act.colorofchange.org/go/251955?t=7&akid=43730%2E4887299%2EMt2kqH
3. "Calls For Reform Put Minneapolis Police Union Leader In Hot Seat", NPR?https://act.colorofchange.org/go/251956?t=9&akid=43730%2E4887299%2EMt2kqH
4. "Brevard County FOP head resigns over post on accused officers", News 4 Jax?https://act.colorofchange.org/go/251957?t=11&akid=43730%2E4887299%2EMt2kqH
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ColorOfChange PAC is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Contributions to Color Of Change PAC are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes. This email was sent to yellow71486@. If you''re absolutely sure you don''t want to hear from Color Of Change again, click here to unsubscribe.
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Hey?Jon,
Yesterday marked the 155th anniversary of Juneteenth--June 19, 1865 also known as Freedom Day--when enslaved Black people in Galveston, Texas got word from Union Army General Gordon Granger that they were finally freed.
It is my hope that you honor the celebration of the abolition of slavery in this country while also recognizing the pure resilience and determination shown by Black people to this day, who 155 years later continue to fight against racist, systemic oppression in hopes of true equality.
To celebrate the legacy and vision for freed Black people every day, become a Color Of Change PAC sustainer with a monthly gift of $5 or more today.
A monthly gift is the most efficient way to support Color Of Change PAC's long-term efforts to fight for equality for Black people by building independent Black political power, engaging Black voters, electing candidates who share our values, and holding them accountable to our communities.
Donate $1 a Month
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Jon, over the past few months we've seen unarmed Black people killed by police, we've seen major voter suppression tactics in action, we've seen Covid-19 disproportionately kill Black people and so much more.
When you start a monthly gift today, know that your monthly support enables my team and me to put up a fight against all of these racial injustices that Black folks must face each day. Whether it's endorsing a District Attorney that will hold police officers accountable for their actions or sending hundreds of thousands of text reminders to Black folks to register to vote, trust that Color Of Change PAC is putting in the work each and every day to get Black people closer to true equality.
Thank you for all of your support.?
Until Justice is Real,
Arisha, Jenni, Drew, Charles, Tammi, Cristel, Alex, Scotty, Daniel, and the Color Of Change PAC team
We need your help fighting back against attempts to discourage Black voters from casting their ballots.?Please help us report and hold accountable those who are trying to keep us from voting.
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Paid Pol. Adv. paid for by ColorOfChange PAC, 1714 Franklin St., Oakland, CA 94612, independently of and not authorized or approved by any federal, state, or local candidate or candidate's committee.
ColorOfChange PAC is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Contributions to Color Of Change PAC are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes. This email was sent to @. If you''re absolutely sure you don''t want to hear from Color Of Change again, click here to unsubscribe.
Billionaire Pinterest CEO Ben Silbermann says his "Black employees matter" but has been underpaying them. That's not right.
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Concerned Staff just started a petition to Ben Silbermann, Pinterest Co-Founder & CEO to: Pay Your Black Employees What You Owe Them!
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Dear Jon, I just started a petition titled "Tell Pinterest: Pay your Black employees what you owe them!" Two weeks ago, Pinterest CEO, Ben Silbermann, released a statement expressing solidarity with his Black staff in light of the recent protests against the police brutality our community is facing, and committed to taking action to support them, saying that "our Black employees matter." The problem? Under Silbermann's watch, Pinterest has not only underpaid its Black employees, but it has retaliated against those willing to take a stand against them with racist threats, intimidation, and harassment. And when one white employee went as far as to doxx a Black co-worker for speaking up, the company failed to do enough to protect her. While it's easy to appreciate the wave of corporations, brands, and celebrities who are seeing the importance in publicly affirming their stance against racism, Pinterest needs to do much more than issue a statement to meaningfully support Black people. Company values or statements mean nothing unless they're backed up by the leadership, the payroll, and the operations. If he really believes his Black employees matter, Ben Silbermann owes his current and former Black staff an apology, an independent third party evaluation of employee pay by race and gender, and a commitment to giving them the back pay they are owed. Billionaire Pinterest CEO Silbermann says his Black employees matter but is underpaying them. Tell him to put his money where his mouth is. Five years ago, "Black lives matter" was a controversial statement. Today, though structural white supremacy and racism persist, the leadership and political power of Black people have made the cost of failing to affirm this truth too high even for corporations like Pinterest to ignore. But we've seen how easily companies jump from diversity & inclusion messaging to underpaying their own Black workers, discriminating against Black customers, and harming Black users and community members. Pinterest is no exception. Ben Silbermann simply cannot claim to care about his Black staff without expecting us to examine the ways his actions contradict his words. Corporations that have anti-Blackness built into their business models need to follow up their statements against racism with concrete action. Will you sign the petition and forward this email to make sure your voice is heard? Add your name here. In this moment we are publicly interrogating the harms Black people face from the institutions like the police that claim to keep us safe. But the fact is that plenty of corporations also bear responsibility for violence, harm, and discrimination against Black people, whether they carry it out, enable it, or profit from it. We deserve more than lip service from the companies that rely on us as workers, creators, and cultural ambassadors. Tell Ben Silbermann to put his money where his mouth is. Tell Pinterest to issue an apology, hire an independent 3rd part to evaluate employee pay by race and gender, and give its Black employees the back pay they are owed immediately. Lip service won''t protect Black employees at Pinterest from pay inequity. Action will. Tell Ben Silbermann to pay them what they are owed. Thank you, Concerned Staff ? ?
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Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Please help keep our movement strong.
Make a Donation
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Dear?Jon,?
Elijah McClain, a 23-year-old Black man in Aurora, Colorado, was murdered at the hands of police almost a year ago and still no justice.
On August 24, 2019, three white police officers stopped Elijah while he was walking home from a convenience store -- after a 911 caller reportedly described Elijah as a "suspicious person."?1 The details that led to Elijah's death are horrific. The officers can be heard on bodycam video threatening to bring their dog to bite Elijah and even accusing Elijah of provoking arrest. Minutes later, officers then put Elijah in a deadly chokehold, causing him to go unconscious.2 Paramedics rushed to the scene only for Elijah to later suffer from a heart attack; he was declared brain dead three days later.3
That's why we must call on Attorney General Phil Weiser to stand up for what is right and file criminal charges against the officers who murdered Elijah McClain. He has the power to ensure these officers are not free to roam the streets while Elijah''s family is forced to mourn the loss of their loved one.?
Elijah Mcclain should still be alive today. Sign the petition to demand AG Phil Weiser charge the officers who murdered Elijah.
Here''s the truth: Officer Nathan Woodyard, Jason Rosenblatt, and Randy Roedema are responsible for Elijah''s death.?But the police-led autopsy report suggests the cause of Elijah''s death was unclear even though the coroner listed intense physical exertion as one of the contributing factors that sent Elijah into heart failure.4 To make matters worse, the police review board defended the police officers saying, " the force applied during the altercation. was within policy and consistent with training."?5 The officers were placed on administrative leave but later put back on the force because prosecutors declined to file charges.?There''s no denying the Aurora County police officers and District Attorney Dave Young have delayed justice for Elijah at every turn.?As we''ve seen in the countless number of police-involved shootings that have resulted in Black people being killed, police are rarely held accountable for the violence and harm they inflict on Black people.
If the police had simply allowed Elijah to walk home, he would still be alive today.?Elijah''s murder is yet another example of what we already know -- the police do not keep our communities safe. Just yesterday, members of Elijah''s community held a peaceful vigil, march, and rally where they honored Elijah''s life by observing a few violinists perform and holding hands. But in a widely circulated video, police disrupted the event wearing riot gear -- they deployed pepper spray and were physically violent toward attendees. Our communities aren''t even safe to mourn and honor the lives lost to police violence.6 We can''t sit by while Black people are being killed needlessly in the street by these violent police officers -- now more than ever they must know that enough is enough.??
Jon, we know that when we continually call out these atrocities against our communities, it becomes impossible to ignore. We''ve seen this happen after more than 43,000 Color Of Change members called for #JusticeforBre and more than 300,000 members #RanwithAhmaud. As a result, charges against Bre's boyfriend were dropped, and the three men who murdered Ahmaud have been charged. And we know the same thing can happen for Elijah McClain.?
Enough is enough. Demand the cops who murdered Elijah are charged NOW.?
Until justice is real,?
--Scott, Rashad, Arisha, Erika, Malachi, Marybeth, Madison, Leonard, Ernie and the rest of the Color Of Change team
?References:
ColorOfChange is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change.
If you''re absolutely sure you don''t want to hear from ColorOfChange again, click here to unsubscribe.Spread some more Black joy this holiday season by getting a gift for a foster child
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We want to buy holiday gifts for foster kids in the Greater New Orleans Area.??
Sign up to donate monthly to give a foster child a gift for the holidays.? ? GIVE $1 MONTHLY |
This year, we wanted to do something extra special to celebrate the holidays. So, we've partnered with Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) Jefferson, an organization that advocates for the rights of children in foster care in the Greater New Orleans Area, to purchase toys for foster kids in need. Help us give the gift of Black joy to foster children in the Greater New Orleans Area by donating $1 per month. ??
All too often, Black kids are unjustly denied the joy that many other children experience simply because of their Blackness. Studies show that Black children are seen as more guilty, more aggressive, and more adult than their white counterparts, which leads to Black kids facing unnecessary criminalization and long-term impacts like negative effects on their emotional and educational development.1,2 This is magnified for foster children who, in addition, face familial disruption and complex legal proceedings. Despite all of that, the children of CASA Jefferson demonstrate resilience and persistence, and they keep fighting to do their best with what they have.
Contribute $1 per month to help us give the gift of Black joy to foster kids in the Greater New Orleans Area.?
Black foster kids should be able to take part in the joy and excitement of the holiday season, just like any other children. But CASA Jefferson needs your help to make sure their foster kids have joyful holidays. By matching children with a dedicated advocate, CASA Jefferson ensures children in foster care have comfort, love, a consistent adult presence, and a sense of stability during legal proceedings. They are a positive resource for kids going through a difficult time, and because they do so much for their kids, we want to share some Black joy with them.?
Jon, sign up TODAY to be a monthly donor and give Greater New Orleans foster kids the gift of Black joy.?
Just $1 per month ensures we can send as much joy as possible to as many foster kids at CASA Jefferson as possible.
Until justice is real,?
-Jade, Rashad, Arisha, Johnny, Amanda, Marie, Gabrielle, Evan, Imani, Taurjhai, Stasia, Eesha, Samantha, Jennette, Ciera, Marcus, FolaSade, and the rest of the Color Of Change team
References:?
Image: Pinterest
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Please help keep our movement strong.
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Jon,
We''re down to the wire. Only 26 days remain before the November 3rd election.
We often say that this is the most monumental and consequential election of our times, but that description does not fully capture the stakes this year. Trump''s failed response to the pandemic, alignment with white supremacist groups, and assault on democracy will only grow worse if he wins on November 3-meaning more attacks on Black people. And earlier this week we saw Vice President Mike Pence echo all of Trump''s false claims and feigned ignorance in response to most questions at the debate. The short of it is, we''re not taking this election lightly and neither should you?Jon-we must elect Joe Biden as president.
Make a commitment to make a plan to vote Joe Biden for President and help 1 friend make a plan to vote Joe Biden for President today.
i''m voting joe biden for president
Donald Trump is going to try to steal this election and we must cut through his fabricated chaos. We urge voters like you to commit to vote, whether by mail or in-person as soon as possible, because Trump and his racist, conservative allies are trying to take away votes in every way imaginable.?
Every study shows that when people commit to making a plan to cast their ballot, they're much likely to actually vote! So, if you make a plan to vote and take responsibility for turning out one friend to vote for Joe Biden, we exponentially increase the likelihood he''ll be elected in November.
Elections are won at the margins, and we can''t afford to sit on the sidelines. The path to victory and protecting our communities starts with you. 2020 has been an extremely challenging year for all of us. And despite those challenges, we know we will come out victorious.?
Until justice is real,
Jenni, Arisha, Drew, Kwesi, Charles, Alex, Cristel, Tammi, Evonna, Nadia, Iesha, Karleh, Scotty and the rest of the Color Of Change PAC team
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ColorOfChange PAC is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Contributions to Color Of Change PAC are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes. This email was sent to yellow71486@. If you''re absolutely sure you don''t want to hear from Color Of Change again, click here to unsubscribe.
Ventilator manufacturers are preventing hospitals from fixing broken ventilators, machines that keep coronavirus patients alive.? Tell manufactures to let hospitals fix ventilators! Take Action?
Jon,
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Across the country, gravely ill coronavirus patients need ventilators to live. But because of our country's massive shortage of working ventilators, these patients will die. This shortage will disproportionately impact Black coronavirus patients, who are dying from coronavirus at alarmingly high rates.1?
However, the companies who manufacture ventilators can change this. Right now, manufacturers will not allow hospitals to fix old or broken ventilators. But, if manufacturers immediately release all repair documentation and software, schematics, and manuals to hospitals and independent medical repair technicians, as well as disable any software that prevents their ventilators from being repaired, they can save the lives of our friends, family, and community members. Join us in calling on ventilator manufacturers GE Healthcare, Medtronic, Ventec Life Solutions, Hamilton Medical, Vyaire Medical, and the organization that lobbies for them, AdvaMed, to allow hospitals to fix broken ventilators.?
Please see our email below for more information on this issue.?
In the midst of the global COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, ventilators are a life-saving tool that are being used to treat coronavirus. But these life-saving machines are in short supply. Hospitals are facing an extreme shortage of these devices, and they need to repair the ventilators they have. Because of the repair restrictions put in place by ventilator manufacturers - like GE Healthcare, Medtronic, Ventec Life Solutions, and Hamilton Medical - and the group that lobbies for them, AdvaMed, they are not allowed to fix these critical devices in the fight to save patients from coronavirus.??
Tell ventilator manufacturers to let hospitals fix broken ventilators.?
The number of patients seeking treatment for coronavirus is increasing exponentially. This means there is an increase in the need for ventilators, which are used to assist a patient's breathing or may breathe for them. But if hospitals try to repair their ventilators, they will be locked out of them by anti-repair software. If hospitals hire independent repair technicians to fix their ventilators, they face legal ramifications.2?For every broken ventilator or ventilator whose software cannot be updated, a patient in need of a ventilator will die. This is particularly life-threatening for Black patients; because Black people disproportionately suffer from illnesses like asthma, they are that much more likely to need a ventilator to stay alive if they contract coronavirus.3?
Help get hospitals the equipment they need to save coronavirus patients. Tell manufacturers to let hospitals fix broken ventilators.?
The stakes are high. There are only 62,000 ventilators in service across the country, and states like New York alone need at least 30,000 more.4?Hospitals cannot afford to purchase new ventilators due to their high prices; producing new ventilators will take months to meet the urgent demand; and, without repair documentation and software, hospitals cannot fix the ventilators they already have.5?6?However, there are as many as 100,000 older ventilators in need of repair stored in hospitals and warehouses around the country. These ventilators could be quickly brought into service if ventilator manufacturers immediately act.7?100,000 more ventilators means thousands upon thousands of people will be given a fighting chance to beat coronavirus.?
Amid dwindling medical equipment, medical staff are being forced to decide whether they should implement a universal "do not resuscitate" rule, which could have disproportionate impacts on Black patients, who are more likely to have the pre-existing health conditions that would disqualify them from treatment if such drastic measures are implemented.8?We cannot allow Black people to suffer because ventilator manufacturers value profit over our lives.
Join us in taking action to demand manufacturers release ventilator repair manuals and allow hospitals to fix broken ventilators.
Until justice is real,?
-Brandi, Rashad, Arisha, Jade, Johnny, Amanda, Evan, Imani, Samantha, Jennette, Ciera, Eesha, Marcus, FolaSade, and the rest of the Color Of Change team
References:?
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Help keep our movement strong.
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Hold Them Accountable
Dear Jon,
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On Tuesday, September 29th, Fox News Sunday Anchor Chris Wallace will moderate a conversation on "Race and Violence in Our Cities" at the first Presidential Debate. At a time when Black people across all 50 states are protesting police violence, yet misrepresented as violent criminals by mass media and called "thugs" by Trump himself, we believe that Chris Wallace's framing of the issue is tone-deaf and anti-Black.[1]
Tell Fox News Anchor Chris Wallace to Change His Harmful Framing
Studies show that news and opinion media overrepresent the association between Black families and criminality by 11 percent, while significantly underrepresenting that of white families by a whopping 49 percent.[2] As a result, the general public consumes a distorted depiction of crime rooted in anti-Black stereotypes regarding depravity, immorality, and notions of Black family instability.
FOX News is the main culprit, depicting Black family members as criminals more than any other television network.[3] If we do not hold Chris Wallace accountable, voters will continue to support racially biased crime policies that ignore structural barriers to economic inclusion and systemic racism that low-income Black Americans often face.
Hold Chris Wallace Accountable for Misinforming Voters. This Election is CRUCIAL.
At present, the police violence epidemic and the COVID-19 pandemic are wreaking havoc in Black communities. Despite comprising roughly 13 percent of the U.S. population, Black Americans are being killed by police at more than twice the rate of white Americans and dying from COVID-19 at more than 2.1 times the rate of white Americans.[4] FOX News and Chris Wallace have a duty to report what is happening in the Black community without perpetuating inaccurate and dehumanizing anti-Black stereotypes as well as empower the general public with the information necessary to cast an informed vote in the 2020 Presidential Election.
While we have asked Chris Wallace and Fox News executives to acknowledge the harm imposed by his framing of the debate, recognize law enforcement officials as perpetrators of crimes against Black people, and modify his tone-deaf approach to facilitating a conversation on racial injustice, we were ignored.
The outcome of this election is at stake. We cannot let Chris Wallace criminalize and demonize Black people. Tell Chris Wallace to adopt a racial justice framework at the 2020 Presidential Debate NOW! Our rights and livelihood depend on it.
Until justice is real,
-Jade, Arisha, Rashad, Johnny, Amanda, Marie, Evan, Imani, Eesha, Gabrielle, Samantha, Jennette, Ciera, Marcus, FolaSade, and the rest of the Color Of Change team
References:
1.?"'When the looting starts, the shooting starts": Trump tweet flagged by Twitter for 'glorifying violence'," CBS News, May 29, 2020, https://act.colorofchange.org/go/272495?t=11&akid=46935%2E5670730%2ECYcJoE.
2.?Travis L. Dixon, "A Dangerous Distortion of Our Families: Representations of Families, By Race, In News, and Opinion Media," Color of Change, May 21, 2019, https://act.colorofchange.org/go/96322?t=13&akid=46935%2E5670730%2ECYcJoE, 24.
3.?Travis L. Dixon, "A Dangerous Distortion of Our Families," 38-39. Please note: the ratio of Black criminal family members to white criminal family members is 7:1 at Fox News, compared to 3:2 at NBC.
4.?Julie Tate, Jennifer Jenkins, and Steven Rich, "Fatal Force: Police Shootings Database," ed. David Fallis and Danielle Rindle, The Washington Post, January 22, 2020, https://act.colorofchange.org/go/272497?t=15&akid=46935%2E5670730%2ECYcJoE;? "COVID-19 Hospitalization and Death by Race/Ethnicity," Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, August 18, 2020, https://act.colorofchange.org/go/272498?t=17&akid=46935%2E5670730%2ECYcJoE.
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Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Please help keep our movement strong.
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Thank you so much for joining Color Of Change, and the fight to create a more human, less hostile world for Black people.
As your first action in the movement, can you invite 5 family members or friends to join us? You can click here to get email, Facebook and Twitter drafts that are pre-written for you to share.
I appreciate you so much, and can''t wait to work together.
Until justice is real,
Arisha and the Color Of Change team
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Help keep our movement strong.
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Help make sure people are ready to vote
Hey?Kaitlyn,
I''m just following up here to remind you about our Black Joy Call Party this Saturday! If you missed the event Wednesday, don''t worry, there''s still room for this weekend.?Just RSVP here to let us know you''ll be there
See you soon,
Shannon, Corina, Destanie, Kaya, and the Color Of Change PAC team
Hey Jon,
It''s 3 weeks out from election day, and here''s your weekly invitation to text and call more Black people in communities around the country to encourage them to get out and vote!
RSVP below to join us for one of our Black Joy Call Parties this week:
RSVP For saturday
The issues that we care about -- ensuring that Black women are protected, standing up to police brutality, education equity -- will be decided by the people that we elect up and down the ballot.
This week, we'll be calling and texting Black voters across the nation to learn more about the issues they care about and ask for their support. There are many folks who are still undecided and need information.
RSVP today to get essential information to Black voters before November! And bring a friend too!
RSVP for Saturday
Until justice is real,
Shannon, Corina, Destanie, Kaya, Bill, Niesha, Cam, Scotty and the rest of the Color Of Change PAC team
P.S. We''re also collecting videos from people like you about why it''s important to get out and vote, and how it impacts Black communities. Click here to make your own to share with your people!
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ColorOfChange PAC is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Contributions to Color Of Change PAC are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes. This email was sent to yellow71486@. If you''re absolutely sure you don''t want to hear from Color Of Change again, click here to unsubscribe.
Twitter's digital violence against protestors must be stopped.
Dear Jon.
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Twitter developer Dataminr - a company that Twitter gives special access to user data - is keeping the spirit of J. Edgar Hoover's COINTELPRO alive by helping law enforcement track protestors'' whereabouts and actions.1,2?Under COINTELPRO?members of the Black Panther Party and notable Black activists, such as Dr. King and Malcolm X, were targeted and "neutralized" by an extensive government surveillance program meant to disrupt and destroy Black liberation movements through tactics that included assassination, imprisonment, public humiliation, or false criminal charges.3
Sadly, today''s?Black activists and organizers face similar coordinated efforts by law enforcement to disrupt our movements for justice, except now police have high-tech tools and data from companies like Twitter at their disposal to help harass, imprison, and bring false criminal charges against Black activists.?History is sadly repeating itself because Twitter is allowing surveillance companies like Dataminr to send information about Black activists directly to the same law enforcement agencies provoking violence and targeting protestors.
tors.
SIGN THE PETITION: Demand Twitter ban any developer engaged in surveillance of protestors from the platform.?
In 2016, thanks to the organizing of Color Of Change, MediaJustice, and the ACLU of Northern California, Twitter instituted policies meant to prohibit developers from helping law enforcement surveil Black activists. Yet, Dataminr has found a workaround to this policy, claiming they are just providing law enforcement with "news alerts." No matter how Dataminr frames it, sending Twitter information containing the location, names, Twitter handles, and other identifying information about activists to law enforcement is surveillance.?
Passing this information to law enforcement has life-altering and even deadly results for Black activists. Historically, Black movement leaders have been unconstitutionally targeted, attacked, jailed, or even killed in their efforts to confront racism, police brutality, and police violence. Twitter's surveillance policy is falling short of preventing harm to Black activists.?
SIGN THE PETITION: Demand that Twitter immediately stops its affiliate Dataminr from facilitating government surveillance against Black activists and organizers.?
Sixty years ago in Birmingham, there were fire hoses and dogs.4 Six years ago in Ferguson, it was tanks and armored trucks.5 Today, it's tanks, tear gas, and advanced surveillance and tracking technology: facial recognition cameras, StingRay devices that trick nearby cell phones and steal data, automated license plate readers, and high-altitude spy planes and drones fitted with night vision and infrared sensors.6 The list of insidious tools deployed to identify, track, entrap, and arrest protestors are staggering-and still growing. Most recently, in Portland, OR, federal law enforcement are using unmarked cars to detain protestors with no explanation of why they are being arrested, and then driving off.7 The last thing our communities need is for Twitter, the platform that bills itself as the platform for organizing protests and standing up for #BlackLivesMatter, to make it easier for law enforcement to harm us and our movements.?
Jon, we have a right to protest murders at the hands of police and a justice system that continues to fail us without police tracking our every movement. Twitter has vocally supported the movement for Black lives and spoken out against law enforcement using Twitter to surveil us. It is time for Twitter to live up to the promise they made to us in 2016 to never allow developers to assist law enforcement to surveil our communities.??
SIGN THE PETITION: Demand that Twitter's developer Dataminr immediately stop facilitating government surveillance against Black activists and organizers.
Until justice is real,
--Jade, Brandi, Rashad, Arisha, Evan, Johnny, Jade, Amanda, Marie, Eesha, Samantha, Marcus, FolaSade, Jennette,?Cierra?and the rest of the Color Of Change team
References:
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Please help keep our movement strong.
Make a Donation
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Dear Jon.
Senate Republicans have voted to confirm Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court, only 6 days before the election.
Amy Coney Barrett''s judicial and academic history makes one thing clear: Roe v. Wade will be under serious threat now that she is on the Supreme Court. Barrett has proclaimed her dedication to "originalism" or the belief that "constitutional text means what it did at the time it was ratified and that this original public meaning is authoritative."1 This should come as no surprise because conservatives often use this legal justification to push back against liberal decisions involving civil rights and the federal government's power.2
When faced with a decision, Barrett will likely fall in line with the common conservative belief that the constitution has nothing to say about abortion and it should be left to the states to decide the question for themselves. This means states like Louisiana and Tennessee, where we''ve already seen over 100 attempts to restrict access to abortion & other forms of vital reproductive health care, will be left to their own devices.3 Thousands of people a year who seek abortions will be criminalized, potentially facing prison time for a self-managed abortion, miscarriage, stillbirth, or other pregnancy outcomes. Bottom line: no one should be locked up for taking their reproductive healthcare into their own hands.
That''s where you come in. Amy Coney Barrett's judicial record is clear. Now that she has been confirmed it''s crucial we call on district attorneys to step up to protect our reproductive autonomy. Your district attorney has the power to intervene by getting ahead of potential criminalization by committing to exercise their discretion and refuse to prosecute based on pregnancy outcomes.
Sign the petition: Tell your DA it''s time to protect reproductive autonomy.
Prosecutors are powerful actors within the criminal justice system and have incredible discretion over which cases to prosecute. That''s why we''re calling on them to sign a pledge making a public commitment adopting the following demands:
Your District Attorney has the power to stop the criminalization of pregnancy outcomes. They must act NOW.
It's crucial for district attorneys to commit to a reproductive justice framework that supports every person's right to have a child, not have a child and parent the children they do have with dignity and respect. Because we know that pregnant Black people will be criminalized first. We''ve seen this happen time and time again in cases where Black women have been arrested for things like taking legal drugs prescribed by their doctor, having a miscarriage, getting into a car accident, and even falling down the stairs. Cases like Latice Fisher, Marshae Jones, Renishia Gibbs, Kenlissia Jones, Jessie Mae Jefferson, and Keysheonna Reed, and others, serve as a devastating example of instances in which Black pregnant people have been forced to endure the threat of arrest and incarceration during the moments when they are most in need of medical care and support.
It''s up to us to demand solutions that will heal and protect our communities. And that starts with district attorneys ensuring Black child-bearers aren''t forced to choose between their reproductive health and a prison sentence.
Join the fight. Demand your DA commits to refusing to prosecute child-bearers based on pregnancy outcomes.
Until justice is real,
--Scott, Rashad, Arisha, Erika, Malachi, Marybeth, Madison, Leonard, Ernie, Ariel, Ana, McKayla, and the rest of the Color Of Change team
References:
ColorOfChange is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change.
If you''re absolutely sure you don''t want to hear from ColorOfChange again, click here to unsubscribe.Now is the time to get involved, don't wait!
Hey Jon,
Election Day is ONE WEEK away. I know, I can''t believe it either. This is the most essential week for Black voters to hear from us to make sure they have a plan to vote and everything they need to do it!
We''re hosting Black Joy textathons to inform Black voters every day this week at multiple times each day, so there''s space for everyone to get involved! Sign up below:
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Do your part to make sure your friends, family, neighbors, and voters across the country RSVP today to get essential information to Black voters before November! And bring a friend too!
Choose a Monday, Wednesday, or Friday texting time
Choose a Tuesday, Thursday, or Saturday texting time
Help our data team ensure our data is accurate after the textathons
Until justice is real,
Shannon, Corina, Hillerie, Bill, Destanie, Kaya, Niesha, Cam, Scotty and the rest of the Color Of Change PAC team
P.S. We''re also collecting videos from people like you about why it''s important to get out and vote, and how it impacts Black communities. Click here to make your own to share with your people!
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Ad paid for by ColorOfChange PAC, colorofchangepac.org. Not authorized by any federal, state, or local candidate or a committee controlled by a candidate. |
ColorOfChange PAC is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Contributions to Color Of Change PAC are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes. This email was sent to yellow71486@. If you''re absolutely sure you don''t want to hear from Color Of Change again, click here to unsubscribe.
We have to make a pivot. But our fight is far from over.
Jon,?
Earlier, we sent you an email to keep up the fight for Breonna Taylor by calling on Kentucky Gov. Beshear to remove Attorney General Daniel Cameron and assign a new special prosecutor.?
Jon, we have to make a quick pivot in our fight to demand justice. Here's the reality - sadly, Gov. Beshear does not have the power to remove Daniel Cameron from the case and appoint a special prosecutor.?
So, who does have the power to appoint a special prosecutor? Unfortunately, it's Daniel Cameron - yes, the same prosecutor who denied Bre justice once already! Only Cameron can appoint a special prosecutor in Kentucky. Effectively, there is no check on Daniel Cameron's actions as a prosecutor in this case and Gov. Beshear can't step in to deliver justice in our fight for Bre.
As we've said before and as we can see so clearly here - the system is broken and does not serve the needs of Black people. Breonna Taylor needs justice, and we'll keep fighting for it. Unfortunately, the person who can deliver justice has already decided Bre's life wasn't worth protecting and has sided with the killer cops.?
Now here's our pivot, Jon: We must demand Daniel Cameron recuse himself from the case and assign a new special prosecutor. We have to do everything in our power to make the stakes high for Daniel Cameron, an elected official, where he has no choice but to answer our demands. And today, that starts with signing the petition and getting your friends to do the same:
Until justice is real,?
Scott, Rashad, Arisha, Erika, Marybeth, Malachi, Leonard, Ernie, Madison, Ariel, Ana, Ericka, and the rest of the Color Of Change team
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Please help keep our movement strong.
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Police unions are the biggest barrier to meaningful reform. They must be stopped.
Jon,
Police unions are one of the largest single threats to Black life in America.
The Fraternal Order of Police, also known as FOP, is the world's largest union of police officers. They are the enablers, pacifiers, and the protective body behind the police violence that plagues Black communities.?
While millions of people like you and elected leaders across the country have spoken out, rallied, and protested against police violence following the murders of Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, and Tony McDade at the hands of the police, the FOP consistently supports officers who brutalize and kill Black people.1
The FOP consistently advocates for bloated police budgets, fail to hold their officers accountable, push for militarized weapons in our communities, and aggressively push back against any meaningful reform. Police unions keep the tradition of police brutality alive and pledge blind loyalty to police officers - even the most violent of them.
You may not be familiar with the FOP and police unions, but so many of our elected leaders and politicians are. The FOP gives large sums of money to elected officials and candidates, both Democratic and Republican, in the form of political contributions. Elected leaders that claim to value Black lives cannot possibly do so if they collect checks from one of the most dangerous and racist institutions in the country.?
Jon, sign the petition to demand elected officials take the pledge to not take money from killer cop organizations.?
Political contributions are a reflection of who a candidate is. So we're calling on candidates to make good on their declarations to support Black people.?
We call on elected leaders across the nation to return and refuse political donations from police unions and the Fraternal Order of Police, which has excused, defended, and encouraged police violence for decades.
Every donation that a candidate accepts from the FOP and police unions makes them an ally to racism and police violence -and complicit with Black people dying at the hands of police.
Each time a leader of the FOP opens their mouths, they spew hatred against the very communities they are sworn to protect. The president of the Philadelphia chapter called Black Lives Matters protestors "a pack of rabid animals" following one of their officers shooting two Black people in the back.2?The president of the Minneapolis FOP called the protest about George Floyd''s death a "terrorist movement."3?And a Florida FOP president even offered to give jobs to the officers who recently brutalized two innocent young Black teens and were fired and charged for it.4
This is what we're up against. But we'll organize and fight them until they have no power in our elections, political process, and the interests of our elected leaders.?
Stop the FOP.
We must end the cycle of dirty money infiltrating our political system. Stand with us to fight against the FOP once and for all.?
Until justice is real,?
Scott, Erika, Malachi, Leonard, and the rest of the Color Of Change PAC team
Sources
1. "The Fraternal Order Of Police: A Union That Stands In The Way Of Police Reforms", NPR?https://act.colorofchange.org/go/251954?t=5&akid=43730%2E5670730%2Esc1AmS
2. "Police Union President Calls Black Lives Matter Protesters Outside Philadelphia Officer's House 'a Pack of Rabid Animals'", NBC Philadelphia?https://act.colorofchange.org/go/251955?t=7&akid=43730%2E5670730%2Esc1AmS
3. "Calls For Reform Put Minneapolis Police Union Leader In Hot Seat", NPR?https://act.colorofchange.org/go/251956?t=9&akid=43730%2E5670730%2Esc1AmS
4. "Brevard County FOP head resigns over post on accused officers", News 4 Jax?https://act.colorofchange.org/go/251957?t=11&akid=43730%2E5670730%2Esc1AmS
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ColorOfChange PAC is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Contributions to Color Of Change PAC are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes. This email was sent to @. If you''re absolutely sure you don''t want to hear from Color Of Change again, click here to unsubscribe.
Our fight for accountability isn't over. Add your name now:
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Jon, we have an important update from Waycross, Georgia:
Lt. Scott Rowell - the police officer who opened fire on a group of Black children on August 8 - just resigned from the Waycross Police Department.1
This is big news. More than 78,000 Color Of Change supporters signed our petition demanding that the cops involved in this incident are removed from the force. But our fight is far from over, and we need your help.
The second officer, Jesse Shook, is still on paid leave. We have to keep fighting until BOTH officers are removed from the Waycross Police Department and can never terrorize Black communities again.
Jon, we're calling on Waycross Mayor Michael-Angelo James to fire Officer Shook and hold both officers accountable for their actions. Add your name to demand full accountability now.
ADD YOUR NAME NOW
Last week, we sent you an email about this officer-involved shooting in Waycross. Here's a quick recap:
This isn't the first time Lt. Rowell has been investigated for reckless use of force in an officer-involved shooting. In 2013, the GBI investigated Rowell''s involvement in the police killing of Jack Lamar Roberson, an unarmed Black man.5 GBI cleared Rowell and the other officers of any wrongdoing - allowing him to return to the police force to continue terrorizing Black people in Waycross.6
On Saturday, Lt. Rowell resigned. His resignation from the Waycross Police Department is notable, but both he and Officer Shook must be reprimanded and held accountable for their racist choice to tailgate and shoot at Black children.
Jon, one resignation is not enough. We have to make sure these officers don't join the police department one town over or continue terrorizing Black people in Waycross. Sign the petition to demand full accountability now.
Together, with your help, we will continue to demand accountability for reckless and racist cops like Lt. Rowell and Officer Shook. And we''ll keep fighting to make sure racist incidents like this never happen again - not in Waycross, not in California, not anywhere.
Until justice is real,
-- Scott, Rashad, Arisha, Erika, Malachi, Marybeth, Leonard, Ernie, Madison, McKayla and the rest of the Color Of Change team
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References:
1. Lt. Scott Rowell, a 15-year-veteran of the Waycross police force has resigned. 15 August 2020, Action News Jax.
2. Two police officers in Georgia put on leave after shooting at minors. 9 August 2020, CNN.
3. Waycross police shoot at teens following traffic stop, GBI says. 8 August 2020, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (AJC).
4. Officer who shot at teens in traffic stop did not activate body camera, 13 August 2020, Action News Jax.
5. Police Fatally Shoot Man After Family Calls For Medical Assistance. 8 October 2013, Huffington Post.
6. GBI report clears Waycross police officers in October shooting death, DA says. 25 February 2014, The Florida Times-Union.
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Please help keep our movement strong.
Make a Donation
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You can fund our work without giving a dime.
Dear Jon,
We have great news! Color Of Change has been selected as one of three nonprofit groups that will receive upwards of $150,000 from CREDO this month.?In order to earn the most funding in our continued fight for racial justice, we need the support from Color Of Change members like YOU.
All you have to do is vote. No monetary donation necessary!
CREDO is a progressive activist network and a provider of mobile, energy, long distance and credit card services. They donate a portion of their revenue each month to a wide range of nonprofit groups. Each year, they donate roughly $2 million and, since 1985, CREDO has donated nearly $90 million.
Vote by midnight so that we all can continue to have real impact in the fight for Black lives.
This month, anyone is invited to vote for the groups they think should receive funding, without opening their wallet. This is where you come in.?The more votes we receive, the greater our share of funding. Color Of Change does not take money from big corporations or funders that don''t share our values, so this support from CREDO will go a long way toward achieving racial justice!
Voting is easy and free! Please be sure to vote before midnight.
Thank you for your continued support and engagement.
Until justice is real,
Arisha and the rest of the Color Of Change team
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Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Please help keep our movement strong.
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Toni Morrison made incredible, invaluable contributions to storytelling.? Chip in to help us continue the representation work we do in honor of Toni Morrison.??? CHIP IN?
Jon,
Black people in the United States were forever changed by the storytelling of one Chloe Anthony Wofford Morrison. You may know her as the indelible Toni Morrison. One of the most influential Black writers, Ms. Morrison wrote touching, incomparable novels that centered the feelings and experiences of Black women and girls when the rest of the literary landscape did not. Her work is a testament to the power of books; through her stories, Black people have been able to better understand our history in this country, our contributions to its success, and our collective power to change it. To celebrate Ms. Morrison's empowering work, we are working to ensure Black stories - like Toni Morrison's - are highlighted and celebrated by fighting to change the way decisions are made at publishing companies and booksellers, like Barnes & Noble. Chip in $5 to help us celebrate Toni Morrison this Black History Month, and help us change the landscape of literature.?
Books have a great deal of power, and Toni Morrison has shown us this, time and time again. Books help people better understand themselves and their history; they help us embrace our identities and our culture; and, they help us begin to see ourselves positively. Toni Morrison intimately understood this power; as a child living in Lorain, a small, diverse town in Ohio, it was ingrained in her that reading was an honor and a privilege. When she began working as an editor at a publishing company in New York (known then as Random House), she edited and published fellow Black leaders' work. And with just 6% of children's and young adult books published in the U.S. in 2018 written by Black authors, and with animal protagonists outnumbering Black protagonists in children's books by more than 15%, it is as important today as it was then to ensure Black stories are published.1 2?Because of Toni Morrison's invaluable literary contributions, we are able to push publishers and booksellers to be more inclusive of Black authors and Black stories. In honor of Toni Morrison's contributions, chip in $5 to help us continue our work pushing publishing companies and booksellers to promote Black authors and stories.???
Without change-makers like Toni Morrison, Color Of Change would not be able to do the work we do. Because of the stories she wrote, and her contributions to the world, we are able to push media companies of all kinds to tell more inclusive, dynamic Black stories. We were able to convince Disney to restore Princess Tiana to her original appearance.3 We were able to push Mattel to tell a fuller, more truthful story with the release of their Rosa Parks Barbie. And now, we are able to hold publishers and distributors like Barnes & Noble accountable to ensure they promote Black authors and stories. None of this would have been possible without Toni Morrison's strength, leadership, and commitment to telling Black stories. Chip in $5 this Black History Month to fund the work we do in honor of Toni Morrison.
Until justice is real,?
-Brandi, Rashad, Arisha, Jade, Johnny, Future, Amanda, Evan, Imani, Samantha, Jenette, Ciera, Eesha, Marcus, FolaSade, and the rest of the Color Of Change team
References:?
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Help make sure people are ready to vote
Hey?Kaitlyn,
I''m just following up here to remind you about our Black Joy Call Party this Saturday! If you missed the event Wednesday, don''t worry, there''s still room for this weekend.?Just RSVP here to let us know you''ll be there
See you soon,
Shannon, Corina, Destanie, Kaya, and the Color Of Change PAC team
Hey Jon,
It''s 3 weeks out from election day, and here''s your weekly invitation to text and call more Black people in communities around the country to encourage them to get out and vote!
RSVP below to join us for one of our Black Joy Call Parties this week:
RSVP For saturday
The issues that we care about -- ensuring that Black women are protected, standing up to police brutality, education equity -- will be decided by the people that we elect up and down the ballot.
This week, we'll be calling and texting Black voters across the nation to learn more about the issues they care about and ask for their support. There are many folks who are still undecided and need information.
RSVP today to get essential information to Black voters before November! And bring a friend too!
RSVP for Saturday
Until justice is real,
Shannon, Corina, Destanie, Kaya, Bill, Niesha, Cam, Scotty and the rest of the Color Of Change PAC team
P.S. We''re also collecting videos from people like you about why it''s important to get out and vote, and how it impacts Black communities. Click here to make your own to share with your people!
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ColorOfChange PAC is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Contributions to Color Of Change PAC are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes. This email was sent to @. If you''re absolutely sure you don''t want to hear from Color Of Change again, click here to unsubscribe.
We won't stop fighting for prison phone justice.
?Big news: After weeks of public pressure, prison profiteer Tom Gores just resigned from the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) board
Over the last few weeks, Color Of Change joined forces with Worth Rises to launch a public campaign demanding the LACMA remove prison profiteer, billionaire, and Detroit Pistons owner Tom Gores from its Board of Trustees. And last week, Tom Gores resigned in shame.1?
This is an important victory, Jon: It means we are putting prison profiteers on notice: we won't allow anyone to profit from the violence of the prison industrial complex. It means we are demanding phone justice, toxifying the prison telecom industry, and holding predatory billionaires like Tom Gores accountable.
Here's what you need to know: Gores is the founder and CEO of Platinum Equity, a private equity firm that owns Securus Technologies. Securus is a prison and jail telecommunications firm that rakes in more $700 million annually by price-gouging predominately Black, Brown, and low-income families with incarcerated loved ones - charging upwards of $15 for a 15-minute phone call. This is the system Tom Gores props up and directly profits from.?
By pressuring Gores off of the LACMA board, we just put all prison profiteers on notice: We won't let you sit on cushy boards or make decisions about our communities while profiting from our pain. And we won't let you enjoy accolades while your racist, exploitative practices tear families apart.?
Jon, we know our fight is far from over. We have to keep the pressure on Gores to demand he exits the prison telecoms industry for good -?because there should be ZERO profit motive in the criminal legal system. Click here to tweet at Tom Gores now.?
On top of Securus, Tom Gores owns the Detroit Pistons. Gore's affiliation with the NBA legitimizes his reputation as a business owner and investor in the exploitative prison telecom industry. As the owner of the Detroit Pistons, a predominantly Black team, in a historically Black city, it's hard to believe a "philanthropist" like Tom Gores is naive to systemic inequity.? And we won't stop fighting until billionaires like Tom Gores stop profiting off of Black pain.?
That's why we're calling on every organization affiliated with Tom Gores to lead boldly in this moment. To build a more equitable world for Black people, we must demand accountability from institutions that provide power and prestige to racial capitalists, who commodify Black suffering.?
Tell Tom Gores: Divest from prisons and jails now. We will hold you accountable!?
This is how we win, Jon. We win justice by holding powerful actors accountable through public pressure, direct action, and not letting up.?That's how we pressured Tom Gores to leave the LACMA board. Now, we must demand divestment from prisons and fight for our loved ones behind bars.?
That's what we do - we win justice for Black people, and this victory with LACMA sets a precedent that we intend to amplify: prison profiteers don't deserve a seat at any table.?
Help us continue the fight - demand action from @TomGores now.
Until justice is real,?
Scott, Erika, Malachi, Marybeth, Ernie, Ariel, Leonard, Madison, Ana, Erikca, McKayla, and the rest of the Color of Change team
References:
1. "Tom Gores resigns from LACMA board over prison phone investment", Laurence Darmiento,? Los Angeles Times, October 9, 2020 https://act.colorofchange.org/go/274824?t=10&akid=47282%2E5670730%2EOrpxbZ
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Please help keep our movement strong.
Make a Donation
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Tell Governor Gavin Newsom to make racist 911 calls a hate crime today!
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Cynthia Bond, just started a petition to?Governor Gavin Newsom: Tell Governor Gavin Newsom to make racist 911 calls a hate crime: Sign the CAREN Act today!
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Dear Jon, I just started a petition titled "Tell Governor Gavin Newsom to make racist 911 calls a hate crime: Sign the CAREN Act today!" On September 11th, I was the victim of a potentially deadly racist act. A white man with his posse called 911 and lied. He said I had pulled a gun on him. Within minutes, 8 police cars, sirens blazing were surrounding my house and ordering me to step outside. I do not own a gun. I have never even held a gun.?The reason this is a racist act and not a hate crime is because Governor Gavin Newsom has not yet signed the Caution Against Racially Exploitative Non-Emergencies (CAREN) Act into law.? The Act would make it unlawful to make false emergency claims that are racially biased.? GOVERNOR NEWSOM HAS UNTIL SEPTEMBER 30TH TO SIGN THE CAREN ACT! Demand that he signs it today! Like millions of people in America, I have been impacted financially by the pandemic. I'm a professional writer, and like so many artists and arts organizations, I've taken a major hit and was grateful for the rent moratorium offered in Los Angeles County. But the very fact that I have not been able to pay rent during a pandemic that has cost so many people income was reason enough for my landlord to come to my door with 4 or 5 men and attempt to intimidate me. And then, when that didn''t work, he lied and told the police I had a gun when I did not.?When the police came, the circle of Black women I teach watched interaction online, helpless and full of horror. Afterwards, one of my students recounted feeling cold with fear and filled with helplessness, frightened that she would watch my life end right there over Zoom. My girlfriend arrived, and saw at least six police cars at my house, and more driving away. She ran up to the door scared that the police had shot me. For me, the fear is still palpable. This, and other kinds of predatory retaliation against Black people must end. Right now, the CAREN ACT is sitting on Governor Newsom's desk, join me in urging him to sign it today. Thank you, Cynthia Bond? ?
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Join us and start your own petition on OrganizeFor today!
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Help keep our movement strong.
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Jon,
The coronavirus pandemic has revealed just how fragile and inequitable our systems are, from our healthcare system to the economy, and even our sworn elected leaders. Now more than ever, people are recognizing the critical need for strong communities and staying in touch with their loved ones.
But unfortunately, not everyone has the ability to even pick up the phone to call or text to check-in on their parents or grandparents during this trying time. And for incarcerated people, the barriers to remaining connected are even worse. Most prisons and jails have suspended in-person visits, and are forcing families to pay exorbitant rates for phone and video calls to ensure their incarcerated loved ones are safe.
Prison telecom corporations charge families as much as $25 for a 15-minute phone call. That's out of reach for many families under normal circumstances, but nearly impossible during today's public health crisis, especially for Black families who've been particularly hit hard. Black people are disproportionately affected by the mass layoffs and because of systemic health inequities, are at a higher risk of contracting and dying from the virus. Our communities should not have the added stress of trying to make ends meet to afford to connect with a loved one behind bars.?
Demand an end to price gouging of incarcerated families. Sign the petition calling on your state and federal legislators to make ALL jail and prison calls free of charge.
The $1.2 billion prison telecom industry exploits vulnerable populations who are simply trying to connect with their loved ones. At a time when families need it the most, corporations like Securus, have done little if anything to keep families connected. And our elected leaders are failing to step in. In some jails and prisons, they have granted access to just one or two free phone calls per week. But this is nowhere near enough.?
COVID-19 is deadly and is changing by the minute and for incarcerated people, many who are immuno-compromised and high risk, a missed call can mean that they'll never speak to their loved ones again.
We need your help to demand that our elected officials make all prison and jail communication free now and forever.
Families and children of incarcerated people have taken to social media over the past few days to demand access to free prison and jail communication. And the public response has been overwhelmingly positive. We need to keep up the pressure on our elected leaders to guarantee our incarcerated loved ones remain connected.
Your action today can stop the cruel separation of families and instead connect them. Everyone deserves to know their loved ones are safe.
Until justice is real,
Scott, Rashad, Arisha, Clarise, Erika, Malachi, Leonard, Marybeth, Madison, and the rest of the Color Of Change team?
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Help keep our movement strong.
If you''re absolutely sure you don''t want to hear from Color Of Change again, click here to unsubscribe.
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Dear Jon.
Safeway is being slow to implement the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) online purchasing pilot program designed to allow SNAP recipients to purchase groceries online. Black families--especially Black mothers and children who rely on WIC-eligible food--are faced with visiting multiple grocery locations only to find empty shelves or food with no nutritional substance.1 Not to mention, within our vulnerable community many SNAP benefit recipients are also elderly and disabled, making it even more important that Safeway develop safer shopping conditions.2
In the past three weeks, 17 million people have filed for unemployment.3 Food insecurity will only exponentially increase as businesses fold and layoffs continue. Food deserts are most often found in Black communities. Providing families the opportunity to remain safe within their homes by using their SNAP benefits online would aid in protecting one of the most vulnerable communities.?
SIGN THE PETITION: Demand that Safeway implement the SNAP benefit online purchase program.?
Black families are battling compounded inequalities in the face of this pandemic and Safeway can play a major role in combating food insecurity and the spread of coronavirus.? By fully implementing the SNAP online program and waiving delivery fees that cannot be covered by SNAP benefits, Safeway will aid collective efforts to flatten the curve in U.S. coronavirus cases, as well as help guarantee a solid food supply in the homes of the families they serve.?
Not only can Safeway play a critical role in combating food insecurity, this major retailer can further protect Black consumers by ensuring that the implementation of this program includes data protection which allows consumers to opt-in for sharing personally identifiable information with third parties for marketing purposes. The unintended consequences of Black SNAP recipient data collection can lead to harm in terms of health, privacy, and economic opportunity, given that Black children are disproportionately targeted with junk food ads.4
SIGN THE PETITION: Demand that Safeway implement the SNAP benefit online purchase program.?
Food access and data protection are two of the many barriers to a sound quality of living Black communities are facing. Black SNAP recipients should not be subjected to exclusion from online grocery purchasing or data collection in the process of making purchases. In cities such as Maryland and New York, food retailers are now demanding masks be worn upon entrance.5,6 With masks unavailable in stores or online, along with some families lacking access to means to purchase them, online grocery shopping with SNAP benefits is needed more than ever. Safeway can do more to protect its Black consumers like some of its competitors. In some states, Walmart is taking strides to implement the online pilot program, and smaller retailer FreshDirect allows SNAP benefit purchases and waives delivery fees to ensure there are no out-of-pocket costs for SNAP consumers. Corporations say 'we are in this together,' and it is time they show it.
SIGN THE PETITION: Demand that Safeway implement the SNAP benefit online purchase program.
Until justice is real,
--Brandi, Rashad, Arisha, Evan, Johnny, Jade, Amanda, Eesha, Samantha, Marcus, FolaSade, Jennette,?Cierra?and the rest of the Color Of Change team
References:
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Help keep our movement strong.
If you''re absolutely sure you don''t want to hear from Color Of Change again, click here to unsubscribe.
Here's a brief snapshot of how we've leveraged powerful contributions into real-world change:? This summer, we partnered with our comrades at Essie Justice Group to release the first survey for families with incarcerated loved ones during the pandemic. We've leveraged that data to demand,?
BecomE a monthly supporter of our fight for racial justice.? Jon, we're not begging for anything. We're not interested in a seat at the anti-racist table. We're demanding justice for Black people, and declaring that any policy or corporate strategy that doesn't center our demands is an anti-Black one.? As we enter the ninth month of the pandemic, consider giving the gift of solidarity.? Until justice is real,? -- Scott, Erika, Madison, Ariel, Malachi, Ernie, Ana, Ericka, McKayla, and the rest of the Color Of Change team References:? 1.Lives on the Line, Essie Justice & Color of Change? 
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My thoughts on the election
Jon,
Let's get right down to it: Joe Biden and Kamala Harris have clearly won this election, and the final vote count will prove it.
And they won thanks to Black voters, and thanks to our volunteers,?members and donors. Not only did Black voters turn out in record numbers -- Black communities and leaders made racial justice a central issue in this campaign, which motivated millions of people to vote.
In a year filled with darkness, our Voting While Black program created spaces filled with light. We centered Black joy as a source of empowerment, from text-a-thons to Black Women's brunches. Our National Weekend of Black Joy in Black communities ensured that our friends and family were in good spirits, protected and proactive about making a plan to vote.
Together, we started about 6.1 million text conversations with Black voters and we called close to 640,000 Black voters. We sent nearly 4 million pieces of direct mail, all with critical information about how to vote, and about candidates in dozens of different races. Our digital ads were seen almost 70 million times this year.
Watch my video message below for more of my thoughts on how the movement for racial justice got us here, and will continue to drive us forward.
Jon, whatever lies ahead, I know we'll be side by side in the struggle-- to catch one another, lift one another up, and remind one another?that we are much more powerful than we even yet realize.
As we learn more about these results, we''ll reach out with actions and next steps. But for now, I'm so glad you're a part of this movement to build a safe, just, equitable future for Black people.
Until justice is real,
Rashad and the Color Of Change PAC team
P.S. You can watch the recording of our post-election member call from last night here, including words from our PAC Executive Director Arisha Michelle Hatch
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ColorOfChange PAC is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Contributions to Color Of Change PAC are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes. This email was sent to yellow71486@. If you''re absolutely sure you don''t want to hear from Color Of Change again, click here to unsubscribe.
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Jon,
BlackRock is one the world's largest financial institutions and its President, Larry Fink, released a statement last weekend expressing sadness for the murder of George Floyd while claiming to be "committed to racial equity."1 The problem? Larry Fink is a longtime donor and supporter of the New York City Police Foundation: a group that donates millions of dollars to the NYPD each year--buying them guns, horses, and bomb-detonating robots.2 The same NYPD that has been driving trucks straight into crowds of peaceful protesters gathering to protest the murder of George Floyd, trapping groups of people on bridges with teargas, and indiscriminately brutalizing bystanders. While it's easy to appreciate that companies, brands, and celebrities are seeing the importance in publicly affirming their stance against racism, we know they need to do much more than issue a statement to meaningfully support our communities. The fact is, many of the same corporations coming out in support of Black Lives Matter are the same corporations that bear responsibility for violence, harm, and discrimination against Black people, whether they carry it out, enable it, or profit from it. BlackRock and Larry Fink's support of an organization that was created to shield police officers from accountability are no exception. We are clear that company values or statements mean nothing unless they're backed up by the leadership, the payroll, and the operations. That's why we're calling on Fink to put his money where his mouth is, and stop supporting the New York City Police Foundation today.
BlackRock CEO Larry Fink claims to support racial equity but funds a group that allows the police to attack Black people unchecked. Tell him it's time to put his money where his mouth is.
As a community, we have been using this moment to publicly interrogate the harm of policing and the violent actions carried out by law enforcement against Black people. We are watching and participating in the public grieving and anger calling for justice for Black people we have lost to police violence, including George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and Tony McDade. And we are challenging the institutions that continue to play an active role in Black people's suffering and death. The New York City Police Foundation is privately funded by wealthy individuals like Larry Fink, and exists to give the police force the space to do what they want, whenever they want, to whomever they want. They have been instrumental in providing the military equipment the police are using on Black people at this very moment, and in perpetuating racist myths about policing and violent crime that justify the force''s corruption. In fact, the New York City Police Foundation started the infamous "Crime Stoppers" marketing campaign, a program that turns uninformed viewers into paid vigilantes, likely to target Black neighbors, coworkers and strangers alike for "looking suspicious." No matter how gruesome the injustice carried out by the officers it represents, this organization has put an incredible amount of time and resources into ensuring the police of the NYPD are both more armed and less required to answer to anybody but themselves than they have ever been. In that context, what else can Larry Fink's financial support of the New York City Police Foundation represent but an attack on Black lives?
Lip service from corporations like BlackRock won't protect Black people. Action will. Sign now to demand President Larry Fink end his support of the New York City Police Foundation.
At this moment in our nation's history, there are no sidelines--Fink's donation to the New York City Police Foundation isn't an arbitrary gesture, he is effectively supporting and advancing the deep harm that Black communities face. We, the people, say no to corporations and CEOs who say Black lives matter in one breath while supporting our destruction in another. Tell Larry Fink to stop supporting the New York Police Foundation.
Enough is enough. Tell BlackRock that if it''s truly committed to racial equity, CEO Larry Fink must stop funding the New York City Police Foundation today.
Until justice is real,?
-Jade, Brandi, Johnny, Amanda, Samantha, Eesha, FolaSade, Marcus, Marie, Ciera, Jennette and the rest of the Color Of Change team
References:
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Help keep our movement strong.
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Dear Jon,
We write this email with a heavy heart because once again we are asking you to join us to demand justice for another slain Black person. Last week it was Breonna Taylor, the week before it was Ahmuad Arbery, and this week it's George Floyd.?
On Monday, May 25th, a grocery clerk thought George was writing a fake check and then called the police. Shortly after the police arrived, officers choked George as he and a crowd of people pleaded with them to stop. The entire murder was captured on camera and shared widely across social media.1 The following day, after a national outcry erupted, the police chief announced that all four officers who were on the scene were fired from the force.2?
And while this is a step in the right direction, it does not absolve the officers of their blatant crime and we're demanding Mayor Jacob Frey and District Attorney Michael Freeman take further action to secure justice for George Floyd.?
Mayor Frey must:?
#JusticeforFloyd: Demand Mayor Frey and DA Freeman take action now to hold the officers accountable for murdering George.
George's death at the hands of the MPD is eerily similar to Eric Garner's. Both Black men uttered the same words as cops took their lives. Police violence, harassment, and assaults on Black people happen far too often. Just two months ago, officers in Louisville stormed Breonna Taylor's home and murdered her in a botched investigation. And the names of Black people murdered for simply existing goes on and on.?
But when we fight and hold powerful people to account, we win. After more than 43,000 Color Of Change members called for #JusticeforBre and more than 300,000 members #RanwithAhmaud, charges filed against Bre's boyfriend were dropped and Ahmaud's killers were charged with murder. And we can win justice for George, as well, if we keep up sustained pressure on Mayor Frey and DA Freeman to take action.?
Stand with George's family and demand that the officers are charged with murder.?
Officers rarely, if ever, are held accountable for inflicting harm on Black people. Even after viral videos are released, they continue to earn paychecks, collect pensions, and walk free as the Black bodies they took from us are gone. This must end. They should not be rewarded for egregious misconduct. Derek Chauvin, George's killer, and the Minneapolis Police Department have an ugly history of misconduct. Chauvin has been involved in at least three other incidents where he shot someone and has never been held accountable for any of them. And the MPD kills Black people at a rate 13x higher than white people - a larger racial disparity than almost anywhere else in the nation. It's imperative we fight to hold these officers accountable and push this department to reform their practices. Will you stand with us in our fight for justice?
Until justice is real,
--Scott, Rashad, Arisha, Erika, Malachi, Marybeth, Madison, Leonard, and the rest of the Color Of Change team
References:
1. "Video shows Minneapolis cop with knee on neck of motionless, moaning man who later died." CBS News.
2. "4 Minneapolis Police Officers Fired Over George Floyd Death." Huffington Post.
3. "Police Accountability Tool." Mapping Police Violence.
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Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Help keep our movement strong.
If you''re absolutely sure you don''t want to hear from Color Of Change again, click here to unsubscribe.
We're looking for feedback to help us make new plans
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Hey?Jon,
I need to be honest with you: in a year as chaotic as 2020, we've had to restructure all of our elections plans on the fly-- and it hasn''t been easy.
One of the most helpful things you can do is take this 5-minute survey to share your thoughts and be a part of our strategy-creation process for this final stretch towards Election Day!?We''ll ask your?thoughts on the presidential election, and how you might want to be involved with our work in the last 50 days until November 3rd.
Share your thoughts
Thanks so much for being a part of our 2020 election vision. We're excited to be in touch with you soon about how we can build power with Black communities together through this election!
Until justice is real,
Arisha and the Color Of Change PAC team
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ColorOfChange PAC is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Contributions to Color Of Change PAC are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes. This email was sent to yellow71486@. If you''re absolutely sure you don''t want to hear from Color Of Change again, click here to unsubscribe.
Dear Jon,
I want to send my best wishes to you and your loved ones. I hope you are able to do everything you can to stay safe and healthy during this challenging time. You are part of the Color Of Change family and right now, we are thinking of you.
We know very well that when America gets the sniffles, Black people catch the flu. It is no exaggeration that Black people will be disproportionately harmed by the disastrous handling of the coronavirus - first from our antiquated healthcare system which denies care to those who need it and then from the following recession that will result in countless lay-offs and firings.
COVID-19, or coronavirus as it is commonly known, is a deadly crisis that highlights all of the failures of our systems. Make no mistake, its rapid spread, threatening the lives of the most vulnerable among us, is due to an incompetent administration that refused to properly evaluate its threat and the cowardly corporations and Republican officials who enabled his ascent to power. Even now, as entire school systems shut down and hospital beds fill up, Donald Trump and his Republican enablers continue to deceive us while refusing to provide the American people the essential social safety nets that we need to survive this time. But we are not defeated. We know that we, the people, have the power.
We have the power to demand universal basic income as a part of any coronavirus aid package and adequate safety precautions for incarcerated people. We have the power to demand that vote-by-mail be expanded so that our people don't risk their health at the polls. And we have the power to demand that Governor Cuomo doesn't resort to prison labor as a quick fix for supply shortages exacerbated by opportunistic hoarding and panic buying.
Join us in demanding justice now with five crucial fights that will help us survive this pandemic and thrive in its aftermath.
The outbreak of COVID-19 reminds us that many people live paycheck-to-paycheck when they shouldn't have to. Many part-time, hourly or contract workers - who are disproportionately Black and low-income - are meeting economic hardship as hours are cut or reduced, leading to lost wages and a juggling of whether to pay for housing, medical care, and other need-based items. The increasing need to "self-isolate" with an equally increasing need to pay expenses is why there should be a universal basic income. A universal basic income would not only help plug financial holes where necessary but eliminate economic uncertainty for nearly 80% of workers. Join us in demanding a universal basic income as part of any coronavirus response package.
Mass incarceration is now more than ever a public health crisis. People locked in prisons, jails, and detention centers are some of the most vulnerable in this time and we can''t allow them to be neglected nor exploited. There are already confirmed COVID-19 cases popping up in jails, prisons, and detention centers across the country. Places of incarceration are the least equipped to keep people safe and healthy during a pandemic outbreak. People are crammed into small spaces, forced to share bathrooms and go without showers. Incarcerated people are not given access to soap, hand sanitizer, adequate medical care or supplies, etc. And the cycle of people in and out of jails, prisons, and detention centers will only spread this pandemic through communities faster. Color Of Change came together with over 50 groups to develop a national platform that outlines how officials should be responding to this moment. Sign onto the platform to demand that officials implement humane responses to protect incarcerated people.
The coronavirus pandemic has made it abundantly clear that we must expand vote-by-mail options nationwide. The long lines at polling places and other hassles Black people too frequently experience while voting are already a dire threat to democracy, and allowing them to continue in light of this massive public health threat is even more unconscionable. Support Senator Ron Wyden's bill to authorize emergency funding to expand vote-by-mail options in states that don't already have it. This bill is an important step towards protecting our democracy and public health
We have long been encouraging folks to complete the census online or by phone as early as possible this spring, but that plan just got even more important now that we're collectively dealing with COVID-19. Self-responding early helps lessen the need for census takers to knock on people's doors to complete the count, and it also gives the Bureau -- and organizers like us! -- more time to work through any issues that might pop up as the count goes on. Make a plan to take the census today.
In addition to preventing the spread of the outbreak, we must be vigilant to ensure this crisis isn''t abused to further criminalize or exploit our people. In New York, Governor Cuomo is forcing incarcerated people to mass-produce hand sanitizer they can''t even use for less than $1 a day. Yet, he''s done nothing to protect incarcerated people from the spread of the disease and is refusing to use his clemency power to expedite release. Sign the petition demanding Gov. Cuomo stop forcing underpaid labor and use his power to release incarcerated people who are vulnerable.
With the world in crisis, it is so important that we stick together and stand up for one another. Whether you take action on one -- or all five -- of the important campaigns highlighted above by our team, we deeply appreciate your fighting for justice during this crucial moment.
Until justice is real,?
Rashad Robinson
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We must demand accountability for the murder of Hakim Littleton at the hands of police violence.
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Jon,
It has happened again.?
This time, in Detroit. A Black man was ruthlessly murdered by rogue cops. And the officers are still employed two weeks later.?
On July 10, Hakim Littleton's friend was being arrested by a swarm of cops -- and in the process, Hakim drew a gun, shot at an officer, and ultimately missed.1 After Hakim was tackled, disarmed, and lay face down on the ground, he was repeatedly shot, and one officer even shot him in the back of the head at point-blank range.
We'll never know why Hakim drew the gun. He will never be able to tell what was going through his mind as officers swarmed them that day.?But we do know that Hakim should still be alive. He did not deserve to be executed at point-blank range by the very people who "swear to protect" us.
Hakim's murder was a public execution. We demand accountability for the officers, the police chief, and the entire Detroit Police Department for our Black brother.?
Add your name to the petition to demand #JusticeforHakim.
Despite how carelessly the cops sprayed bullets at Hakim, Detroit police chief James Craig has spewed lies to the media, misrepresented what happened the day Hakim was murdered, and continues to conspire against Hakim by referring to the officers as "heroes." The department even tried to hide the additional video footage that clearly shows Hakim was shot multiple times from behind as he lay face down on the ground. The video wasn't released until local activists and community members demanded the footage more than a week later.?
This callous behavior is nothing new for the Detroit Police Department.?
The Detroit police were once the most deadly and notorious police department in the country.2 They lead the nation''s largest cities in the rate of fatal shootings by police -- in just a five-year span from 1995-2000, they murdered 40 people. While that number has decreased, it was only due in part to the federal oversight they were placed under due to the overwhelming amount of police violence. And more recently, the city of Detroit has had to pay out tens of millions of dollars in police misconduct lawsuits, as a result of persistent police brutality.?
#JusticeforHakim: Sign the petition to hold the entire Detroit Police Department accountable for murdering Hakim Littleton.
At Color Of Change, we have run far too many campaigns against the Detroit police department -- and that's a testament to how violent their police force is. Just a few weeks ago while protestors rallied to put an end to police violence, Detroit police drove their SUVs into the crowd of protestors, showing a blatant disregard for their lives.3?
Even against the backdrop of a global uprising against police violence, Detroit officers won't stop abusing and murdering people.?
We deserve to breathe and live free of persistent police violence. We deserve to have our loved ones come home at the end of the day. We are tired. Black Detroiters are tired. We demand accountability and we're demanding it at every level.?
That's why we're calling on Mayor Mike Duggan, Prosecutor Kym Worthy, and Attorney General Dana Nessel to 1)? release the officers' names, 2) fire them, 3) launch an independent investigation, and 4) Mayor Duggan to fire Chief James for his handling of the case.
Add your name now to demand justice.
Until justice is real,
Scott, Rashad, Arisha, Erika, Malachi, Marybeth, Madison, Leonard, Ernie, McKayla and the rest of the Color Of Change team
References:
1. "Protesters gather in Detroit after police shoot and kill man who officers say shot at them first." The Washington Post.?https://act.colorofchange.org/go/257704?t=9&akid=44314%2E5670730%2EKDSfiu
2. "How the roots of Detroit''s police department helped spawn 1967 rebellion." NPR.?https://act.colorofchange.org/go/257705?t=11&akid=44314%2E5670730%2EKDSfiu
3. "Detroit police SUV drives through crowd after protesters climb on hood." Detroit Free Press.?https://act.colorofchange.org/go/257706?t=13&akid=44314%2E5670730%2EKDSfiu
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Please help keep our movement strong.
Make a Donation
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We have to make a pivot. But our fight is far from over.
Jon,?
Earlier, we sent you an email to keep up the fight for Breonna Taylor by calling on Kentucky Gov. Beshear to remove Attorney General Daniel Cameron and assign a new special prosecutor.?
Jon, we have to make a quick pivot in our fight to demand justice. Here's the reality - sadly, Gov. Beshear does not have the power to remove Daniel Cameron from the case and appoint a special prosecutor.?
So, who does have the power to appoint a special prosecutor? Unfortunately, it's Daniel Cameron - yes, the same prosecutor who denied Bre justice once already! Only Cameron can appoint a special prosecutor in Kentucky. Effectively, there is no check on Daniel Cameron's actions as a prosecutor in this case and Gov. Beshear can't step in to deliver justice in our fight for Bre.
As we've said before and as we can see so clearly here - the system is broken and does not serve the needs of Black people. Breonna Taylor needs justice, and we'll keep fighting for it. Unfortunately, the person who can deliver justice has already decided Bre's life wasn't worth protecting and has sided with the killer cops.?
Now here's our pivot, Jon: We must demand Daniel Cameron recuse himself from the case and assign a new special prosecutor. We have to do everything in our power to make the stakes high for Daniel Cameron, an elected official, where he has no choice but to answer our demands. And today, that starts with signing the petition and getting your friends to do the same:
Until justice is real,?
Scott, Rashad, Arisha, Erika, Marybeth, Malachi, Leonard, Ernie, Madison, Ariel, Ana, Ericka, and the rest of the Color Of Change team
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Please help keep our movement strong.
Make a Donation
?
Frontline medical staff are working tirelessly to care for us during the coronavirus pandemic.?? Help us thank frontline staff for their service.??? SHOW YOUR APPRECIATION?
Jon,
Across the country, frontline medical staff are working overtime to ensure our communities are safe and healthy during the COVID-19 pandemic (also known as coronavirus). Every day, the frontline hospital staff at Johns Hopkins, for example, put their lives at risk to treat the growing number of people with coronavirus.1 Johns Hopkins is not only a world-renowned hospital, but it is a hospital that serves a tremendous number of Black people in Baltimore. And because of their dedication to our community, and the sacrifices they are making to keep treating people, we want to show the medical staff - particularly working class staff like orderlies, nurses, and cleaning staff - at John Hopkins how grateful we are for their service.?
Contribute $5 so that we can provide $5000 of care packages for the frontline medical staff who are working overtime to protect us during the spread of coronavirus.??????
Despite hospitals' unending efforts to secure personal protective equipment like gloves, masks, glasses, and respirators to protect medical staff who work on the front lines, these crucial staff people are forced to treat patients using reused protective gear or no protective gear at all. Still, staff members show up to work each and every during this crisis.2 They sacrifice not only their health, but what little time they typically might have with their family in order to keep treating patients in the face of this deadly virus. Frontline medical staff are heroes. So, we'd like to provide help where we can, by contributing $5000 worth of healthy snacks, coffee, and energy drinks to the staff at Johns Hopkins, who serve one of the most high-density, low-income Black communities in the country.?
Chip in $5 to send food, coffee, and energy drinks to the frontline hospital staff at Johns Hopkins.?
I live in Baltimore, on a block full of medical staff; I see first-hand the stress, fatigue, and steadfast commitment to caring for patients. They don't see themselves as brave, but we see them as the backbone of our society. Jon, will you join us in thanking the staff members at John Hopkins who are working 24/7 to keep us safe and healthy?
$5 is a small amount, but it will make a big difference. And if just 1,000 of our members contribute $5, we will be able to purchase and send care packages to the Johns Hopkins staff in no time!?
Make your $5 contribution now, and help us raise $5000 that will directly support the Johns Hopkins staff and show them how thankful we are for their dedication.??
Until justice is real,?
-Brandi, Rashad, Arisha, Jade, Johnny, Future, Amanda, Evan, Imani, Samantha, Jenette, Ciera, Eesha, Marcus, FolaSade, and the rest of the Color Of Change team
References:?
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Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Help keep our movement strong.
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Hey?Jon,
A week ago we celebrated Earth Day. In the middle of a pandemic, universal calls to lift up the earth and its offerings brought to light the intersection of pollution, disease, and injustice. For many Black, Indigenous, and vulnerable communities, it's a connection too well-known. For so many of us, first-hand experiences would shift our understanding of land beyond profit motives to a connection of family, soil, and self. The Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe lives this. The Mashpee people, much like Black people in America, have a long history of fighting for their land. Known as the People of the First Light, the Mashpee inhabited present-day Massachusetts and Eastern Rhode Island and have possessed the land for more than 12,000 years. Last month, Trump revoked their protected reservation status, removing over 300 acres from federal trust protection because he feared emerging developments on the Mashpee reservation would interfere with his business interests. We cannot let this happen. There's still time to undo this decision by his administration, so we're calling on Congress to protect the trusted land of the Mashpee Tribe.
SEND A LETTER: Tell Your Member of Congress to Support the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe Reservation Reaffirmation Act (HR 312).
The Mashpee fight for their land is not just about possession but sovereignty. As a free and dignified people, the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe sought their economic security through business ownership and were undermined and delegitimized for doing so. Similarly, the land Black people would come to reclaim after emancipation-territories of indigenous people-fell victim to theft and holds memories of widespread terror. From economic exploitation by way of false deeds, stiff property taxes, and heirs property, land has perhaps been a reluctant character in the traumatic and violent fragments of Black history, but it remains fundamental to the identity and way of life for many Black and Indigenous people.?
Led by David Bernhardt, the Department of Interior roped itself into a years-long battle of land, rights, and legitimacy to further invalidate the Mashpee and did so at the behest of Trump. Trump disestablishing the protected land of 2,600 people after years of bureaucracy to avoid the competition of his business interests is not only as equally heinous as his Ukraine involvement and COVID-19 inaction but speaks to the strains of his racism. For years, he has sought to delegitimize tribal casinos, other ventures, and essential infrastructure. He notably stated in reference to the Mashpee Tribe that they "don't look like Natives."1?What's unfolding by way of federal agencies is a vindictive retaliation of indigenous sovereignty and serenity.
SEND A LETTER: Tell Your Member of Congress to Support the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe Reservation Reaffirmation Act and Invalidate the Poor Decision of the Secretary of the Interior (HR 312). ?
The declassifying of tribal land is too often the beginning of land erosion for protected people. As we have witnessed with the building of pipelines across the country, the depletion of resources allows for corporate influence and affects all marginalized communities. In my home state of South Carolina, Black coastal communities, farmers, and families have had to defend and protect their land ownership for generations. My early organizing years began in these communities. Having played with my siblings and cousins where my grandparents and their parents grew and planted crops, my earliest memories are linked to the land.
Black and Indigenous folks have always understood that connection to the land is a connection to one another. As Earth Day reminds us that what sustains can be lost, it is my hope that we remember that connections are movements. And in the spirit of movements, we must show up for the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe.? With a fast-approaching court date, the decision to take the Mashpee land out of the trust has ramifications for other first and Native people throughout the country and can set a precedent for how this country treats vulnerable communities. Now more than ever we must #StandWithMashpee.?
SEND A LETTER: Tell Your Member of Congress to Support the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe Reservation Reaffirmation Act (HR 312).
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Until justice is real,?
-Brandi, Rashad, Arisha, Amanda, Evan, Johnny, Eesha, Jade, Marcus, Samantha, FolaSade, and the rest of the Color Of Change team
References: ."Tribe That Drew Trump''s Fire Over Casino Plan Loses Its Reservation Status,"?Yahoo, April 29, 2020,?https://act.colorofchange.org/go/245170?t=9&akid=42170%2E4887299%2ELSaJ_TE.
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Black people continue to be disproportionately harmed by COVID-19. We created The Black Response to ensure Black people survive this pandemic and thrive in its aftermath. Visit?theblackresponse.org?to take action on the issues impacting our communities the most during the pandemic, and join our upcoming events, including LIVE conversations with Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal, and actors Kerry Washington and Marsai Martin on @colorofchange's Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Help keep our movement strong.
If you''re absolutely sure you don''t want to hear from Color Of Change again, click here to unsubscribe.
Jon,
We need all hands on deck to keep the oldest Black community school in the US open.
Ujamaa School is a small but mighty independent, non-profit Black community school in the Shaw/Howard University neighborhood of Washington, DC, educating children from age two through high school and boasting a 100% college acceptance rate. This school develops and prepares Black children to not only excel academically but also instills positive self-image in them and has been doing so consistently since 1968. But this year, due to the pandemic, Ujamaa has been struggling to keep its doors open.
Like too many other Black institutions that did not receive economic relief through the federal stimulus packages released earlier this year, Ujamaa has been forced to downsize its student capacity and, in turn, has lost out on necessary funding, all while operating expenses continue to accrue. Ujamaa School does not accept any money from corporations or governments in order to protect the integrity of its mission. It is completely funded by parents, teachers, alumni, and everyday people, like you and I, who love and support Black children. That's why we need your help to keep the doors of this school open.?
Jon, will you chip in to support our continuing work prioritizing Black children and culturally competent education?
Our goal is to raise $50,000 for Ujamaa School. Right now the school needs:
Yes, COUNT ME IN!
Black children are overrepresented in underperforming schools across the nation, but we know that our children are fully capable of achieving success and will thrive when in healthy school environments. The concept of Ujamaa School evolved out of a critical need to undo the miseducation of Black children in public schools by replacing it with a program that placed specific emphasis on the cultural aspects of education and by actively involving parents in the school's activities. At Ujamaa School, children as young as two years old are taught how to read, write, add, and subtract. By the time students reach the Kalfani class--9th grade in public school terms--they are in Panafrican critical thinking classes and present a seven-page term paper in front of their class every month. Ujamaa students master the SAT and go on to be outstanding college students, with an average GPA of 3.5. Keeping Ujamaa School open will ensure that there are more high-achieving Black children in an academic environment that has demonstrated its success over and over again.
Ujamaa School is Black Excellence! We must fight for the continuance of this legacy! Help power us monthly.
Founded by an organizer of the Freedom Rides and the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), Dr. El Senzengakalu Zulu is a trailblazer who also fought alongside civil rights activists Fannie Lou Hamer, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Medgar Evers, Jesse Jackson, and DC's very own Marion Barry. Ujamaa School has impacted generations of Black families in DC and continues to be a community staple in DC. "Ujamaa" is a Kiswahili word that means familyhood or cooperative economics. In that same spirit, our commitment to Black people includes us working together to protect and defend our institutions. Here's how it will work:
If 25 people give $25, the cost of one month's utility bills would be covered
If 50 people give $50, some renovations would be covered
If 100 people give $100, then the cost of insurance would be covered
Even if you can't commit to any of those amounts, we really mean it when we say no donation amount is too small. We can still reach our goal with the collective smaller donations from Color Of Change members like you. Help us make that happen. Chip in to support another 50 years of Ujamaa School building Black scholars and keeping the oldest independent Black community school in the US alive!
Until justice is real,?
Jade, Arisha, Rashad, Johnny, Evan, Amanda, Eesha, Imani, Marie, Gabrielle, Samantha, Marcus, FolaSade, Taurjhai, Stasia, Jennette, Ciera, and the rest of the COC team
ColorOfChange is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change.
If you''re absolutely sure you don''t want to hear from ColorOfChange again, click here to unsubscribe.
Read about the candidate we believe will stand with Black people in LA County
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Hey?Jon,
We are proud to officially endorse Holly J. Mitchell for the LA County Board of Supervisors, District 2!
A 3rd-generation Angeleno, Mitchell has a track record of pushing for prison and justice reform, healthcare for all Californians, protecting jobs, and more in her 7 years as a California legislator.
On the Board of Supervisors, Holly J. Mitchell pledges to:1
If you believe we need these changes too, you can help elect Holly J. Mitchell by educating 3 friends or family members about her and why you support her. To get more information, click below:
Help Elect Holly J. Mitchell
In her time in office, Mitchell has done amazing work for the people of California.?
In 2018, her #EquityandJustice package was signed into law. It included laws that reduced sentence enhancements for low-level drug offenses, removed court fees for the innocent, stopped the sentencing of juveniles to life without parole, and much more.
She led the repeal of the Maximum Family Grant Rule that prohibited families from receiving vital financial support through CalWORKS, ensuring that low-income families receive support for all of their children.
And she showed compassion for those struggling with addiction by authoring and passing SB 323, which made it easier for health centers and the county to get people treatments.
Holly J. Mitchell will fight to keep her people in LA County safe and thriving. Vote-by-mail or early vote starting in October for Holly J. Mitchell for LA County Board of Supervisors, or vote on Election Day, November 3rd!?
Take your first step to support Holly J. Mitchell by taking the challenge to educate 3 friends about her!
Until justice is real,
Arisha, Jenni, Drew, Charles, Tammi, Cristel, Alex, Erick, Scotty, Daniel, and the Color Of Change PAC team
P.S. To vote, you have to be registered! Check your registration status here, and then help your friends and family do the same
Sources
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Ad paid for by ColorOfChange PAC, colorofchangepac.org. Not authorized by any federal, state, or local candidate or a committee controlled by a candidate. |
ColorOfChange PAC is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Contributions to Color Of Change PAC are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes. This email was sent to yellow71486@. If you''re absolutely sure you don''t want to hear from Color Of Change again, click here to unsubscribe.
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Dear?Jon,?
Imagine being labeled a criminal because you've survived abuse or received a "D" in school.?
Several middle and high schools in Pasco County Florida are working with the Pasco Sheriff's office to do just that. They've created a list of schoolchildren they believe might "fall into a life of crime" based on highly sensitive private information, including family history, records of past abuse, and grades.1
What's worse, Black students and those with disabilities are 2x more likely to be targeted and placed on this list.2?
Jon, no child should be labeled a "criminal" - this dangerous, racist practice must end. That's why we're calling on the Pasco School Board and Superintendent Kurt Browning to intervene NOW.?
Sign the petition. Tell Superintendent Kurt Browning and the Pasco School Board: Stop criminalizing schoolchildren.?Get rid of this database, and end the practice of sharing private information with police.
On several occasions, Superintendent Browning has gone on record touting his positive relationship with the Pasco County Sheriff's office and the need for police presence in schools. But when it comes to defending children against harassment and targeting by the police, Browning has remained silent, claiming that he is unaware of the Sheriff''s Office''s use of school data to identify kids who "might become criminals."3
Members of the Pasco school board have also denied responsibility for these dangerous data-sharing practices that label schoolchildren as young as 11 years old as "criminals," forcing them into the criminal justice system.?
Jon, labeling schoolchildren who need care and support "criminals" is shocking. But the fact is, the police already run rampant in Pasco County schools -- and Black kids are the first to be targeted.
Here are our demands:?
1.?Release demographic data for the student populations represented on this list with a comparison to the county-wide demographic data. Specifically, we demand to know the percentage of Black students, Latinx students, and disabled students represented on this list.
2. The Sheriff''s office must notify all families whose child has already been added to the list.
3. Shift budget priorities to support teachers and staff. Trained professionals who are overworked, underpaid, and under-resourced can provide academic and mental health interventions should have the needed resources to help kids instead of relying on untrained sheriff''s deputies.
Add your name: Demand Pasco's school board and superintendent erase the database and stop feeding private information to the police.
Until justice is real,?
--Scott, Rashad, Arisha, Erika, Malachi, Megan, Ernie, Madison, Ariel, Trevor, Ericka, Ana, McKayla, and the rest of the Color Of Change team
?References:
ColorOfChange is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change.
If you''re absolutely sure you don''t want to hear from ColorOfChange again, click here to unsubscribe.Happy National Voter Registration Day, Jon! With just six short weeks to go until Election Day, the Color Of Change Democracy Team is here to make sure you've got the information you need to vote for Black lives this election season. History has its eyes on all of us -- read on to get ready to vote, be counted, and build power this fall.
History has its eyes on you,?Jon ?? Watch & Share!?
Rise Up!
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We're past patiently waiting, we're passionately smashing every expectation for voter registration and mobilization! That's why we're joining forces with the cast and crew of the award-winning musical Hamilton to spread the word about five simple yet critical ways to build power this election season. These are by no means the only things we need to do this year to strengthen democracy, but they're necessary for building the kind of political power we need to solve the problems that have driven so many of us to the streets by the millions this year. Please watch and share!
It's the Final* Countdown
*Unless our Census partners win their lawsuits against the Trump administration, that is. Census suppression is voter suppression, and the Trump administration has been trying to cheat Black and Brown communities out of full funding and political power by rushing the 2020 Census. But whether the ultimate deadline is September 30 or October 31, our advice is the same: get counted now if you haven't already. For most of us, it's a simple process that takes less than ten minutes while benefiting our communities for the next ten years.
Other ways you can protect the vote:
Until justice is real,?
Jennifer, Sabrina, Arisha, Trevor, Drew, Charles, Alex, Scott, Cristel, Tammi, and the rest of the Color Of Change team
ColorOfChange is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Help keep our movement strong.
If you''re absolutely sure you don''t want to hear from ColorOfChange again, click here to unsubscribe.
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Jon,
Today, we celebrate Jalaiah Harmon, the highly-trained dancer and choreographer behind one of the most prolific viral dances in TikTok history -- the Renegade!?Just a few weeks ago, the New York Times reported the story of the 14-year-old teen from Georgia who, despite creating a dance that would go on to be copied by dozens of influencers and celebrities, shared by millions, and used by several marketing campaigns, had not received any credit for her creation before the publication covered it. Black content creators like Jalaiah are the life and soul of so many of the social platforms we use in our everyday lives. But, too often, their labor is duplicated without credit and exploited for a profit that they never see. That's why we''re asking for your help. Will you chip in $5 to help fund our work to protect Black creativity?
Here at Color of Change, we are working hard to hold the tech industry accountable to the way their decisions impact the Black community. This means not only are we running campaigns to make online spaces safer for Black people, but we are fighting to ensure that Black people are fairly compensated for their innovations in digital and cultural space. We believe, now more than ever, that we have the opportunity to push the multi-billion dollar tech industry to implement creative business models that do not take advantage of our talents, skills, and unique ability to shape culture. But we can't do it without you. If you believe it's time to defend Black creativity in the tech space, consider chipping in to support our work today.
Until justice is real,
-Jade, Rashad, Arisha, Brandi, Johnny, Amanda, Evan, Imani, Samantha, Eesha, Marcus, FolaSade, and the rest of the Color Of Change team
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Help keep our movement strong.
If you''re absolutely sure you don''t want to hear from Color Of Change again, click here to unsubscribe.
#DisabledandBlack
Dear Jon,
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SEND THE TWEET: Tell The Commission That We Want ASL Interpreters and Accurate Closed-Captioning At TONIGHT''S Final Presidential Debate. #DisabledandBlack.
The debates are not serving Black people. While the final debate gives the Commission on Presidential Debates (the "Commission") another opportunity to get our issues right, there is still a need to ensure that Black, disabled members of our community have full access to tonight''s debate. While the Commission claims to "benefit the American electorate," it has failed to include American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters or provide accurate, real-time closed captioning services at any of the debates thus far.1?The Hearing Health Foundation estimates that approximately 48 million Americans have some degree of hearing loss, and Black disabled people face disproportionate barriers to full access.2? Despite our best efforts to contact the Commission on this, we were ignored.
Jon, accessibility should be a priority, not an afterthought; and that is why we must tell the Commission that changes must be made to the final debate.
SEND THE TWEET: Tell the Commission that Additional Changes Must Be Made to Final Presidential Debate.#DisabledandBlack?
While much of the debates have done a disservice on issues of racism, police violence, and all that is at stake for Black people, the Commission can still, at the very least, get accessibility right by implementing ASL and Closed-Captioning. One in four Black Americans have a disability, and of the 11 million Deaf people in the United States, nearly forty percent are Black.3??Black Deaf people who work full time earn $14,000 less than their white Deaf counterparts and $50,000 less than white hearing people.4?The racial wealth gap undoubtedly hits the Black Deaf community the hardest, so it is crucial that the Commission provides the accommodations needed to learn about each candidate''s plans to address it. With so much weighing on this election, restricted access is truly pivotal in one's ability to vote.
Ultimately, tonight's presidential debate is our last chance to fight for issues our community cares about and ensure that all members of our community-Black and disabled-can learn more about each candidate''s plans to move this country forward. The last presidential debate was inaccessible for the Deaf and hard of hearing. With the last day to vote in the presidential election around the corner, a key segment of the population is being left out. It is imperative that the Black Deaf community is equipped with needed tools and feel they have a voice in the weeks leading up to the election. This election is crucial, and we are tired of our people being ignored.
SEND THE TWEET: Tell the Commission that it must ensure greater accessibility; to do otherwise is discriminatory.#DisabledandBlack?
Until justice is real,
-Jade, Rashad, Arisha, Johnny, Amanda, Imani, Eesha, Marie, Gabrielle, Sam, Marcus, FolaSade, Jennette, Ciera, Taurjhai, Stasia, and the rest of the Color Of Change team
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References:
1. "The Commission on Presidential Debates: An Overview," The Commission on Presidential Debates, (n.d.) https://act.colorofchange.org/go/274809?t=11&akid=47527%2E4887299%2Ey3Phpc.
2. "Hearing Loss & Tinnitus Statistics," Hearing Health Foundation, (n.d.) https://act.colorofchange.org/go/274814?t=13&akid=47527%2E4887299%2Ey3Phpc
3. Andra?a LaVant, "The Defense of Black Lives Must Include Disability Justice," The Root, (July 27, 2020), https://act.colorofchange.org/go/277450?t=15&akid=47527%2E4887299%2Ey3Phpc;?"Deaf Demographics and Employment: Demographics Statistics," Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) Libraries, (July 24, 2020), https://act.colorofchange.org/go/277428?t=17&akid=47527%2E4887299%2Ey3Phpc.?
4. Carrie Lou Garberoglio, Lissa D. Stapleton, et al. "Postsecondary Achievement of Black Deaf People in the United States," National Deaf Center on Postsecondary Outcomes, (2019) https://act.colorofchange.org/go/277430?t=19&akid=47527%2E4887299%2Ey3Phpc, pp. 5.
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Please help keep our movement strong.
Make a Donation
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Hey?Jon,
I just wanted to make sure you saw Destanie''s invitation to our 2 events this weekend to help us get Jackie Lacey OUT of the District Attorney''s office by voting for George Gasc?n!
RSVP for our Day of Action this Saturday
RSVP for our Day of Action this Sunday
We need as many people as possible to come out this weekend. See my last email below for more details.
Hope to see you there!
- Arisha
Hi?Jon,
My name is Destanie, and I'm the new Regional Field Manager in Los Angeles County. The District Attorney's race is quickly approaching. We have exactly one week until election day. That's why I am inviting you to join me at our two Community Walks this weekend to help get Jackie Lacey out of the LA District Attorney's office.
#ByeJackieLacey Weekend of Action?
Saturday, Feb 29, 9am-12pm, and 1pm-4pm
Color of Change PAC Office, 4331 Crenshaw Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90008
RSVP HERE
#ByeJackieLacey Weekend of Action?
Sunday, March 1, 9am-12pm, and 1pm-4pm
Color of Change PAC Office, 4331 Crenshaw Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90008
RSVP HERE
I'm not fighting to get Jackie Lacey out of the DA's office for political reasons; this is personal. South LA raised, I know the damage Jackie Lacey has done to my community first hand. I've seen my peers disappear into the criminal justice system. And by the time they re-enter our communities, they barely have a fair chance at getting resources and living a dignified life.
I have witnessed first hand the pain of the loved ones who she denied justice in refusing to prosecute in officer-involved killings. My community and I have been through enough.?
I believe in progressive criminal justice reform, and DA Lacey is the opposite of progressive. She wants to continue protecting cops that kill Black and brown people. I've had enough, and that's why I'm working with Color Of Change PAC to educate thousands of Black voters about why it's crucial that we vote out Jackie Lacey and help elect George Gasc?n for District Attorney.?
If we don't educate our community members about the importance of this election, Lacey could have 4 more years to make living in LA a more dangerous place for Black people to live in.?
Please,?Jon, we still have 1000s of people to reach, and the early voting period has already begun.?
Every last person we contact is a voter that could decide this election. And the only way to reach them is with your help. Join me and our beautiful community of friends and neighbors standing with Gasc?n this Saturday or Sunday!
RSVP FOR SATURDAY HERE
RSVP FOR SUNDAY HERE
(You can RSVP to both!)
Until justice is real,
Destanie, Corina, Jenni, Drew, Charles, Cristel, Tammi, Alex, Scotty, Daniel and the Color Of Change PAC team
P.S. If you can't come out this weekend, you can sign up here to let us know that you want to help out in the future, including just posting things on social media, sending emails to your friends, or making a video to support George Gasc?n!
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ColorOfChange PAC is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Contributions to Color Of Change PAC are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes. This email was sent to yellow71486@. If you''re absolutely sure you don''t want to hear from Color Of Change again, click here to unsubscribe.
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Dear?Jon,?
Rayshard Brooks, a 27-year-old Black man, was murdered by Atlanta police this past Friday.?
Rayshard was unarmed and asleep in his own car in a Wendy's drive-thru when police arrived to interrogate him. After insisting Rayshard take a breathalyzer exam, police attempted to arrest him and say that because he struggled during the arrest and attempted to take possession of the taser he was shot twice in the back. Those gunshot wounds killed Rayshard after surgery.1?
Rayshard would still be alive today?if a tow truck had been called instead of the police, if family members were called to pick him up, or even if he was simply allowed to walk home. There are a number of non-police alternatives that could have been used at that moment. Yet,?Rayshard is another young Black man whose life has been stolen at the hands of police violence.?
Shortly after news of Rayshard's murder broke, Atlanta Police Chief Erika Shields stepped down and the two officers responsible for Rayshard''s murder have been fired and place on administrative leave subsequently.2 It is not enough. Public officials have an ethical obligation to reign in killer cops and make substantive changes that will deter an inherently dangerous police force from killing Black people. We must demand more.
That's why we are calling on Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard to immediately file charges against the two officers who murdered Rayshard Brooks. Officer Garrett Role and Devin Brosnan must be held accountable to the communities from which Rayshard's life was taken-- a simple slap on the wrist is not going to cut it. These officers should not be free to roam the streets while Rayshard''s family and community are left to mourn without justice.?
Sign the petition. Tell DA Paul Howard to file charges against the officers who murdered Rayshard Brooks.
Policing is a violent institution that will never keep us safe.?Time and time again we've seen the inability of the police to intervene in Black communities without engaging in lethal or excessive force. As of this moment, Officer Devin Brosnan has been placed on administrative leave, which means he hasn't even been fired for taking Rayshard's life.3 Earlier this week, DA Paul Howard released a statement saying, "[Rayshard] did not seem to present any threat to anyone. The fact that it would escalate to his death seems unreasonable."?4 But the truth is this: we are not even shocked or surprised by the violent action that was taken by the officers at the scene. Police officers seldom face criminal charges or accountability for their criminal behavior.?
Our people need investment in things that keep us safe. That starts with envisioning a society that functions for all of us. We must take real steps toward the dismantling of systems that unjustly harm Black people. And this is not an issue we can afford for our elected officials to continue ignoring.?With your help, we can demand justice for Rayshard and change the status quo where Black people are protected.
Tell DA Paul Howard: Rayshard Brooks died at the hands of police and he deserves justice.?
Until justice is real,?
--Scott, Rashad, Arisha, Erika, Malachi, Marybeth, Madison, Leonard, Cheryl, and the rest of the Color Of Change team
?References:
ColorOfChange is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change.
If you''re absolutely sure you don''t want to hear from ColorOfChange again, click here to unsubscribe.Demand Twitter immediately stop facilitating government surveillance against Black activists and organizers.
Dear Jon.
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Twitter developer Dataminr - a company that Twitter gives special access to user data - is keeping the spirit of J. Edgar Hoover's COINTELPRO alive by helping law enforcement track protestors'' whereabouts and actions.1,2?Under COINTELPRO?members of the Black Panther Party and notable Black activists, such as Dr. King and Malcolm X, were targeted and "neutralized" by an extensive government surveillance program meant to disrupt and destroy Black liberation movements through tactics that included assassination, imprisonment, public humiliation, or false criminal charges.3
Sadly, today''s?Black activists and organizers face similar coordinated efforts by law enforcement to disrupt our movements for justice, except now police have high-tech tools and data from companies like Twitter at their disposal to help harass, imprison, and bring false criminal charges against Black activists.?History is sadly repeating itself because Twitter is allowing surveillance companies like Dataminr to send information about Black activists directly to the same law enforcement agencies provoking violence and targeting protestors.
tors.
SIGN THE PETITION: Demand Twitter ban any developer engaged in surveillance of protestors from the platform.?
In 2016, thanks to the organizing of Color Of Change, MediaJustice, and the ACLU of Northern California, Twitter instituted policies meant to prohibit developers from helping law enforcement surveil Black activists. Yet, Dataminr has found a workaround to this policy, claiming they are just providing law enforcement with "news alerts." No matter how Dataminr frames it, sending Twitter information containing the location, names, Twitter handles, and other identifying information about activists to law enforcement is surveillance.?
Passing this information to law enforcement has life-altering and even deadly results for Black activists. Historically, Black movement leaders have been unconstitutionally targeted, attacked, jailed, or even killed in their efforts to confront racism, police brutality, and police violence. Twitter's surveillance policy is falling short of preventing harm to Black activists.?
SIGN THE PETITION: Demand that Twitter immediately stops its affiliate Dataminr from facilitating government surveillance against Black activists and organizers.?
Sixty years ago in Birmingham, there were fire hoses and dogs.4 Six years ago in Ferguson, it was tanks and armored trucks.5 Today, it's tanks, tear gas, and advanced surveillance and tracking technology: facial recognition cameras, StingRay devices that trick nearby cell phones and steal data, automated license plate readers, and high-altitude spy planes and drones fitted with night vision and infrared sensors.6 The list of insidious tools deployed to identify, track, entrap, and arrest protestors are staggering-and still growing. Most recently, in Portland, OR, federal law enforcement are using unmarked cars to detain protestors with no explanation of why they are being arrested, and then driving off.7 The last thing our communities need is for Twitter, the platform that bills itself as the platform for organizing protests and standing up for #BlackLivesMatter, to make it easier for law enforcement to harm us and our movements.?
Jon, we have a right to protest murders at the hands of police and a justice system that continues to fail us without police tracking our every movement. Twitter has vocally supported the movement for Black lives and spoken out against law enforcement using Twitter to surveil us. It is time for Twitter to live up to the promise they made to us in 2016 to never allow developers to assist law enforcement to surveil our communities.??
SIGN THE PETITION: Demand that Twitter's developer Dataminr immediately stop facilitating government surveillance against Black activists and organizers.
Until justice is real,
--Jade, Brandi, Rashad, Arisha, Evan, Johnny, Jade, Amanda, Marie, Eesha, Samantha, Marcus, FolaSade, Jennette,?Cierra?and the rest of the Color Of Change team
References:
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Please help keep our movement strong.
Make a Donation
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Dear?Jon,?
On Friday night, Tampa police officers attempted to disappear a Black woman and community organizer at Color of Change.
Sadie Dean was home alone when a man posing as maintenance personnel knocked on the door. When she answered, nine tactical officers, barged into her apartment and arrested her. They yelled at her and created such a scene that her neighbors came out and witnessed the violent arrest. The abuse continued as she was transported to jail - the officers drove violently, inexplicably transferred her into two additional transportation vehicles, all the while verbally harassing her throughout.
Let''s be clear, this violation of Sadie's home and her person is part of a systematic effort to intimidate and stop Black people from demanding justice. That is why we are calling on Hillsborough County State''s Attorney Andrew Warren to drop the charges against Sadie and other Tampa activists who are in the line of fire. We are also demanding Mayor Jane Castor to fire Police Chief Dugan who has played a key role in perpetuating violence against our people.?
Sign the petition. SA Warren must drop these charges & tell Mayor Castor, Dugan has got to go.?
And even though Sadie has been released on bail, and is now home with her family, she still faces criminal charges and emotional and psychological trauma from the ordeal of being arrested. All of this because Sadie attempted to cut off harmful contact -- by closing a door -- to prevent an escalation in physical violence with counter-protesters who were determined to get into a physical altercation with Black Lives Matter protesters more than two months ago.
Police attacks against protesters in Tampa are on the rise.?Throughout the month of August, several protesters have been targeted, harassed, and arrested by Tampa police officers. At least 3 other protesters have been unjustifiably arrested for the same confrontation that led to Sadie''s charges. Jae Passmore is an activist in Tampa who was hospitalized after being hit by a truck whose driver had yelled anti-Black messages at protesters. The driver faces no charges but Jae was targeted by police for arrest in another clear indicator that protest leaders are being ruthlessly targeted by law enforcement.1
Our people are not safe. But SA Warren & Mayor Castor can do something about it. Demand Action.
Worst of all Police Chief Dugan is encouraging this violence against activists and organizers. In his public comments about Black Lives Matter protests he's said, "[people should] start stepping up" and have "white supremacist vigilante violence".2 And the reaction from Mayor Jane Castor? She's been quick to come to the defense of Dugan and the entire corrupt Tampa Police Department, making it very clear that she has every intention to invest in the police, not our people who are being brutalized day in and day out.3 Dugan poses a real threat to Black people in Tampa, and for that, he must go.
The police must know that this harassment and targeting will not be tolerated. That''s why we''re calling on Hillsborough County State Attorney Andrew Warren to drop these ridiculous charges against these Black Lives Matter activists and for Mayor Jane Castor to fire Police Chief Brian Dugan. Only State Attorney Warren, who played no part in these cases so far, has the power to ensure that these unjustified arrests don''t turn into real charges or convictions. But the police report to Mayor Castor and only she can cut this retaliation off at the source by firing the police chief and replacing him with a leader who will not respond to critiques with harassment and intimidation.
Sign the petition. Demand justice for our people in Tampa.
Until justice is real,?
-- Scott, Rashad, Arisha, Erika, Malachi, Marybeth, Madison, Leonard, Ernie, McKayla, and the rest of the Color Of Change team
?References:
ColorOfChange is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change.
If you''re absolutely sure you don''t want to hear from ColorOfChange again, click here to unsubscribe.
Hey?Jon,
It's Arisha, President of Color Of Change PAC. My thoughts are with you and your loved ones as we live through this very difficult time.?
I'm going to be transparent here: the coronavirus pandemic has made it far more difficult to mobilize Black folks to vote in crucial elections this year. Dozens of our on-the-ground voter engagement events have been completely canceled to keep our field organizers and members safe. We no longer can knock on our neighbors' doors, host block parties, host Black joy brunches, and keep our local offices open.
On top of all of this, Black folks are experiencing the brunt of coronavirus. We are dying at disproportionate rates in this country. Tens of millions of us are now unemployed and at risk of not being able to pay for basic necessities. We are experiencing harassment for wearing face masks in public. And we are being disproportionately arrested for violating police-enforced social distancing orders. I am tired of elected officials across the country continuing to fail Black folks without accountability. Enough is enough.
It's time we take our power back and elect officials who are committed to protecting Black people during this pandemic. Since we cannot mobilize for Black political power outside, we are now ramping up our efforts online. Doing so takes a lot of time, effort, and most importantly -- money. We are going to be hiring staff to work from home, hosting fun virtual events with Black folks across the country, and educating them about what is at stake.?
It is very difficult for us to ask you for money right now,?Jon. We at Color Of Change PAC know that many people need to prioritize feeding and housing not only themselves but their families.
If you are financially able, please donate whatever you can to our brand new Covid-19 Black voter outreach program. With your generous donation, we will have the resources necessary to virtually reach as many Black voters as possible online before November.
Thank you for reading this email,?Jon. We appreciate your membership and commitment to making this country a better place for Black people. Choose which donation amount feels right for you:?
Donate $5
Donate $10
Donate $25
Donate $50
Donate $100
Until justice is real,
Arisha, Jenni, Drew, Charles, Tammi, Cristel, Alex, Scotty,?Daniel, and the Color Of Change PAC team
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Paid Pol. Adv. paid for by ColorOfChange PAC, 1714 Franklin St., Oakland, CA 94612, independently of and not authorized or approved by any federal, state, or local candidate or candidate's committee.
ColorOfChange PAC is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Contributions to Color Of Change PAC are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes. This email was sent to yellow71486@. If you''re absolutely sure you don''t want to hear from Color Of Change again, click here to unsubscribe.
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Dear?Jon,??
Last week, Donald Trump threatened protestors with death, tweeting "When the looting starts, the shooting starts." Yes, you read that right. Trump is actually advocating for the National Guard to use deadly force against Americans who are protesting against police killings. And while Twitter placed a label on the Tweet stating that it was inciting violence--it''s not enough.?
Since then Trump has been relentlessly tweeting to pressure state Governors and Mayors to increase force against protestors. Even after a weekend of protests in New York where police?officers drove their cars into crowds of protestors and police blocked protestors on the Manhattan Bridge last night, Trump tweeted:?"New York's Finest are not being allowed to perform their MAGIC".?We know the "magic" he is referring to - police killing unarmed Black people with impunity. Twitter''s CEO knows too.
How much longer will Twitter let Donald Trump manipulate and misinform millions, inspire hate crimes, and embolden violent white supremacist terrorism using Twitter? Enough is enough. Twitter needs to stop empowering Trump with the tool to spread his hate-filled commands to millions of people every day.
Demand that CEO Jack Dorsey kick Trump off Twitter now!
Until justice is real,
Brandi and the rest of the Color Of Change team
?
Please see our previous email below for more information on this issue.?
?
Dear?Jon,
Trump is adamantly opposed to mail-in elections because it would increase voter participation,1 and he's being powered by Twitter to spread mass voter misinformation. Trump has always used his Twitter page to spread lies to his 80 million followers, and during the global crisis his tweets can reach an increased audience.2 Last week, he falsely accused the state of Michigan of illegal voter fraud, calling the Secretary of State rogue and threatening to withhold funding to the state.3?Trump's outlandish tweets are bound to further endanger the state government which recently faced armed protesters taking over the state capitol.
It's time for Twitter to finally kick Trump off Twitter. It was bad enough when he instigated a nuclear war against North Korea, bullied politicians, and lied about the impact of coronavirus. Spreading misinformation clearly violates Twitter's policies. By allowing him unlimited access to its platform, Twitter is essentially telling Trump he does not have to follow any of their rules and he thrives on that. To make matters worse, elections in many states will rely on the very mail-in ballots that Trump is falsely tweeting about. His ability to spread mass voter misinformation on Twitter will only aid his plans of being re-elected. Americans have suffered enough under the Trump Administration. The global crisis has exposed more than ever how Trump's lies throughout the pandemic have led to countless preventable deaths of Americans, most notably Black people. It's time for Twitter to take a real stand for the well-being of the people that power its platform.
Demand that Twitter's CEO Jack Dorsey finally ban Donald Trump from its platform!
Until justice is real,
Brandi and the rest of the Color Of Change team
References
1.?"Trump misstates Michigan mail-in ballot policy, threatens federal funding", Politico, 20 May 2020, https://act.colorofchange.org/go/247941?t=8&akid=42983%2E5670730%2E4xY7g1
2.?"Twitter sees record number of users during pandemic, but advertising sales slow", The Washington Post, 30 April 2020, https://act.colorofchange.org/go/247942?t=10&akid=42983%2E5670730%2E4xY7g1
3.?"Heavily Armed Protesters Gather Again At Michigan Capitol To Decry Stay-At-Home Order", NPR, 14 May 2020,
https://act.colorofchange.org/go/247943?t=12&akid=42983%2E5670730%2E4xY7g1
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Help keep our movement strong.
If you''re absolutely sure you don''t want to hear from Color Of Change again, click here to unsubscribe.
We spent the summer saying Breonna Taylor's name. The fight continues and we need you with us.
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Jon,
Daniel Cameron denied Breonna Taylor and her family justice!
Even after millions of people rallied, and thousands risked arrest, to bring justice for Breonna Taylor, Daniel Cameron responded to our demands for justice by letting the killer cops off the hook.1 And even worse, he has the audacity to disparage activists for calling for justice,2 but said the killer cops were "justified."3
The fight for justice isn't over! We're calling on Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear to remove Daniel Cameron and assign a new special prosecutor to indict the officers who killed Breonna Taylor - and we need you to continue standing with us. Here's how you can do that:
Sign the petition to demand Gov. Andy Beshear drop Daniel Cameron now!
Daniel Cameron sided with killer cops over Breonna Taylor when he made the chilling announcement that his office will not pursue charges against the cops who took her life. Instead, he will charge just one officer for bullets that hit a neighboring apartment unit - the gunshots that missed Bre!
One thing is clear, Jon: From the very beginning, Daniel Cameron did everything he could to ensure a favorable outcome for the cops who murdered Breonna Taylor. He never gave the grand jury an option to charge the three LMPD officers with her murder. And the grand jury tapes Cameron was forced to release reveal just that - he only presented evidence that would support his decision to let the cops off the hook.
Daniel Cameron is even trying his hardest to keep the truth a secret - after he lied at a press conference, a grand juror filed a legal motion for him to release the tapes to reveal the truth.4 And now, Cameron has filed a motion to keep one of the jurors from speaking publicly about the proceedings.5 What more is he hiding?
Cameron both denied Bre justice and misled the public about the grand jury proceedings. Need we say more? He has to go.
Tell Gov. Beshear the fight for justice isn't over. We need a new special prosecutor.
This summer, the world rose up to demand accountability for our slain Black sister. We signed petitions, marched, rallied, and took to the streets to #SayHerName.
We need prosecutors who will respond fairly to our community's calls for justice. We need elected officials who will side with the people and not cave to the special interests of the police.
Jon, will you stand with us to ensure justice for Breonna Taylor, and so many other Black women and girls killed at the hands of the police?
TAKE ACTION to continue the fight for #JusticeforBre.
Until justice is real,
Scott, Rashad, Arisha, Erika, Marybeth, Malachi, Leonard, Ernie, Madison, McKayla, Ana, Ariel, Ericka, and the rest of the Color Of Change team
References:
1. "Breonna Taylor Case: Kentucky AG Daniel Cameron Speaks On "Wanton Endangerment" Charges Against One Police Officer." BET. 23 September 2020.
2. "Kentucky AG Daniel Cameron says Megan Thee Stallion''s ''SNL'' performance was ''disgusting''." NBC News. 06 October 2020.
3. "Grand jury not presented with murder charges against 2 officers in Breonna Taylor''s death, AG Cameron says." WDRB. 29 September 2020.
4. "Release Breonna Taylor grand jury files by Friday, state attorney general told." The Guardian. 30 September 2020.
5. "Kentucky Attorney General files motion to keep Breonna Taylor grand juror from speaking publicly about proceedings." CBS News. 8 October 2020.
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Please help keep our movement strong.
Make a Donation
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Jon,
Senate Republicans have voted to confirm Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court, only 5 days before the election.
Amy Coney Barrett''s judicial and academic history makes one thing clear: Roe v. Wade will be under serious threat now that she is on the Supreme Court. Barrett has proclaimed her dedication to "originalism" or the belief that "constitutional text means what it did at the time it was ratified and that this original public meaning is authoritative."1 This should come as no surprise because conservatives often use this legal justification to push back against liberal decisions involving civil rights and the federal government's power.2
When faced with a decision, Barrett will likely fall in line with the common conservative belief that the constitution has nothing to say about abortion and it should be left to the states to decide the question for themselves. This means states like Louisiana and Tennessee, where we''ve already seen over 100 attempts to restrict access to abortion & other forms of vital reproductive health care, will be left to their own devices.3 Thousands of people a year who seek abortions will be criminalized, potentially facing prison time for a self-managed abortion, miscarriage, stillbirth, or other pregnancy outcomes. Bottom line: no one should be locked up for taking their reproductive healthcare into their own hands.
That''s where you come in. Amy Coney Barrett's judicial record is clear. Now that she has been confirmed it''s crucial we call on district attorneys to step up to protect our reproductive autonomy. Your district attorney has the power to intervene by getting ahead of potential criminalization by committing to exercise their discretion and refuse to prosecute based on pregnancy outcomes.
Sign the petition: Tell your DA it''s time to protect reproductive autonomy.
Prosecutors are powerful actors within the criminal justice system and have incredible discretion over which cases to prosecute. That''s why we''re calling on them to sign a pledge making a public commitment adopting the following demands:
Your District Attorney has the power to stop the criminalization of pregnancy outcomes. They must act NOW.
It's crucial for district attorneys to commit to a reproductive justice framework that supports every person's right to have a child, not have a child, and parent the children they do have with dignity and respect. Because we know that pregnant Black people will be criminalized first. We''ve seen this happen time and time again in cases where Black women have been arrested for things like taking legal drugs prescribed by their doctor, having a miscarriage, getting into a car accident, and even falling down the stairs. Cases like Latice Fisher, Marshae Jones, Renishia Gibbs, Kenlissia Jones, Jessie Mae Jefferson, and Keysheonna Reed, and others, serve as a devastating example of instances in which Black pregnant people have been forced to endure the threat of arrest and incarceration during the moments when they are most in need of medical care and support.
It''s up to us to demand solutions that will heal and protect our communities. And that starts with district attorneys ensuring Black child-bearers aren''t forced to choose between their reproductive health and a prison sentence.
Join the fight. Demand your DA commits to refusing to prosecute child-bearers based on pregnancy outcomes.
Until justice is real,
--Scott, Rashad, Arisha, Erika, Malachi, Marybeth, Madison, Leonard, Ernie, Ariel, Ana, McKayla, and the rest of the Color Of Change team
References:
ColorOfChange is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change.
If you''re absolutely sure you don''t want to hear from ColorOfChange again, click here to unsubscribe.
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Dear?Jon,?
Portland. Minneapolis. Chicago. Aurora. New York City.?Detroit. Milwaukee. Cleveland. The list is seemingly endless. In these cities, we've heard an echoing rally cry, a demand from our people who are gathering in the streets day in and day out, calling for one thing . justice. Not only are we calling for an end to police brutality, violence, and harm but we won't settle for anything less than a world where we can re-imagine what public safety looks like -- one where we aren't forced to live in fear of state-sanctioned violence.??
And we need your help to fund a movement that puts the power in the hands of our communities because we know best how to achieve a better and more safe world for our friends, families, and those who are most vulnerable.?
Yes, I want to protect my people against state-sanctioned violence. I''ll chip-in $10 monthly.
With each day that passes the attacks against our people grow. In both New York and Portland protesters are being violently attacked and arrested by federal and local police officers dressed in plain clothes, driving?unmarked vehicles.1?And just a few days ago Trump announced that he was sending hundreds of federal law enforcement to Chicago, Albuquerque, and Kansas City.2 His hope? To ramp up arrests. Instead of offering solutions that would aid in the healing and rehabilitation of our communities most ravaged by police violence, Trump plans to add fuel to the fire. This is not a solution.
But it should come as no surprise because his response came at the request of several police union leaders, some of the strongest opponents to police reform, like John Catanzara, leader of the Chicago Fraternal Order of Police (FOP). Catanzara recently wrote a letter to Trump asking for help to fight the "chaos," otherwise known as peaceful protestors demanding justice for Black lives.3 Time is of the essence. We must make it clear that more police is not a solution.?
Chip-in $10 every month. Your support will go a long way in our effort to demand real police accountability.
We know we're in an uphill battle, Jon, but we don't see that as a reason to stop fighting.?Because we are fighting for an end to police in our schools, an alternative to police intervention in our homes and daily lives, solutions that center our well-being, mental and physical health rather than criminalize and devalue us. We don''t want to see any more of our people strangled to death by police officers or murdered simply for being Black and in the wrong place at the wrong time.?And our ability to ensure this world for Black people starts with your help. Together, we can get one step closer to building a better and safer world for our people -- let''s get started.?
Become a monthly sustainer today. Join us as we demand an end to police violence.
Until justice is real,?
--Scott, Rashad, Arisha, Erika, Malachi, Marybeth, Madison, Leonard, Ernie, McKayla, and the rest of the Color Of Change team
?References:
1. "After Woman''s arrest in unmarked van, New York City Activists Fear Targeting By NYPD." The Appeal. https://act.colorofchange.org/go/257356?t=6&akid=44413%2E4887299%2ET8iRFK
2. "Why Trump's Latest Law-and-Order Ploy Is Likely to Fail." Mother Jones.?https://act.colorofchange.org/go/257357?t=8&akid=44413%2E4887299%2ET8iRFK
3. "Chicago police union wants Trump to intervene as video seems to show protesters throwing things at cops." Fox 32. https://act.colorofchange.org/go/257358?t=10&akid=44413%2E4887299%2ET8iRFK
ColorOfChange is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change.
If you''re absolutely sure you don''t want to hear from ColorOfChange again, click here to unsubscribe.Being an anti-racist ally is not a title, it is a practice.
*This message was sent to a random selection of Color Of Change members regardless of racial identity.*
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What will you do to keep fighting for Black lives?
Making a sustaining contribution to Color Of Change is one of the most important ways that you, as a white member*, can deepen your support for racial justice and your commitment to dismantling white supremacy. GIVE $3 MONTHLY |
My name is Johnny Mathias, and my name is Evan Feeney. And we're white.
Together we've been working at Color Of Change for over 14 years combined. We work behind the scenes to support the brilliant leadership of the people you see in your inbox every week--Jade Magnus Ogunnaike, Arisha Michelle Hatch, and Rashad Robinson. You don't hear from the two of us very often, but in this moment we feel it''s important that we share directly with you what we know about how the white members* of the Color Of Change community can powerfully show up too.
The most important thing to know is that being an ally is not a noun, it is a verb. Being an anti-racist ally is not a title, it is a practice. We find ways to support and advance Black liberation, Black lives, and Black joy on a regular basis. As white people, when we wake up each day we have to choose to be anti-racist, to fight for racial justice and Black communities. One of the most important things white people can do to meet that responsibility is to use our financial resources, whatever they may be, to support independent Black political leadership.
By signing up to be a monthly donor to Color Of Change today, you are deepening your commitment to anti-racism and showing that you are making an ongoing commitment to practice allyship. ??
Some of you have been long-time members of the Color Of Change community, but for many of you, joining Color Of Change this summer was the first time you took powerful action in the name of racial justice. Whether you''re new to our work or have been here a long time, we're glad you're a part of this community because the movement cannot be sustained solely on the efforts and energy of Black organizers for whom this fight is a matter of life and death.
The work we do together in the coming months and years will be critical. The systems of anti-Black oppression and inequity that led to the rise of Trumpism, the devastating spread of COVID in Black communities, the racial wealth gap, and the resurgence of white nationalist violence were not defeated by this election. Already, we're seeing establishment forces try to downplay and dismiss the necessary solutions racial justice advocates are demanding. If we do not seize this moment to push for unprecedented change, these anti-Black forces will only grow stronger.
All too often we think of racial justice as the sole responsibility of Black people. As white people, we have an obligation to dismantle racism and to do so by supporting Black leadership. We need to leverage our privilege and resources to meet gaps where white-controlled corporate and governmental structures have refused to value Black lives. Making a sustaining contribution to Color Of Change is one of the most important ways that you, as a white member, can deepen your support for racial justice and your commitment to dismantling white supremacy.
It's time to take our fight for Black liberation, Black lives, and Black joy to the next level. Can we count on you to become a sustaining supporter of Color Of Change today? Just $3 a month makes a huge difference, Jon-and gets us one step closer to building a more equitable world for Black people.?
?Until justice is real,?
-Johnny, Evan, Rashad, Arisha, Jade, Amanda, Marie, Gabrielle, Imani, Taurjhai, Stasia, Eesha, Samantha, Jennette, Ciera, Marcus, FolaSade, and the rest of the Color Of Change team.
*As an organization, we are committed to centering Black people in this movement. Most of our members are Black, but we felt it important to take this opportunity to speak directly to the hundreds of thousands of white Color Of Change members. Please consider sharing this with the white people in your life.*
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Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Please help keep our movement strong.
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Being an anti-racist ally is not a title, it is a practice.
*This message was sent to a random selection of Color Of Change members regardless of racial identity.*
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What will you do to keep fighting for Black lives?
Making a sustaining contribution to Color Of Change is one of the most important ways that you, as a white member*, can deepen your support for racial justice and your commitment to dismantling white supremacy. GIVE $3 MONTHLY |
My name is Johnny Mathias, and my name is Evan Feeney. And we're white.
Together we've been working at Color Of Change for over 14 years combined. We work behind the scenes to support the brilliant leadership of the people you see in your inbox every week--Jade Magnus Ogunnaike, Arisha Michelle Hatch, and Rashad Robinson. You don't hear from the two of us very often, but in this moment we feel it''s important that we share directly with you what we know about how the white members* of the Color Of Change community can powerfully show up too.
The most important thing to know is that being an ally is not a noun, it is a verb. Being an anti-racist ally is not a title, it is a practice. We find ways to support and advance Black liberation, Black lives, and Black joy on a regular basis. As white people, when we wake up each day we have to choose to be anti-racist, to fight for racial justice and Black communities. One of the most important things white people can do to meet that responsibility is to use our financial resources, whatever they may be, to support independent Black political leadership.
By signing up to be a monthly donor to Color Of Change today, you are deepening your commitment to anti-racism and showing that you are making an ongoing commitment to practice allyship. ??
Some of you have been long-time members of the Color Of Change community, but for many of you, joining Color Of Change this summer was the first time you took powerful action in the name of racial justice. Whether you''re new to our work or have been here a long time, we're glad you're a part of this community because the movement cannot be sustained solely on the efforts and energy of Black organizers for whom this fight is a matter of life and death.
The work we do together in the coming months and years will be critical. The systems of anti-Black oppression and inequity that led to the rise of Trumpism, the devastating spread of COVID in Black communities, the racial wealth gap, and the resurgence of white nationalist violence were not defeated by this election. Already, we're seeing establishment forces try to downplay and dismiss the necessary solutions racial justice advocates are demanding. If we do not seize this moment to push for unprecedented change, these anti-Black forces will only grow stronger.
All too often we think of racial justice as the sole responsibility of Black people. As white people, we have an obligation to dismantle racism and to do so by supporting Black leadership. We need to leverage our privilege and resources to meet gaps where white-controlled corporate and governmental structures have refused to value Black lives. Making a sustaining contribution to Color Of Change is one of the most important ways that you, as a white member, can deepen your support for racial justice and your commitment to dismantling white supremacy.
It's time to take our fight for Black liberation, Black lives, and Black joy to the next level. Can we count on you to become a sustaining supporter of Color Of Change today? Just $3 a month makes a huge difference, Jon-and gets us one step closer to building a more equitable world for Black people.?
?Until justice is real,?
-Johnny, Evan, Rashad, Arisha, Jade, Amanda, Marie, Gabrielle, Imani, Taurjhai, Stasia, Eesha, Samantha, Jennette, Ciera, Marcus, FolaSade, and the rest of the Color Of Change team.
*As an organization, we are committed to centering Black people in this movement. Most of our members are Black, but we felt it important to take this opportunity to speak directly to the hundreds of thousands of white Color Of Change members. Please consider sharing this with the white people in your life.*
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Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Please help keep our movement strong.
Make a Donation
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Join us to demand corporations like Coca-Cola, Starbucks, Wells Fargo, and Target divest from police foundations immediately.
Police foundations give cops surveillance tech, SWAT team equipment, and military weapons that are used to terrorize Black people. ?? Tell Coca-Cola, Starbucks, Target, and Wells Fargo: Divest from police foundations now. Stand with us?
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Jon -- what do Amazon, Starbucks, Target, AT&T, and Coca-Cola all have in common??
Yes, these are some of the largest, most well-known brands in the world, and they all released statements in support of Black Lives Matter this summer. But behind closed doors, these corporations are also top donors to police foundations - dark money groups that help cops acquire surveillance tech, military weapons, SWAT team equipment, and other tools used to terrorize Black people.?
Join us to demand corporations like Coca-Cola, Amazon, Starbucks, and Target divest from police foundations immediately.
If you've never heard of police foundations, you're not alone. Here's the gist:?
Police foundations are private, non-profit groups. They partner with corporations and wealthy donors to raise money to supplement bloated police budgets, fund policing programs, and purchase equipment for cops with little to no public oversight. And while police budgets are usually public documents that must be approved by local elected officials, police foundations exist as a backchannel to funnel corporate cash and resources toward law enforcement.?
Across the country, corporate-backed police foundations directly support the continued hyper-surveillance of Black, Brown, and Indigenous neighborhoods. They enable the ongoing militarization and expansion of policing. And when activists began calling on corporations to cut ties with police, foundations in at least four major cities removed public information on their partners and board members.1
It's up to us to push Amazon, Starbucks, Target, AT&T, and Coca-Cola beyond the statement - to demand they do more than pretend to be "woke" on social media.
If these corporations want to stand in solidarity with Black people, they must immediately divest from the police foundations and departments that harm Black people. Sign our petition now.
More than 200 police foundations across the U.S. allow corporations to contribute to police departments outside of public funds. Top corporate donors include Verizon, Walmart, Starbucks, Amazon, Bank of America, Target, Coca-Cola, Delta Airlines, Chevron, Wells Fargo, Waffle House, and many more.2?
Almost all of these corporations have committed to do more to "fight for racial justice" and "stand with the Black community." Yet they all continue to enable over-militarized police forces and the harm they cause Black communities.
From coast to coast, police foundations enable cops to terrorize Black and Brown people. Here''s how:
Hemmerdinger's admission is as detestable as it is rare. Police foundations don't have to disclose who their donors are or where their dark money goes. And police foundations aren't just in major cities - they're everywhere.?
We know from experience that corporations won't change their ways unless their profits and reputation are at stake. We also know that there's strength in numbers, and we need you with us now.
Jon, sign our petition to tell corporations: We are watching you, and we will hold you accountable. Divest from the police foundations that have helped militarize the police and put our communities in danger.
We have the power to defend Black lives and hold police foundations and their corporate donors accountable. And together, with your help, we will.?
Demand corporations divest from police foundations now.
Until justice is real,
Scott, Rashad, Arisha, Erika, Malachi, Leonard, Marybeth, Ernie, Madison, McKayla and the rest of the Color Of Change team
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References:
1. "Police Foundations Scrub Corporate Partners and Board Members From Their Websites." Sludge.
2. "Corporate Backers of the Blue: How Corporations Bankroll U.S. Police Foundations." Eyes On The Ties, LittleSis.?
3. "12K cameras to give Atlanta police broader window to city." AJC.
4. "Former Atlanta officer facing Rayshard Brooks murder charge gets $250,000 legal-fee boost." Fox News.
5. "Private Donors Supply Spy Gear to Cops." ProPublica.
6. "Philadelphia Police Foundation - ALMOST $1.5 MILLION FOR PPD NEEDS IN THE LAST 3 YEARS." Philadelphia Police Foundation.
7. "Law Enforcement''s Secret Weapon: Police foundations support and even pioneer public-safety enhancements." Philanthropy Roundtable.?
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Please help keep our movement strong.
Make a Donation
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Anthony Swain has been sitting in a cage and waiting for his day in court for over FOUR years. Now he has COVID-19.
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Dream Defenders started a petition demanding the immediate release of Anthony Swain, a Black man who has been held pretrial for 4 years and who recently tested positive for COVID-19.
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Dear Jon, Anthony is a 43-year-old Black man who has been paralyzed from the waist down for most of his life. For the last four years, Anthony has been sitting in the local county jail waiting for a trial date that never comes. In the midst of a global pandemic, Anthony's life hangs in the balance.? Anthony believed that if he wasn''t released as soon as possible, he would catch COVID-19 at the jail.? And now our worst fears have come true -- Anthony is ill with coronavirus and now sits in an isolation cell.? On Mother''s Day, he could not breathe. He was taken to the hospital, where he tested positive for the virus. As a person with multiple pre-existing conditions including a respiratory condition, Anthony may never see his family or know freedom again -- all because of a corrupt and punitive money bail system. Anthony's life now lay in the hands of Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody. Attorney General Moody can work with Anthony's legal team, agree to early release, and present a united front before a judge, so Anthony can come home. Yet, the Attorney General's office has been slow to act.? It's time for all of us to join the fight. Together, we can apply enough public pressure to force state officials to release Anthony back to his community. Sign the petition: Demand Attorney General Ashley Moody and Prosecutor Nicholas B. Cox bring Anthony home. In February of 2016, Anthony was arrested on drug charges. Before he was locked up, Anthony was a staple in his community. On any given weekend, he could be found at his church with his tight-knit family or doing fish fries to feed people in his neighborhood.? A judge determined that Anthony Swain was eligible for release, but set his bond at $650,000 -- an amount that no one but the very wealthiest would be able to afford. Since he has been incarcerated, Anthony''s condition has deteriorated. He was diagnosed with cystic myelomalacia in 2019, which causes respiratory problems and a severely weakened immune system.?To make matters worse, Anthony also has immediate concerns about his health and well-being. He is at risk for long-term repercussions including blood clots, stroke, heart disease, and so much more. Anthony has been forced to endure utter cruelty for too long. An unaffordable bond shouldn''t strip someone of their right to live a safe, healthy life. Currently, thousands of people are being held in Florida jails simply because they can't afford to pay money bonds in order to purchase their freedom. The state''s pretrial system punishes people for being poor, separates them from their families, puts them at risk of losing their jobs, costs them custody of their children -- and now places them in grave danger by needlessly exposing them to COVID-19. For thousands of Floridians, poverty is now a death sentence. COVID-19 might become a death sentence for Anthony if we fail to act --?Jon, will you help save Anthony's life? Time is of the essence. Last month, several organizations including our organization, Dream Defenders, filed an emergency class-action lawsuit requesting the federal courts to intervene in Miami-Dade County jail. The writing was on the wall. For years, incarcerated people have been forced to live in unsanitary and unsafe conditions. Many have gone without access to proper medical care. Even before this public health crisis, countless men, women, and children have died.? In response, the federal judge ordered jail officials to provide cleaning and medical supplies as well as a plan to maintain social distancing. Yet, county officials have appealed the decision, citing the judicial order creates an unnecessary hardship. This is unacceptable. If county officials refuse to prioritize the health and wellness of our incarcerated community members then we must step in. Just a few weeks ago, Charles Hobbs, a man cleared for pretrial release, died of the coronavirus. It didn''t have to happen. At various points leading up to Hobb''s death, county officials could have made a decision that might have saved Hobb''s life.?The COVID-19 pandemic lays bare a powerful truth: jails and prisons are violent institutions. No human being should be inside of a cage.?And none of us are safe as long as these places are allowed to exist. Together, we have the power to stop another unnecessary death from happening in the facility. We have to bring Anthony home. Will you join us in demanding his release? Yours in freedom, -- Rachel Gilmer and Jonel Edwards, Dream Defenders |
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Join us and start your own petition on OrganizeFor today!
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Help keep our movement strong.
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Hey Jon,
You''re invited to be a part of Color Of Change PAC's National Black Joy Call Program! We''ll be hosting daily?Virtual Black Joy Call Parties at 6PM EST?leading up to the November 3rd election--which means we can pull up to our computers to chair dance to good music and take action to build our ideal community!?
Personal phone calls with quality conversations help motivate voters to cast their ballots. We''re making calls to connect with Black voters, to share our stories, to be allies and to encourage our communities in this year that has been so hard for so many.
Sign up for a call party
We as a nation are in the midst of one of the most important elections of our lifetimes and there is so much we are fighting for. When you join a virtual call party, you''ll be helping us call voters who may need more information or an extra push to get out to the polls this November.?
Don''t worry, all you''ll need is a computer. We''ll provide a call script and a safe space where you''ll feel supported and have a good time!
Sign up For a call party
Until Justice is Real,
Arisha, Jenni, Drew, Charles, Naima, Scotty, Alex, Evonna, Nadia, Iesha, Erick, Karleh, Cristel, Tammi and the rest of the Color Of Change PAC team
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Paid Pol. Adv. paid for by ColorOfChange PAC, 1714 Franklin St., Oakland, CA 94612, independently of and not authorized or approved by any federal, state, or local candidate or candidate's committee.
ColorOfChange PAC is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Contributions to Color Of Change PAC are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes. This email was sent to @. If you''re absolutely sure you don''t want to hear from Color Of Change again, click here to unsubscribe.
It's time we stand up to the NYPD in the most powerful way possible: in public!
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Jon,
The NYPD's police union, the Police Benevolent Association (PBA), is one of the biggest barriers to police reform in New York City and a danger to all Black people.?
In a rare move to stifle our movement to hold police accountable, the PBA recently endorsed Trump for re-election.1
As folks like you, Jon, continue to demand justice for the Black people murdered by police, the NYPD has spent that same amount of time attempting to suppress our calls for justice. They've driven their cars into protestors,2?threw flash grenades into anti-police brutality protesters,3?besieged a protest leader at their home,4?and regularly beat, choke, and punch?people taking it to the streets to shout, "Black Lives Matter!"
We have to put an end to the NYPD's terror on Black people! So we partnered with our comrades at Zealous5 to put up a huge digital billboard in the center of Times Square right across from the NYPD station to tell them we won't stand for their attacks on us. Take a quick second to watch the video of our powerful billboard.
This is our message to the most deadly police force, Jon: "Hey NYPD. It's us. NYC residents. The ones who pay your salary. We paid $300 million to settle your lawsuits. You paid nothing. We need to talk."
The billboard, which will run until the end of September, will be an everyday reminder to the NYPD, Mayor Bill de Blasio, other elected officials, and all New Yorkers about how we currently throw away billions in tax-dollars into policing Black and Brown folks instead of interventions that actually work.
With a budget of almost 6 billion dollars a year, they outsize every other state and even some countries' law enforcement agencies - and with an arsenal of chemical weapons, tanks, sniper units, surveillance towers, and sound grenades, they look more like an army prepared for war than a city police department.
While the NYPD's budget has ballooned to $6 billion, affordable housing, youth programs, support for elders, education, and more have all seen cuts due to de Blasio's misplaced priority of funding the NYPD. For every dollar the NYPD gets, only 29 cents goes to homeless services, 25 cents to the department of health, and just one penny to workforce development.?
Our taxpayer money is fueling a military institution that doesn't serve the needs of the most disadvantaged residents.?
We need your help to spread our powerful message that we need to address the lack of investment in our communities. Here are three powerful actions you can take right now:
Until justice is real,
--Scott, Malachi, Leonard, and the rest of the Color Of Change PAC team
Follow Color Of Change PAC on Facebook and Twitter.
References:
1.?The Inevitable Trump-Police Union Synthesis The New Yorker.
2.?Video shows NYPD vehicles driving into protesters in Brooklyn?CBS News.
3. 'It Felt Like Warfare': Protesters Say the Police Attacked Them?New York Times.
4.?N.Y.P.D. Besieges Black Lives Matter Leader as He Broadcasts Live Core Alpha.
5. Learn more about Zealous, the public defenders leading the fight to reform the criminal legal system at their website here.
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Ad paid for by ColorOfChange PAC, colorofchangepac.org. Not authorized by any federal, state, or local candidate or a committee controlled by a candidate. |
ColorOfChange PAC is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Contributions to Color Of Change PAC are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes. This email was sent to yellow71486@. If you''re absolutely sure you don''t want to hear from Color Of Change again, click here to unsubscribe.
A quick review of what we will accomplish together ahead of Nov. 3
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Hey?Jon,
In the past 2 weeks we've seen all 50 U.S. states plus 18 countries participate in protests against police brutality after the murder of George Floyd. Time and time again we've watched people channel their outrage of the senseless killings of unarmed Black folks to the streets. And time and time again, the outrage is followed by disappointment in a racist, broken criminal system led by prosecutors that place no accountability on the killers.
At Color Of Change PAC we realized one solution to the unjust criminal system was voting out these district attorneys and other elected officials who continue to fail us.? These elected officials hold so much power yet their elections often go unnoticed.?
District Attorneys have the power to decide who gets charged with crimes and who doesn''t, whether police are held accountable for harming and killing people, whether cash bail keeps poor people locked up, and so much more.
Since 2016, Color Of Change PAC has worked to educate and engage hundreds of thousands of Black voters in dozens of races through digital ads, direct mail, radio ads and in-person events.
Jon,?District Attorneys are the most powerful single actors in the criminal justice system and only 150 days stand between us and the elections that will decide who holds these titles. If you're in a place to give, please support Color Of Change PAC with a donation of any amount today to enable us to:?
Donate $1.50
Donate $15.0
Donate $150
Donate Another Amount
If we win in 150 days,? we can elect leaders that are accountable to Black communities and understand that we need change. Now is the time to turn our collective pain from this moment into Black political power.?
Thank you for all of your support.
Until justice is real,
Arisha, Jenni, Drew, Charles, Tammi, Cristel, Alex, Scotty, Daniel, and the Color Of Change PAC team
We need your help fighting back against attempts to discourage Black voters from casting their ballots.?Please help us report and hold accountable those who are trying to keep us from voting.
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Paid Pol. Adv. paid for by ColorOfChange PAC, 1714 Franklin St., Oakland, CA 94612, independently of and not authorized or approved by any federal, state, or local candidate or candidate's committee.
ColorOfChange PAC is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Contributions to Color Of Change PAC are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes. This email was sent to yellow71486@. If you''re absolutely sure you don''t want to hear from Color Of Change again, click here to unsubscribe.
Jon,
Every week, Color Of Change is cutting through the media and misinformation noise, to share what matters most - how Black people are suffering during COVID-19 and what you can do to protect yourself, and your community. We will deliver a quick list of updates with ways to take action and stay connected.
This Week:
A recession is here, and our financial health is just as important as our physical health. We can't allow this pandemic to take away our economic and political power.
When America Gets a Cold, Black People Get the Flu
The impact of this recession will depend on how our government and corporations respond to it. Now it's time for everyday people to have the protections we need
The Census Matters Now, More Than Ever
It''s a pandemic, but it's crucial your voice is heard
What now?
Tune in to the digital town hall & make your voice heard.
How You Can Help:
Become a member of Color of Change and join us in moving from presence to powerShare your story at www.theblackresponse.orgJoin #TheBlackResponse #SetItOff event on @colorofchange's IG Live, March 29 at 12pm EST.To receive #TheBlackResponse newsletter, please opt in, here.?Until justice is real,?
-Rashid Shabazz
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Help keep our movement strong.
If you''re absolutely sure you don''t want to hear from Color Of Change again, click here to unsubscribe.
Olympian Gwen Berry used the podium to protest. Now she's being punished.
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Athlete activists should not be punished for protesting.? ? ?
Tell companies to sponsor Olympian Gwen Berry, who used her platform to protest.? TAKE ACTION |
Athlete protests like Gwen's should be not be punished. Demand companies sponsor Olympian Gwen Berry.
Olympian, record holder, and Pan-American gold medalist Gwen Berry, was abandoned by her corporate sponsors after she raised her fist to protest racial injustice on the awards podium at last year's Pan-American Games. Gwen courageously put her career on the line to fight for justice. But because she used her platform to demand justice for Black people, her sponsors abandoned her.1?
Black athletes putting their careers and lives on the line to demand justice is not new. Much like Eroseanna "Rose" Robinson, John Carlos, and Tommie Smith, and other Black athletes before her, Gwen took a big risk, using her gold-medal moment to send the world a powerful message: "America can do better."2,3,4?But Gwen's brave action was punished, leaving her without the financial support that empowers many athletes to continue training in their sport.?
Join us in calling on companies to sponsor Gwen Berry.?
Right now is a revolutionary time for racial justice. And although we've always been committed to racial justice, we at Color Of Change are pushing to make a difference in Black people's lives in ways we never have before. That's why we committed to financially sponsoring Gwen, and we're asking companies to step up and sponsor Gwen, too. Because committing to racial justice means doing more than just releasing a Black Lives Matter statement.5
Tell companies like Nike, United Airlines, Hershey's, and Kellogg's to step up and sponsor athlete and activist, Gwen Berry.
Until justice is real,?
-Jade, Arisha, Rashad, Johnny, Amanda, Marie, Evan, Imani, Eesha, Gabrielle, Samantha, Jennette, Ciera, Marcus, FolaSade, and the rest of the Color Of Change team
References:
(Image: Andrej Isakovic/AFP/Getty Images)
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Please help keep our movement strong.
Make a Donation
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Dear Jon,
Color Of Change has less than 30 days to raise $5,000 to provide the young men of Ron Brown College Preparatory High School (RBHS) resources to support their 2021 Black Boy Joy Book and Movie Club. This season of giving, will you chip in $5 to support our kids?
Located in Washington, D.C., RBHS is the only all-male school in the area driven by the pillars of Character, Scholarship, and Service. The Black Boy Joy Movie and Book Club was created in response to social, emotional, and academic needs of RBHS's Young Kings during the pandemic and distance learning. In these historic and uncertain times, Black children--specifically young Black men--need our sustained support to continue learning and smiling. Since opening its doors in August of 2016, RBHS has not run out of innovative ways to develop and enhance young men's character, academic curiosity, and service. Your donation and support will provide the Young Kings of Ron Brown High School with resources to use literature and movies to discuss and deepen course content and connection.?Can the young men of RBHS count on you Jon, to support Black Boy Joy and learning?
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YES! I will chip-in $5 |
Not too long ago, 20,000 Color Of Change members took action and pressured New York City public schools to invest in culturally responsive education, ensuring Black NYC public school students had a curriculum with books and materials containing characters who look like them, live like them, or have similar experiences. Jon, this giving season invest in our children again as they learn and cope during this unprecedented time with culturally relevant books and movies.
Jon, your donation could make a huge difference in a young Black boys life. Will you chip in $5 to help us meet our $5,000 goal?
The Black Boy Joy Book and Movie Club is a product of the RBHS Culture and Restorative Efforts (C.A.R.E) Team (a collective of Ron Brown's school psychologist, counselors, social workers, culture coach, and other career/college readiness coaches).?You can be assured that your donation is going towards meaningful activities that will deeply enrich not only the education the young men receive but also support their overall well-being.
RBHS embodies the fight you helped win in New York by providing students a student-centered, culturally relevant, college preparatory curriculum. Now, more than ever, the Young Kings of RBHS in Washington, D.C., need your support.?Jon,?we know times are hard but every little bit counts when it comes to our children.?If you''d like to do even more, become a recurring donor and support our on-going education justice work.
Until justice is real,?
--Jade, Arisha, Rashad, Johnny, Evan, Amanda, Eesha, Imani, Marie, Gabrielle, Samantha, Marcus, FolaSade, Taurjhai, Stasia, Jennette, Ciera, and the rest of the COC team
References:
ColorOfChange is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change.
If you''re absolutely sure you don''t want to hear from ColorOfChange again, click here to unsubscribe.
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Jon,
Today, we celebrate Jalaiah Harmon, the highly-trained dancer and choreographer behind one of the most prolific viral dances in TikTok history -- the Renegade! Just a few weeks ago, the New York Times reported the story of the 14-year-old teen from Georgia who, despite creating a dance that would go on to be copied by dozens of influencers and celebrities, shared by millions, and used by several marketing campaigns, had not received any credit for her creation before the publication covered it. Black content creators like Jalaiah are the life and soul of so many of the social platforms we use in our everyday lives. But, too often, their labor is duplicated without credit and exploited for a profit that they never see. That's why we''re asking for your help. Will you chip in $5 to help fund our work to protect Black creativity?
Here at Color of Change, we are working hard to hold the tech industry accountable to the way their decisions impact the Black community. This means not only are we running campaigns to make online spaces safer for Black people, but we are fighting to ensure that Black people are fairly compensated for their innovations in digital and cultural space. We believe, now more than ever, that we have the opportunity to push the multi-billion dollar tech industry to implement creative business models that do not take advantage of our talents, skills, and unique ability to shape culture. But we can't do it without you. If you believe it's time to defend Black creativity in the tech space, consider chipping in to support our work today.
Until justice is real,
-Jade, Rashad, Arisha, Brandi, Johnny, Amanda, Evan, Imani, Samantha, Eesha, Marcus, FolaSade, and the rest of the Color Of Change team
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Help keep our movement strong.
If you''re absolutely sure you don''t want to hear from Color Of Change again, click here to unsubscribe.
Don't be deterred. The fight continues.
Hi Jon,?
Prosecutors have failed to deliver justice for Breonna Taylor.
Moments ago, Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron announced the decision we were all fearing he'd make: No murder charges will be filed against the police officers who murdered Breonna Taylor in her home. Just one officer was charged with "wanton endangerment," and it was NOT for shooting Bre.1
After 194 days.
2.3 million petition signatures.
100,000 phone calls.
And a global uprising demanding justice for our sister, Breonna Taylor.
No justice was served.
By failing to bring murder charges in the brutal killing of Breonna Taylor, Attorney General Cameron has failed to deliver justice for Bre. Instead, after more than six months, all we've received is a second injustice as Bre's killers - Brett Hankinson, Jonathan Mattingly, and Myles Cosgrove - walk free with no murder charges.?
Elected officials at every level - from Mayor Greg Fischer and Commonwealth's Attorney Tomas Wine to AG Daniel Cameron - all failed Breonna, her family, and the millions of people like you who demanded justice.?
Jon, this moment is more than disheartening - it's infuriating. And while you may be thinking, "what more must we do to get justice for a Black woman murdered by police?", don't forget what we've made possible since March:?After millions demanded #JusticeforBre, the phony charge against her boyfriend Kenneth Walker was dropped. Louisville voted to ban no-knock warrants. Audio of the 911 call was released, and one of the police officers involved was removed from the force. None - and I repeat, none - of this would have happened had we not exercised our voices to stand up for Bre.
Color Of Change won't stop fighting. Black Lives Matter Louisville won't stop fighting. And you can't stop fighting either, Jon.?
Here's what you can do right now to continue demanding #JusticeforBre:
Millions, if not billions, of people worldwide have joined the movement to say her name and demand justice for Breonna Taylor. Black kids across the country have recognized their power to effect change. Our white allies are having the much-needed tough conversations at their dinner tables. And so many local organizers now have the resources they need to keep the fight going.?
Breonna Taylor changed the world. And this is not the end.?
We can't be deterred. Because folks like Tamika Palmer, Breonna's mom, are still on the ground fighting relentlessly to secure justice for our people.
We stand with Breonna's family, BLM Louisville, and local organizers and activists in demanding the Louisville City Council take immediate action to divest from the Louisville Metropolitan Police Department and invest in communities.
Today is a hard day, Jon. But although we may be discouraged by this announcement, we will never stop fighting for Black people.?
Until justice is real,
Scott, Rashad, Arisha, Erika, Marybeth, Malachi, Leonard, Ernie, McKayla, Ana, Ariel, and the rest of the Color Of Change team
Reference:
1. "Police officer indicted in Breonna Taylor case." CNN.
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Please help keep our movement strong.
Make a Donation
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Dear Jon,
Jails are already death traps and when you introduce a deadly virus, you get a recipe for disaster, and due to already prevalent racism and sexism, Black women are getting hit the hardest. For the thousands of Black women locked in cages right now, the virus could take their lives before they're ever released. But we have the power to change that!
Many of the Black mothers and caregivers who languish behind bars are incarcerated simply because they cannot afford to post money bail. For one, no one should be locked in a cage for being poor. And two, no mother or caregiver should have to meet their fate alone behind the bars of a jail cell.
Jon, every year right before Mother's Day, we use our collective resources to free Black mamas and caregivers from cages and reunite them with their families and communities. We need to raise money to bail out as many Black mothers as possible from cages so they can be reunited with their babies and loved ones. But we are in uncertain times, and more than ever before, our Black mamas need to be connected with their loved ones, and safe in their own homes.
Our babies need their mamas. Cousins loved ones, and all of our communities need them as well. We can't let them perish in jails due to old, racist systems like money bail. Join our 4th Annual Black Mama's Day Bailout to get our people free.
Jon, can we count on you to chip in $25 to help bail out Black mamas from cages so they can be reunited with their families during this crisis?
Coronavirus is spreading like wildfire in jails. Eight out of ten of the largest COVID-19 outbreaks have been in a jail or a prison.1 And due to the undercounting of incarcerated people, 100,000 more people will die than previously expected.2?
National Black Mama's Bail Out Day3 is a coordinated effort by community organizations, advocates, and families to reunite Black mothers with their families. Every donation will go to ensuring we can bail out as many Black mamas and caregivers from cages as possible while offering safe housing options, a weeks'' worth of groceries, and holistic supportive services to every person we help free.
When we reunite Black mothers and caregivers with their families, all of our communities thrive. For the past three years, the bailed-out Black mothers have gone on to complete fellowships and have become organizers in their own communities to advocate for prison reform. This is what's possible when we unite to make our communities and families whole again. When you chip in, you're part of the fight to keep more families connected despite racist structures in place that seek to break Black familial bonds.
Every day is a day to honor Black mothers and caregivers, and especially those who need to be reunited with their loved ones.
Your support is vital. Contribute?$25 today to bring a Black mother or caregiver home.
Until justice is real,
--Scott, Rashad, Arisha, Clarise, Erika, Malachi, Marybeth, Madison, Leonard, and the rest of the Color Of Change team
References:
1. "8 of The Top 10 Biggest U.S. Coronavirus Hotspots Are Prisons and Jails". Reason.?https://act.colorofchange.org/go/246394?t=13&akid=42358%2E4887299%2EHL3uBP
2. New Model Shows COVID-19 Death Toll is 100,000 Higher Than Current Projections. ACLU.?https://act.colorofchange.org/go/244677?t=15&akid=42358%2E4887299%2EHL3uBP
3. The National Bail Out collective is a Black-led and Black-centered collective of abolitionist organizers, lawyers, and activists building a community-based movement to support our folks and end mass incarceration. Learn more, join their mailing list, and get involved at http://act.colorofchange.org/go/122870?t=17&akid=42358%2E4887299%2EHL3uBP
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Help keep our movement strong.
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Jon, did you know that prosecutors wield more power than almost every other actor in the criminal justice system - and we have the power to elect them?
This means we have the power to hold prosecutors accountable and vote them out when they fail to protect Black people! And it's why Color Of Change built the nation's largest directory of each and every local prosecutor - all 2,300 of them - and where they stand on issues most relevant to Black communities.
Introducing to you, Jon: Winning Justice1?- a directory for every local prosecutor and district attorney in the country, and a tool to hold them all accountable.?
I'd be lying if I said we don't desperately need your monthly support to power this database to hold prosecutors accountable to Black lives. Here's how you can help today:
Make a monthly contribution to protect Black lives. Chip in $5 a month, or whatever works with your budget:
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Protect Black people: Chip in $5/Month |
A database of local prosecutors at this scale has never been done before, and Color Of Change is leading the charge.
We created Winning Justice to increase the transparency of prosecutors' offices so we are better equipped to end the most unjust practices prosecutors use to target Black people? - money bail, over-charging, over-sentencing, over-policing, the drug war, attacking immigrants and sending our Black children to adult prisons.???
The more information we have on prosecutors, the easier it is for members like you to hold prosecutors accountable to what matters to Black communities.?
Jon, we need your help to maintain Winning Justice, and ultimately take it to the next level. Your monthly donation will fund our efforts to research prosecutors, support outreach, compile the data, and keep the Winning Justice directory up-to-date -?in the lead up to Election Day and beyond.
Are you in the fight with us? Yes, count me in for a monthly contribution to tell prosecutors to stop sending Black kids to adult prison!??
Here's a quick snapshot of prosecutors and why we must take action:
Here's the takeaway: prosecutors wield tremendous power, almost all are elected, and they don't reflect the gender and racial diversity of the communities they're prosecuting.
We can change that, Jon - but not without the continued support of people like you. Together, we'll expand Winning Justice and continue the fight to end the prosecutorial practices that harm Black people.?
COUNT ME IN TO HOLD PROSECUTORS ACCOUNTABLE!Until justice is real,?
Scott, Rashad, Arisha, Erika, Marybeth, Malachi, Leonard, Ernie, Madison, Ariel, Ana, Ericka, McKayla, and the rest of the Color Of Change team
References:
1. Visit?WinningJustice.org?to find your prosecutor, see where they stand on our issues, and learn more about the role of prosecutors.
2. "5 Reasons You Should Care About Your Local Prosecutor Race." Ben and Jerry''s. 2 March 2020.
ColorOfChange is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change.
If you''re absolutely sure you don''t want to hear from ColorOfChange again, click here to unsubscribe.
This summer, we partnered with our comrades at Essie Justice Group to release the first survey for families with incarcerated loved ones during the pandemic. We've leveraged that data to demand,?
BecomE a monthly supporter of our fight for racial justice.? Jon, we're not begging for anything. We're not interested in a seat at the anti-racist table. We're demanding justice for Black people, and declaring that any policy or corporate strategy that doesn't center our demands is an anti-Black one.? As we enter the ninth month of the pandemic, consider giving the gift of solidarity.? Until justice is real,? -- Scott, Erika, Madison, Ariel, Malachi, Ernie, Ana, Ericka, McKayla, and the rest of the Color Of Change team References:? 1.Lives on the Line, Essie Justice & Color of Change? 
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Dear?Jon,?
UPDATE: Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva announced in a press conference that an internal investigation of the fatal shooting of Dijon Kizzee is almost complete.1 In a matter of days, they will decide whether or not to recommend charges against the officers who murdered Dijon to District Attorney Jackie Lacey.?
The Los Angeles County Sheriff''s Department has a history of corruption and abuse of power. Since those officers shot Dijon as many as 20 times in the back, people have taken to the streets in over four nights of protests.2 The response? The Sheriff''s department was quick to arrest more than three dozen protesters and make no attempts at de-escalation only further inciting violence.3 And this isn''t the first time Villanueva has failed to prioritize Black and brown communities. Throughout his tenure, he''s failed to disclose police officer misconduct?4 and intervened in active misconduct?investigations 5 -- making it clear just how far the Los Angeles County Sheriff''s office will go to cover up the egregious acts of its officers.?They can''t be trusted to investigate killer cops or hold officers accountable -- the police can''t police themselves.
Jon, over 40,000 people have already signed the petition to keep up the pressure on District Attorney Jackie Lacey. DA Lacey has the power to bypass the results of Sheriff''s investigation and file charges against the cops who killed Dijon immediately-- anything else is simply an attempt to delay justice for Dijon and his loved ones. It''s time for her to intervene and ensure these killer cops are held accountable.
Sign the petition. Join us as we demand DA Jackie does her job by holding killer cops accountable.
Until justice is real,?
--Scott, Rashad, Arisha, Erika, Malachi, Marybeth, Madison, Leonard, Ernie, McKayla and the rest of the Color of Change team
P.S. See our original message below.?
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Dear Jon,
On Monday night, Los Angeles County Sheriff''s deputies shot and killed a 29-year-old Black man, Dijon Kizzee, over alleged bicycle code violations.
Now officials from the Los Angeles Sheriff''s Department (LASD) are reporting that a handgun fell from Dijon''s belongings as he attempted to run away from the officers, making the deadly altercation even more outrageous. Upon seeing the gun on the ground, the deputies opened fire and shot Dijon more than 20 times.6 At this point, Dijon posed no threat to these officers -- he was simply afraid, panicking, and running for his life. Yet Dijon was shot in the back multiple times.
Bottom line: Dijon''s attempt to get away from officers did not warrant a death sentence. The deputies had no right to take his life. Dijon was simply minding his own business and riding his bike when police accosted and murdered him.
This is just the latest iteration in a long line of Black people who are brutalized and murdered by the police. Just last week we saw Jacob Blake, another 29-year-old Black man, who was shot several times in the back in front of his children.7 Jacob is now paralyzed from the waist down. We refuse to see any more of our loved ones killed at the hands of the police with no accountability.
That''s why we''re calling on Los Angeles District Attorney Jackie Lacey to intervene. DA Lacey can ensure these officers face criminal charges for their blatant disregard for Black life. But we need your help to put pressure on DA Lacey NOW.
Sign the petition: Demand justice for Dijon Kizzee.
For years, District Attorney Jackie Lacey has failed to hold killer cops accountable. Since taking office in 2012, hundreds of people have been killed by law enforcement in LA county. Yet, DA Lacey has not brought a single charge against an officer for deadly force.
In the case of Brendon Glenn, yet another Black man who was murdered by LA police in 2015, even the Police Chief, Charlie Beck, recommended criminal charges.8 Jackie Lacey's response? She refused to prosecute and even defended the officer in an 83-page memo.9 She also refused to prosecute Ed Buck, a white man who preyed upon and tormented countless young Black gay men in LA. And she consistently relies upon the testimonies of corrupt law enforcement officers.10 That's why we must make this issue too big for her to ignore. With enough public pressure, we can get DA Lacey to do her job and hold killer cops accountable for the atrocities they commit against Black people.
What happened to Dijon could happen to any of us. We don''t want to see any more Black families mourn the loss of a loved one. Black children, like Jacob Blake''s kids, should not have to see their parents shot down in the street. And Black people should be able to ride their bikes without police harassment. This is the world that Black people deserve. But first, we need you to join us in this fight for justice.
Dijon should still be here. Demand DA Lacey holds these killer cops accountable.
Until justice is real,
--Scott, Rashad, Arisha, Erika, Marybeth, Madison, Malachi, Leonard, Ernie, McKayla, and the rest of the Color of Change team.
References:
ColorOfChange is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change.
If you''re absolutely sure you don''t want to hear from ColorOfChange again, click here to unsubscribe.
We need your support in preparation for our upcoming 2020 electoral programs
?
?
Hey Jon,
I hope you and your loved ones are doing well and taking care of yourselves the best you can. Facing the uncertainty of the current coronavirus pandemic while also coming to terms with the recent news related to Ahmaud Arbery, Sean Reed and Breonna Taylor has been tough. But I feel so incredibly hopeful and proud to be a part of an organization and a community that I see pushing for real solutions and showing up for Black people at this time.
The state of the country the past few weeks has reminded me just how critical the upcoming wave of elections will be. Elections where we,?with your generous support, will have the opportunity to elect candidates that will also push for real solutions to the challenges our communities face and also show up for Black people.
In preparation for the upcoming elections, from now until November, members of my team will be focused on identifying and reporting disinformation intentionally spread to scare, confuse and suppress Black voters-and that''s why I''m asking for your support today.?We need your help to grow and strengthen our disinformation program.
Can you make a contribution today to help us launch our disinformation program at full scale for the upcoming elections?
DONATE TODAY
When you donate today you ensure that we have the resources to stay up to speed on the rapid response campaigns and strategies of those in power doing everything they can to discourage Black people from casting their votes.
Help Color Of Change PAC take our 2020 election programs to the next level.
I''m looking forward to the work we will all achieve together as we get closer to November.
Until justice is real,
-Jennifer, Arisha, Drew, Charles, Scott, Daniel, Alexandra, Tammi, Cristel and the rest of the Color Of Change PAC team
We need your help fighting back against attempts to discourage Black voters from casting their ballots.?Please help us report and hold accountable those who are trying to keep us from voting.
| Donate |  |
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Paid Pol. Adv. paid for by ColorOfChange PAC, 1714 Franklin St., Oakland, CA 94612, independently of and not authorized or approved by any federal, state, or local candidate or candidate's committee.
ColorOfChange PAC is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Contributions to Color Of Change PAC are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes. This email was sent to yellow71486@. If you''re absolutely sure you don''t want to hear from Color Of Change again, click here to unsubscribe.
We just got research results
Dear?Jon,
We just got back some research about our members in LA County concerning the election between George Gasc?n and Jackie Lacey. Here's what we found out:
This research shows us that our work is cut out for us: people want an alternative to Jackie Lacey who will make major changes to end police brutality and hold officers accountable. But if people don't know who George Gasc?n is, they're likely to just re-elect Jackie Lacey because they recognize her name and aren't familiar with the issues.
Jon,?will you help us make sure as many people as possible get to know George Gasc?n and vote for him so we can move towards real justice in LA County?
Here's what you can do:
Additionally, here's some talking points you can use when you're talking to your family and friends or posting on social media about George Gasc?n:
If you want, you can even make a video using these talking points and your own perspectives on criminal justice reform in LA County to share with your people!
Please share this information with as many people as you can; talking to people you trust is one of the best tools we have to make sure George Gasc?n defeats Jackie Lacey in just a couple weeks.
Thank you for standing with us for justice for Black and brown communities in LA!
Until justice is real,
Jenni, Arisha, Corina, Destanie, Kaya, Scotty and the Color Of Change PAC team
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Ad paid for by ColorOfChange PAC, Supporting Gascon for LA County District Attorney 2020, colorofchangepac.org. Committee major funding from: Susan Pritzker Wayne Jordan Quinn Delaney Not authorized by any federal, state, or local candidate or a committee controlled by a candidate. |
ColorOfChange PAC is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Contributions to Color Of Change PAC are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes. This email was sent to @. If you''re absolutely sure you don''t want to hear from Color Of Change again, click here to unsubscribe.
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Jon,
I was raised in a home that was fueled by a Black-owned business. My father, Everett Robinson, has been a self-employed contractor in East Long Island for over 45 years.?Everyday, I witnessed the long and?non-traditional hours to "land the plane" on the commitments to clients. Working with him during our summers as kids meant my brother and I got the chance to see first-hand all the unseen, extra work it takes to make ends meet as a Black business owner. We saw all the jobs given to other people not as qualified, all the slights he was asked to accept, and all the extra hoops he was asked to jump through in order to turn his vision for his business into a reality. But we also witnessed the pride and dignity that comes with the ability to work for yourself, and to be your own boss. We saw all the opportunities -- from making sure our family had our basic needs met, to putting us through school -- that his sacrifices made possible for us.
Call on Congress to protect Black-owned businesses. We need a REAL paycheck guarantee today.
The truth is that Black businesses are not just the places we go to buy things we need. They are often pillars of the community that create pathways to independence for our people that would not otherwise exist. That's why it's so crucial that we step up in this moment and fight for Black entrepreneurs and employees, who are getting the short end of the stick as they struggle to survive the COVID-19 outbreak. The small business protections Congress has passed in its CARE Act are not sufficient. States are already overwhelmed with an unprecedented number of unemployment benefit applications. The emergency relief package has significant implementation issues, is being tied up with unnecessary red tape, and is not getting to Black-owned businesses fast enough to prevent the massive layoffs and shut downs our communities are facing. Without legislation from Congress that specifically creates protections for small Black-owned businesses, there is no telling how many of our people will continue to lose their livelihoods, their jobs, and their healthcare during this pandemic.
That's why we''re calling on Congress for a small business emergency relief plan that:
The time to protect our communities is now. Join us in calling on Congress to create small business protections for Black owned-businesses immediately.
In the best of times, Black people have had to overcome this country's persistent underinvestment in Black business. According to a 2016 study by the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy and Research, only 1% of Black-owned businesses received a bank loan in their first year of operation, compared to 7% of white businesses. And twice the number of white business owners use a credit card during their first year of operation at 30%, as do Black business owners at 15%.1 Congress's current small business relief program assumes that all business owners have equal access to credit and to banking services. But we know that has never been the case. From redlining to the refusal to provide loans, Black people in this country have historically been locked out of entrepreneurship, with devastating consequences for our communities, both then and now. Today, Black-owned firms with paid employees generate over $103 billion annually.2 By providing a paycheck guarantee to businesses directly, Congress has the chance to invest in essential industries, to prevent countless layoffs, to preserve our communities' access to healthcare, and to ensure that the places that have served our communities for years are able to survive this crisis. Join us in calling on Congress to provide legislation that protects Black businesses today.
Black businesses and their employees are being locked out of the emergency federal coronavirus relief fund. Tell Congress we need a real paycheck guarantee today.
There is no community that will be harder hit by the current lack of protections for small businesses during COVID-19 than the Black business community. Congress's current small business relief package prioritizes corporations, not the people that need relief the most. Unless we see legislation like Representative Pramila Jayapal's that provides direct relief and specific protections for our business community, Black business-owners will continue to disproportionately carry the financial burden of this crisis. Black entrepreneurs deserve the same kind of access to coronavirus relief packages that will keep other businesses in this nation afloat during this crisis and beyond. It's time for a direct legislation that protects Black businesses during the COVID-19 outbreak from Congress now.
When you protect Black businesses, you protect Black communities. Join us in demanding protections for the small Black business community from Congress now.
Until justice is real,?
- Rashad and the rest of the Color Of Change team
References:
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Help keep our movement strong.
If you''re absolutely sure you don''t want to hear from Color Of Change again, click here to unsubscribe.
We need your support in preparation for our upcoming 2020 electoral programs
?
?
Hey Jon,
I hope you and your loved ones are doing well and taking care of yourselves the best you can. Facing the uncertainty of the current coronavirus pandemic while also coming to terms with the recent news related to Ahmaud Arbery, Sean Reed and Breonna Taylor has been tough. But I feel so incredibly hopeful and proud to be a part of an organization and a community that I see pushing for real solutions and showing up for Black people at this time.
The state of the country the past few weeks has reminded me just how critical the upcoming wave of elections will be. Elections where we,?with your generous support, will have the opportunity to elect candidates that will also push for real solutions to the challenges our communities face and also show up for Black people.
In preparation for the upcoming elections, from now until November, members of my team will be focused on identifying and reporting disinformation intentionally spread to scare, confuse and suppress Black voters-and that''s why I''m asking for your support today.?We need your help to grow and strengthen our disinformation program.
Can you make a contribution today to help us launch our disinformation program at full scale for the upcoming elections?
DONATE TODAY
When you donate today you ensure that we have the resources to stay up to speed on the rapid response campaigns and strategies of those in power doing everything they can to discourage Black people from casting their votes.
Help Color Of Change PAC take our 2020 election programs to the next level.
I''m looking forward to the work we will all achieve together as we get closer to November.
Until justice is real,
-Jennifer, Arisha, Drew, Charles, Scott, Daniel, Alexandra, Tammi, Cristel and the rest of the Color Of Change PAC team
We need your help fighting back against attempts to discourage Black voters from casting their ballots.?Please help us report and hold accountable those who are trying to keep us from voting.
| Donate |  |
 |
Paid Pol. Adv. paid for by ColorOfChange PAC, 1714 Franklin St., Oakland, CA 94612, independently of and not authorized or approved by any federal, state, or local candidate or candidate's committee.
ColorOfChange PAC is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Contributions to Color Of Change PAC are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes. This email was sent to @. If you''re absolutely sure you don''t want to hear from Color Of Change again, click here to unsubscribe.
Dear Jon,?
While millions of votes are still being counted, Facebook and Twitter are allowing Donald Trump to spread countless lies and conspiracy theories about the election on social media. Demand Twitter and Facebook immediately #SuspendTrump and stop the spread of misinformation.
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In the past 24 hours, Trump has gone on a warpath on Twitter and Facebook--posting ballot suppression and election misinformation and alleging that the election is being stolen from him --with each post and tweet reaching millions before the social media platforms take action. The truth is that Twitter and Facebook have had years to ban Trump and fix the way lies, hate, and election misinformation spread on their platforms, but the best solution they've created is a small label stating that Donald Trump's factually inaccurate posts are "misleading." That's why it's time to #SuspendTrump until all votes are counted-- Facebook and Twitter are not taking action quickly enough and Trump's lies are allowed to be reposted thousands of times before they're labeled as misinformation. With a historic election still in limbo, this is not enough, and the consequences of that failure could be devastating for our democracy and deadly for people close to the counting process.?
Color Of Change has worked tirelessly to ensure these companies stop the spread of misinformation. The only reason Twitter and Facebook have implemented misinformation labeling at all is because of the advocacy of Color Of Change members. And our staff has been in constant contact with Twitter since last night, pushing them throughout this election to take down misinformation from Trump and his surrogates.?
Facebook and Twitter have a duty to stop Trump's misinformation on the platform, tell them to #SuspendTrump until all votes are counted! The voters should determine this election, not misinformation.
Jon, demand Twitter and Facebook immediately suspend Trump's accounts until all votes are counted.
Until justice is real,?
Arisha, Rashad, Jade, Johnny, Evan, Amanda, Eesha, Imani, Marie, Gabrielle, Samantha, Marcus, FolaSade, Taurjhai, Stasia, Jennette, Ciera, and the rest of the COC team
References:?
| Donate |  |
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Paid Pol. Adv. paid for by ColorOfChange PAC, 1714 Franklin St., Oakland, CA 94612, independently of and not authorized or approved by any federal, state, or local candidate or candidate's committee.
ColorOfChange PAC is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Contributions to Color Of Change PAC are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes. This email was sent to yellow71486@. If you''re absolutely sure you don''t want to hear from Color Of Change again, click here to unsubscribe.
Jackie Lacey has just conceded to George Gasc?n
Jon,
After days of counting ballots, George Gasc?n has won the race against Jackie Lacey for LA County District Attorney!
After 8 years of Jackie Lacey's racist tough-on-crime policies-- from failure to hold killer cops accountable to sentencing over 20 people of color to death-- the people of LA County have declared that they want real safety, not police and punishment, for their communities.
Jon, thank you for all you did to help make this victory happen. Here's what we were able to do with your help:
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? We sent 90,000 text message reminders to get out and vote to LA County residents ? |
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Our digital ads about George Gasc?n on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube were seen 22 million times |
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33,426 pieces of direct mail were sent to LA County households to build awareness about the power of prosecutors and why Gasc?n is the best choice for LA County |
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450,000 LA County residents received a 4-part email series giving them the tools to learn about and share information about George Gasc?n |
And a HUGE thank you to our local partners for all your work on this campaign!
As we've said from the beginning, this is just the start of the work. It's up to the people of LA County to hold George Gasc?n accountable to his promises, and we'll be there with you every step of the way.
But for today, take a moment and appreciate yourself and your community for showing up and making this change happen. We see you in all the ways you've shown up this year, and we hope you can give yourself some love for that.
Please continue to stay safe, care for yourself and your loved ones, and hold onto hope in these times. We at Color Of Change PAC are here for you, and are so grateful to be in community together.
If you'd like to make a celebratory donation in honor of George Gasc?n's victory, and to support the work to come, join us here.
You can also submit a video here celebrating George Gasc?n's win, and we'll professionally edit it for you to share on social media!
Thank you for all you do to make justice real,
Arisha, Jenni, Drew, Charles, Corina, Destanie, Kaya, Erick, Evonna, Cristel, Tammi, Scotty and the rest of the Color Of Change PAC team?
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Ad paid for by ColorOfChange PAC, Supporting Gascon for LA County District Attorney 2020, colorofchangepac.org. Committee major funding from: Susan Pritzker Wayne Jordan Quinn Delaney Not authorized by any federal, state, or local candidate or a committee controlled by a candidate. |
ColorOfChange PAC is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Contributions to Color Of Change PAC are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes. This email was sent to @. If you''re absolutely sure you don''t want to hear from Color Of Change again, click here to unsubscribe.
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Dear?Jon,?
Portland. Minneapolis. Chicago. Aurora. New York City.?Detroit. Milwaukee. Cleveland. The list is seemingly endless. In these cities, we've heard an echoing rally cry, a demand from our people who are gathering in the streets day in and day out, calling for one thing . justice. Not only are we calling for an end to police brutality, violence, and harm but we won't settle for anything less than a world where we can re-imagine what public safety looks like -- one where we aren't forced to live in fear of state-sanctioned violence.??
And we need your help to fund a movement that puts the power in the hands of our communities because we know best how to achieve a better and more safe world for our friends, families, and those who are most vulnerable.?
Yes, I want to protect my people against state-sanctioned violence. I''ll chip-in $10 monthly.
With each day that passes the attacks against our people grow. In both New York and Portland protesters are being violently attacked and arrested by federal and local police officers dressed in plain clothes, driving?unmarked vehicles.1?And just a few days ago Trump announced that he was sending hundreds of federal law enforcement to Chicago, Albuquerque, and Kansas City.2 His hope? To ramp up arrests. Instead of offering solutions that would aid in the healing and rehabilitation of our communities most ravaged by police violence, Trump plans to add fuel to the fire. This is not a solution.
But it should come as no surprise because his response came at the request of several police union leaders, some of the strongest opponents to police reform, like John Catanzara, leader of the Chicago Fraternal Order of Police (FOP). Catanzara recently wrote a letter to Trump asking for help to fight the "chaos," otherwise known as peaceful protestors demanding justice for Black lives.3 Time is of the essence. We must make it clear that more police is not a solution.?
Chip-in $10 every month. Your support will go a long way in our effort to demand real police accountability.
We know we're in an uphill battle, Jon, but we don't see that as a reason to stop fighting.?Because we are fighting for an end to police in our schools, an alternative to police intervention in our homes and daily lives, solutions that center our well-being, mental and physical health rather than criminalize and devalue us. We don''t want to see any more of our people strangled to death by police officers or murdered simply for being Black and in the wrong place at the wrong time.?And our ability to ensure this world for Black people starts with your help. Together, we can get one step closer to building a better and safer world for our people -- let''s get started.?
Become a monthly sustainer today. Join us as we demand an end to police violence.
Until justice is real,?
--Scott, Rashad, Arisha, Erika, Malachi, Marybeth, Madison, Leonard, Ernie, McKayla, and the rest of the Color Of Change team
?References:
1. "After Woman''s arrest in unmarked van, New York City Activists Fear Targeting By NYPD." The Appeal. https://act.colorofchange.org/go/257356?t=6&akid=44413%2E5670730%2ET8n1ND
2. "Why Trump's Latest Law-and-Order Ploy Is Likely to Fail." Mother Jones.?https://act.colorofchange.org/go/257357?t=8&akid=44413%2E5670730%2ET8n1ND
3. "Chicago police union wants Trump to intervene as video seems to show protesters throwing things at cops." Fox 32. https://act.colorofchange.org/go/257358?t=10&akid=44413%2E5670730%2ET8n1ND
ColorOfChange is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change.
If you''re absolutely sure you don''t want to hear from ColorOfChange again, click here to unsubscribe.
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Dear Jon,
On Monday night, Los Angeles County sheriff''s deputies shot and killed a 29-year-old Black man, Dijon Kizzee, over alleged bicycle code violations.
Now officials from the Los Angeles Sheriff''s Department (LASD) are reporting that a handgun fell from Dijon''s belongings as he attempted to run away from the officers, making the deadly altercation even more outrageous. Upon seeing the gun on the ground, the deputies opened fire and shot Dijon more than 20 times.1 At this point, Dijon posed no threat to these officers -- he was simply afraid, panicking, and running for his life. Yet Dijon was shot in the back multiple times.
Bottom line: Dijon''s attempt to get away from officers did not warrant a death sentence. The deputies had no right to take his life. Dijon was simply minding his own business and riding his bike when police accosted and murdered him.
This is just the latest iteration in a long line of Black people who are brutalized and murdered by the police. Just last week we saw Jacob Blake, another 29-year-old Black man, who was shot several times in the back in front of his children.2 Jacob is now paralyzed from the waist down. We refuse to see any more of our loved ones killed at the hands of the police with no accountability.
That''s why we''re calling on Los Angeles District Attorney Jackie Lacey to intervene. DA Lacey can ensure these officers face criminal charges for their blatant disregard for Black life. But we need your help to put pressure on DA Lacey NOW.
Sign the petition: Demand justice for Dijon Kizzee.
For years, District Attorney Jackie Lacey has failed hold killer cops accountable. Since taking office in 2012, hundreds of people have been killed by law enforcement in LA county. Yet, DA Lacey has not brought a single charge against an officer for deadly force.
In the case of Brendon Glenn, yet another Black man who was murdered by LA police in 2015, even the Police Chief, Charlie Beck, recommended criminal charges.4 Jackie Lacey's response? She refused to prosecute and even defended the officer in an 83-page memo.5 She also refused to prosecute Ed Buck, a white man who preyed upon and tormented countless young Black gay men in LA. And she consistently relies upon the testimonies of corrupt law enforcement officers.6 That's why we must make this issue too big for her to ignore. With enough public pressure, we can get DA Lacey to do her job and hold killer cops accountable for the atrocities they commit against Black people.
What happened to Dijon could happen to any of us. We don''t want to see any more Black families mourn the loss of a loved one. Black children, like Jacob Blake''s kids, should not have to see their parents shot down in the street. And Black people should be able to ride their bikes without police harassment. This is the world that Black people deserve. But first, we need you to join us in this fight for justice.
Dijon should still be here. Demand DA Lacey holds these killer cops accountable.
Until justice is real,
--Scott, Rashad, Arisha, Erika, Marybeth, Madison, Malachi, Leonard, Ernie, McKayla, and the rest of the Color of Change team.
References:
ColorOfChange is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change.
If you''re absolutely sure you don''t want to hear from ColorOfChange again, click here to unsubscribe.We need George Gasc?n to be elected
Dear?Jon,
Back in March, we fought hard for George Gasc?n and brought it to a runoff election in the LA County District Attorney Election against Jackie Lacey. Now, it's time to finish the fight.
Since March, we've had historical uprisings against police brutality throughout our country, including in Los Angeles County, where Dijon Kizzee and at least 22 others have been killed by police in 2020.1
Current LA County DA Jackie Lacey has failed to press charges for even one of these murders.
We need every last person we can to get out and vote George Gasc?n in and Jackie Lacey out. Here are 4 things you can do to help win this race:
1) Make sure you're registered to vote here, and if you are, look out for your ballot arriving in the mail soon; every registered Californian will receive one! Then make sure your friends and family check their registration too.
2) Click here for our in-depth summary of why we support George Gasc?n; then send the link along to your friends and family in LA County
3) Forward this email to any relevant email lists you're on, or to at least 5 friends
4) Click here to record a video about why you support George Gasc?n that you and Color Of Change PAC can share on social media!
George Gasc?n has a record of fighting for change to our criminal justice system:
Meanwhile, for 8 years current Los Angeles District Attorney Jackie Lacey has resisted criminal justice reforms while defending tough-on-crime policies:
Please, don't assume Jackie Lacey will lose on her own. She has powerful support from police unions and other conservative groups that don't care about safety for Black and brown people in LA.
Every last one of us has to do our part to elect George Gasc?n. Talk to friends and family, forward along information, and make sure people register and get out to vote by November 3rd!
Until justice is real,
Jenni, Arisha, Drew, Charles, Corina, Destanie, Kaya, Scotty, and the Color Of Change PAC team
Sources
1. "Reign of terror: a summer of police violence in Los Angeles", The Guardian, 6 Sept 2020,?https://act.colorofchange.org/go/274596?t=5&akid=47090%2E4887299%2E_ri2vG
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Ad paid for by ColorOfChange PAC, Supporting Gascon for LA County District Attorney 2020, colorofchangepac.org. Committee major funding from: Susan Pritzker Wayne Jordan Quinn Delaney Not authorized by any federal, state, or local candidate or a committee controlled by a candidate. |
ColorOfChange PAC is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Contributions to Color Of Change PAC are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes. This email was sent to yellow71486@. If you''re absolutely sure you don''t want to hear from Color Of Change again, click here to unsubscribe.
Georgia's primary was a hot, flaming mess
Jon, the message is clear: Black votes and Black lives don't matter to officials in Georgia.
On Tuesday, voters in 2 largely Black counties in the Atlanta area were forced to expose themselves to coronavirus for 3, 4, or 5 hours while waiting in line to vote. People reported dozens of broken voting machines, ballot shortages, and untrained poll workers.1
In response, Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger defended himself and said "It's a good day for Georgia."2
We are outraged, and we refuse to remain silent while white elected officials minimize the same Black voter suppression that's been happening since Jim Crow.
If you're as angry as we are, join us and donate to help us fight Black voter suppression in every. last. state. Or read more below about our plans to fight back.
We''ve already gotten some infuriating reports from Color Of Change members in Georgia:
"We arrived at the polling place at 7:07am. The line was already around the outside of the building. 6.5 hours later we actually made it inside to vote."- Sheryl
"The voting machines were not delivered. We completed paper ballots and placed them in a rolling bag."- Holly
"There were no machines, the staff was ill prepared! The process not streamlined and took much longer than it should have. Stop trying to suppress our votes!!"- Aisha
Just as police murder of Black people has not changed since the origins of police as slave patrols, suppression of Black votes has not changed since the days of poll taxes and literacy tests. It is just one more tactic white politicians and their supporters use to silence and control our communities.
And just as the protests demanding justice for George Floyd are refusing to stand down until policing is radically changed, we must fight until Black voter suppression is eradicated everywhere.
Join us Jon, and donate to help us register thousands of Black folks, use online ads and text messages to get people information about how to vote safely, and call out elected officials who refuse to protect Black voters.
Donate $1
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Until justice is real,?
Arisha, Jenni, Drew, Charles, Tammi, Cristel, Daniel, Alex, Scotty and the Color Of Change PAC team
Sources
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Paid Pol. Adv. paid for by ColorOfChange PAC, 1714 Franklin St., Oakland, CA 94612, independently of and not authorized or approved by any federal, state, or local candidate or candidate's committee.
ColorOfChange PAC is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Contributions to Color Of Change PAC are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes. This email was sent to @. If you''re absolutely sure you don''t want to hear from Color Of Change again, click here to unsubscribe.
Jon,?
After weeks of protests and demands for justice -- still, NO arrests or charges have made against the officers who murdered Elijah McClain.?
To make matters worse, three Aurora County police officers were fired this past Friday after taking selfies that were mocking a memorial established in Elijah''s honor. One of the officers responsible for Elijah''s death, Jason Rosenblatt, even sent a text in support of this cruel joke, responding "haha" to the officers who took the selfies. And even though he was also fired for his participation, it''s not nearly enough.1
The callousness and depravity exhibited by these officers are not unique.?Aurora County police department only fired these officers to save face politically -- they have deliberately delayed holding the officers who murdered Elijah accountable for almost a year now. Simply firing these officers for mocking this young Black man''s death does not get Elijah''s family the justice they deserve. The type of dehumanizing behavior displayed is eerily similar to that of a lynching and in no way should it be tolerated in today''s police force. Nevertheless, all across the country, we continue to see police departments and police unions fight against any form of accountability or reform.?
But?Jon, over 100,000 people have already signed the petition demanding justice for Elijah -- we are not going to stop fighting. Time is of the essence. Elijah''s family shouldn''t be forced to mourn the loss of their loved one while these officers sit at home and relax with their families.?Our communities will no longer tolerate this level of depravity shown by police officers -- we must make our demands clear.
Tell AG Phil Weiser: A whole year is too long to wait for justice. Charge the officers who murdered Elijah NOW.
Until Justice is Real,?
Scott and the rest of the Color of Change Team?
P.S. Read our original email below.?
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Dear?Jon,?
Elijah McClain, a 23-year-old Black man in Aurora, Colorado, was murdered at the hands of police almost a year ago and still no justice.
On August 24, 2019, three white police officers stopped Elijah while he was walking home from a convenience store -- after a 911 caller reportedly described Elijah as a "suspicious person."?2 The details that led to Elijah's death are horrific. The officers can be heard on bodycam video threatening to bring their dog to bite Elijah and even accusing Elijah of provoking arrest. Minutes later, officers then put Elijah in a deadly chokehold, causing him to go unconscious.3 Paramedics rushed to the scene only for Elijah to later suffer from a heart attack; he was declared brain dead three days later.4
That's why we must call on Attorney General Phil Weiser to stand up for what is right and file criminal charges against the officers who murdered Elijah McClain. He has the power to ensure these officers are not free to roam the streets while Elijah''s family is forced to mourn the loss of their loved one.?
Elijah Mcclain should still be alive today. Sign the petition to demand AG Phil Weiser charge the officers who murdered Elijah.
Here''s the truth: Officer Nathan Woodyard, Jason Rosenblatt, and Randy Roedema are responsible for Elijah''s death.?But the police-led autopsy report suggests the cause of Elijah''s death was unclear even though the coroner listed intense physical exertion as one of the contributing factors that sent Elijah into heart failure.5 To make matters worse, the police review board defended the police officers saying, " the force applied during the altercation. was within policy and consistent with training."?6 The officers were placed on administrative leave but later put back on the force because prosecutors declined to file charges.?There''s no denying the Aurora County police officers and District Attorney Dave Young have delayed justice for Elijah at every turn.?As we''ve seen in the countless number of police-involved shootings that have resulted in Black people being killed, police are rarely held accountable for the violence and harm they inflict on Black people.
If the police had simply allowed Elijah to walk home, he would still be alive today.?Elijah''s murder is yet another example of what we already know -- the police do not keep our communities safe. Just yesterday, members of Elijah''s community held a peaceful vigil, march, and rally where they honored Elijah''s life by observing a few violinists perform and holding hands. But in a widely circulated video, police disrupted the event wearing riot gear -- they deployed pepper spray and were physically violent toward attendees. Our communities aren''t even safe to mourn and honor the lives lost to police violence.7 We can''t sit by while Black people are being killed needlessly in the street by these violent police officers -- now more than ever they must know that enough is enough.??
Jon, we know that when we continually call out these atrocities against our communities, it becomes impossible to ignore. We''ve seen this happen after more than 43,000 Color Of Change members called for #JusticeforBre and more than 300,000 members #RanwithAhmaud. As a result, charges against Bre's boyfriend were dropped, and the three men who murdered Ahmaud have been charged. And we know the same thing can happen for Elijah McClain.?
Enough is enough. Demand the cops who murdered Elijah are charged NOW.?
Until justice is real,?
--Scott, Rashad, Arisha, Erika, Malachi, Marybeth, Madison, Leonard, Ernie and the rest of the Color Of Change team
?References:
ColorOfChange is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change.
If you''re absolutely sure you don''t want to hear from ColorOfChange again, click here to unsubscribe.Jon,
Today is the day! It''s Mother''s Day and it''s the time to celebrate the mothers and caregivers in our lives who give so much to our communities. And more importantly, it''s not too late for you to support our effort to help free Black mothers and caregivers from cages so they can be reunited with their families.?
In the wake of COVID-19, we''ve been bailing out as many Black women as possible because we know jails are incubators for viral infections. Our communities, babies, and loved ones need their families more than ever. Can we count on you to help reunite them?
Contribute $25 to bail out a Black mama or caregiver to be with their family today.
p.s. below is the original email we sent you.
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Dear Jon,
Jails are already death traps and when you introduce a deadly virus, you get a recipe for disaster, and due to already prevalent racism and sexism, Black women are getting hit the hardest. For the thousands of Black women locked in cages right now, the virus could take their lives before they're ever released. But we have the power to change that!
Many of the Black mothers and caregivers who languish behind bars are incarcerated simply because they cannot afford to post money bail. For one, no one should be locked in a cage for being poor. And two, no mother or caregiver should have to meet their fate alone behind the bars of a jail cell.
Jon, every year right before Mother's Day, we use our collective resources to free Black mamas and caregivers from cages and reunite them with their families and communities. We need to raise money to bail out as many Black mothers as possible from cages so they can be reunited with their babies and loved ones. But we are in uncertain times, and more than ever before, our Black mamas need to be connected with their loved ones, and safe in their own homes.
Our babies need their mamas. Cousins loved ones, and all of our communities need them as well. We can't let them perish in jails due to old, racist systems like money bail. Join our 4th Annual Black Mama's Day Bailout to get our people free.
Jon, can we count on you to chip in $25 to help bail out Black mamas from cages so they can be reunited with their families during this crisis?
Coronavirus is spreading like wildfire in jails. Eight out of ten of the largest COVID-19 outbreaks have been in a jail or a prison.1 And due to the undercounting of incarcerated people, 100,000 more people will die than previously expected.2?
National Black Mama's Bail Out Day3 is a coordinated effort by community organizations, advocates, and families to reunite Black mothers with their families. Every donation will go to ensuring we can bail out as many Black mamas and caregivers from cages as possible while offering safe housing options, a weeks'' worth of groceries, and holistic supportive services to every person we help free.
When we reunite Black mothers and caregivers with their families, all of our communities thrive. For the past three years, the bailed-out Black mothers have gone on to complete fellowships and have become organizers in their own communities to advocate for prison reform. This is what's possible when we unite to make our communities and families whole again. When you chip in, you're part of the fight to keep more families connected despite racist structures in place that seek to break Black familial bonds.
Every day is a day to honor Black mothers and caregivers, and especially those who need to be reunited with their loved ones.
Your support is vital. Contribute?$25 today to bring a Black mother or caregiver home.
Until justice is real,
--Scott, Rashad, Arisha, Clarise, Erika, Malachi, Marybeth, Madison, Leonard, and the rest of the Color Of Change team
References:
1. "8 of The Top 10 Biggest U.S. Coronavirus Hotspots Are Prisons and Jails". Reason.?https://act.colorofchange.org/go/246394?t=14&akid=42367%2E4887299%2EShXbIs
2. New Model Shows COVID-19 Death Toll is 100,000 Higher Than Current Projections. ACLU.?https://act.colorofchange.org/go/244677?t=16&akid=42367%2E4887299%2EShXbIs
3. The National Bail Out collective is a Black-led and Black-centered collective of abolitionist organizers, lawyers, and activists building a community-based movement to support our folks and end mass incarceration. Learn more, join their mailing list, and get involved at http://act.colorofchange.org/go/122870?t=18&akid=42367%2E4887299%2EShXbIs
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Help keep our movement strong.
If you''re absolutely sure you don''t want to hear from Color Of Change again, click here to unsubscribe.
While hourly retail workers are laid off, shareholders are getting another check.
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When COVID-19 stay-at-home orders began, so did the layoffs. Retail workers have been some of the hardest hit, losing their previously reliable incomes as large corporations often closed operations at several of their facilities.1 Despite retail giants like Caterpillar, Levi Strauss, Stanley Black & Decker, and Steelcase doing this, they have almost simultaneously paid large dividends to their shareholders. That means that while hourly and low-wage workers were laid off in droves, shareholders got an additional check. The rich are literally getting richer-$434 billion wealthier since the pandemic hit-and we can't accept these kinds of practices while Black people continue to face low wages, inability to get the healthcare they need, and violence from police.2?
Tell retail companies Caterpillar, Levi Strauss, Stanley Black & Decker, and Steelcase that instead of paying shareholders, they need to pay reparations.?????
As protests against police violence continue, more and more companies are coming out with statements to denounce racism. Many of those companies are the exact same ones who furloughed or fired their hourly employees when COVID-19 hit instead of finding tangible ways to support them. We think that companies who are so ready to pay dividends to their shareholders before providing assistance for their frontline hourly workers need to do more than just share an anti-racism press release.???
Demand retail companies Caterpillar, Levi Strauss, Stanley Black & Decker, and Steelcase pay reparations by donating to organizations that are supporting on-the-ground protestors.?
Fighting for racial justice is so much more than an anti-racism statement. It requires dedication and action behind those words. Declaring support of Black people isn't enough. Companies need to make good on their commitment to Black communities, and we're starting by demanding these four retail companies pay reparations.?
Join us in calling on Caterpillar, Levi Strauss, Stanley Black & Decker, and Steelcase to pay reparations instead of dividends to their shareholders
Until justice is real,?
-Brandi, Rashad, Arisha, Jade, Johnny, Amanda, Marie, Evan, Imani, Eesha, Samantha, Jennette, Ciera, Marcus, FolaSade, and the rest of the Color Of Change team?
References:?
Image: Levi Strauss & Co.
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Please help keep our movement strong.
Make a Donation
?
We won't stop fighting for prison phone justice.
?Big news: After weeks of public pressure, prison profiteer Tom Gores just resigned from the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) board
Over the last few weeks, Color Of Change joined forces with Worth Rises to launch a public campaign demanding the LACMA remove prison profiteer, billionaire, and Detroit Pistons owner Tom Gores from its Board of Trustees. And last week, Tom Gores resigned in shame.1?
This is an important victory, Jon: It means we are putting prison profiteers on notice: we won't allow anyone to profit from the violence of the prison industrial complex. It means we are demanding phone justice, toxifying the prison telecom industry, and holding predatory billionaires like Tom Gores accountable.
Here's what you need to know: Gores is the founder and CEO of Platinum Equity, a private equity firm that owns Securus Technologies. Securus is a prison and jail telecommunications firm that rakes in more $700 million annually by price-gouging predominately Black, Brown, and low-income families with incarcerated loved ones - charging upwards of $15 for a 15-minute phone call. This is the system Tom Gores props up and directly profits from.?
By pressuring Gores off of the LACMA board, we just put all prison profiteers on notice: We won't let you sit on cushy boards or make decisions about our communities while profiting from our pain. And we won't let you enjoy accolades while your racist, exploitative practices tear families apart.?
Jon, we know our fight is far from over. We have to keep the pressure on Gores to demand he exits the prison telecoms industry for good -?because there should be ZERO profit motive in the criminal legal system. Click here to tweet at Tom Gores now.?
On top of Securus, Tom Gores owns the Detroit Pistons. Gore's affiliation with the NBA legitimizes his reputation as a business owner and investor in the exploitative prison telecom industry. As the owner of the Detroit Pistons, a predominantly Black team, in a historically Black city, it's hard to believe a "philanthropist" like Tom Gores is naive to systemic inequity.? And we won't stop fighting until billionaires like Tom Gores stop profiting off of Black pain.?
That's why we're calling on every organization affiliated with Tom Gores to lead boldly in this moment. To build a more equitable world for Black people, we must demand accountability from institutions that provide power and prestige to racial capitalists, who commodify Black suffering.?
Tell Tom Gores: Divest from prisons and jails now. We will hold you accountable!?
This is how we win, Jon. We win justice by holding powerful actors accountable through public pressure, direct action, and not letting up.?That's how we pressured Tom Gores to leave the LACMA board. Now, we must demand divestment from prisons and fight for our loved ones behind bars.?
That's what we do - we win justice for Black people, and this victory with LACMA sets a precedent that we intend to amplify: prison profiteers don't deserve a seat at any table.?
Help us continue the fight - demand action from @TomGores now.
Until justice is real,?
Scott, Erika, Malachi, Marybeth, Ernie, Ariel, Leonard, Madison, Ana, Erikca, McKayla, and the rest of the Color of Change team
References:
1. "Tom Gores resigns from LACMA board over prison phone investment", Laurence Darmiento,? Los Angeles Times, October 9, 2020 https://act.colorofchange.org/go/274824?t=10&akid=47282%2E4887299%2E-S3TQh
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Please help keep our movement strong.
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Let's elect a candidate who cares about justice
Dear?Jon,
In George Gasc?n's recent debate with Jackie Lacey, he had some powerful truths to share about Lacey's record:
"What goes on in LA County has nothing to do with safety. It has everything to do with an office that is stuck in the past... with very racist practices that have impacted our community and destroyed individuals and generations for years"
-George Gasc?n, Color Of Change PAC''s endorsed candidate for LA County District Attorney
George Gasc?n is not afraid to call out the racism and police brutality that Jackie Lacey's office has supported the last 8 years. We need to elect him and get her OUT.
Early voting starts in LA County tomorrow, and if you haven't voted for Gasc?n yet, now is the time. Here's what you need to know:
WAIT?Jon, your job isn't done! If you want Gasc?n to win, you have to amplify your impact by getting other friends, family and neighbors to vote for Gasc?n too.
Here's what you can do:
Jon, this week is our last chance to elect a DA who cares about rooting out racism and police brutality in LA County's justice system. Go vote, talk with people who trust you so they vote too, and share the word everywhere you can to make sure George Gasc?n defeats Jackie Lacey.
Thank you for standing with us for justice for Black and brown communities!
Until justice is real,
Jenni, Arisha, Corina, Destanie, Kaya, Scotty and the Color Of Change PAC team
P.S. You can watch some great videos from Color Of Change PAC members on why they support Gasc?n here and here. Share them, and use them as inspiration to make your own!
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ColorOfChange PAC is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Contributions to Color Of Change PAC are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes. This email was sent to yellow71486@. If you''re absolutely sure you don''t want to hear from Color Of Change again, click here to unsubscribe.
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Dear?Jon,??
As hundreds of thousands of people take to the streets demanding justice for George Floyd and the countless of other Black people who''ve been murdered and brutalized at the hands of the police, Bob Kroll, head of the Minneapolis police union, was quick to call George Floyd a "violent criminal," and equate the national protests to a "terrorist movement." Kroll is even actively defending the four officers who participated in killing George.1?What''s clear:?Bob Kroll is an enemy to police accountability and reform -- and for that, he must go.
It shouldn't be a surprise. Kroll is a white supremacist and racist who has worn a white supremacist badge, associated with other white supremacist cops, made many racist statements, and committed unprovoked brutality himself.2?He's said,?"I've been involved in three shootings myself, and not a one of them has bothered me."3
Join us along with our partners at Police Unions Exposed in calling on Minneapolis elected officials and police officers to denounce and publicly demand the resignation of Bob Kroll.
Kroll, like many police union leaders, is notorious for defending dangerous and abusive cops, resisting any form of accountability for police officers, and doing everything possible to block change. If we want to see change, we need to confront police unions, some of the biggest obstacles to accountability and reform. Kroll has to go, and ousting him will put other police unions on notice that we can successfully challenge their power.
When Minneapolis Mayor James Frey ended the warrior-style police training program called "killology," a system linked to the police killing of Philando Castile in nearby Falcon Heights, Kroll called the mayor''s decision "illegal" and continued providing the training that teaches police how to use lethal force against the very people they are entrusted to serve and protect.4 The former police chief of Minneapolis has called on Kroll to resign, along with the Minnesota AFL-CIO, the Minnesota Nurses Association, and Education Minnesota (a teachers' union).5
Kroll and the police union he leads aren't unique. Police unions across the country fight against police reform and accountability with everything they have. They routinely defend violent and abusive officers and often succeed in getting violent cops reinstated after they are fired. They use their political power to fight reform and win contracts that effectively put police above the law. They attack and threaten anyone who dares to challenge the police, including activists, elected officials, and everyday people.
We can be sure that every good idea for ending police brutality and abuse -- from the most basic reforms to dismantling the police altogether -- will meet with vicious opposition from police unions.
It's time to confront police unions and expose their role in perpetuating police brutality, shielding violent police from accountability, and blocking change. It's why we're partnering with a new effort, Police Unions Exposed, focused on educating everyday people about the problematic nature of police unions and their role as the anchor of unaccountable policing and enabling us to push back.
Confronting Bob Kroll and the Minneapolis police union is the first step in challenging the power of police unions across the country. By forcing Kroll out of leadership at the Minneapolis Police Federation, we can send a powerful message to police unions everywhere: if you continue to promote and defend police violence, your power will be taken away.
Bob Kroll must go. Demand MN elected officials and police officers denounce Bob Kroll and publicly demand his resignation.
Until justice is real,?
--Scott, Rashad, Arisha, Erika, Malachi, Marybeth, Madison, Leonard, Cheryl, and the rest of the Color of Change team.?
?References:
ColorOfChange is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change.
If you''re absolutely sure you don''t want to hear from ColorOfChange again, click here to unsubscribe.
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Jon,
BlackRock CEO Larry Fink claims to support racial equity but funds a group that allows the police to attack Black people unchecked. Tell him it's time to put his money where his mouth is. As a community, we have been using this moment to publicly interrogate the harm of policing and the violent actions carried out by law enforcement against Black people. We are watching and participating in the public grieving and anger calling for justice for Black people we have lost to police violence, including George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and Tony McDade. And we are challenging the institutions that continue to play an active role in Black people's suffering and death. The New York City Police Foundation is privately funded by wealthy individuals like Larry Fink, and exists to give the police force the space to do what they want, whenever they want, to whomever they want. They have been instrumental in providing the military equipment the police are using on Black people at this very moment, and in perpetuating racist myths about policing and violent crime that justify the force''s corruption. In fact, the New York City Police Foundation started the infamous "Crime Stoppers" marketing campaign, a program that turns uninformed viewers into paid vigilantes, likely to target Black neighbors, coworkers and strangers alike for "looking suspicious." No matter how gruesome the injustice carried out by the officers it represents, this organization has put an incredible amount of time and resources into ensuring the police of the NYPD are both more armed and less required to answer to anybody but themselves than they have ever been. In that context, what else can Larry Fink's financial support of the New York City Police Foundation represent but an attack on Black lives?
Lip service from corporations like BlackRock won't protect Black people. Action will. Sign now to demand President Larry Fink end his support of the New York City Police Foundation. At this moment in our nation's history, there are no sidelines--Fink's donation to the New York City Police Foundation isn't an arbitrary gesture, he is effectively supporting and advancing the deep harm that Black communities face. We, the people, say no to corporations and CEOs who say Black lives matter in one breath while supporting our destruction in another. Tell Larry Fink to stop supporting the New York Police Foundation. Enough is enough. Tell BlackRock that if it''s truly committed to racial equity, CEO Larry Fink must stop funding the New York City Police Foundation today. Until justice is real,? References: Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Help keep our movement strong.
BlackRock is one the world's largest financial institutions and its President, Larry Fink, released a statement this weekend expressing sadness for the murder of George Floyd while claiming to be "committed to racial equity."1 The problem? Larry Fink is a longtime donor and supporter of the New York City Police Foundation: a group that donates millions of dollars to the NYPD each year--buying them guns, horses, and bomb-detonating robots.2 The same NYPD that has been driving trucks straight into crowds of peaceful protesters gathering to protest the murder of George Floyd, trapping groups of people on bridges with teargas, and indiscriminately brutalizing bystanders. While it's easy to appreciate that companies, brands, and celebrities are seeing the importance in publicly affirming their stance against racism, we know they need to do much more than issue a statement to meaningfully support our communities. The fact is, many of the same corporations coming out in support of Black Lives Matter are the same corporations that bear responsibility for violence, harm, and discrimination against Black people, whether they carry it out, enable it, or profit from it. BlackRock and Larry Fink's support of an organization that was created to shield police officers from accountability are no exception. We are clear that company values or statements mean nothing unless they're backed up by the leadership, the payroll, and the operations. That's why we're calling on Fink to put his money where his mouth is, and stop supporting the New York City Police Foundation today.
-Jade, Brandi, Johnny, Amanda, Samantha, Eesha, FolaSade, Marcus, Marie, Ciera, Jennette and the rest of the Color Of Change team
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Dear Jon,
Sleeping in your home -- yet another privilege Black people are not afforded.
Breonna Taylor, a 26-year-old Black woman, was in her home in Louisville, KY on March 13th when officers from the Louisville Metro Police Department barged in her home, exploded her door, fired off more than 20 bullets, and ultimately took Breonna's life.1 What should have been an average morning was turned into a tragedy by murderous cops.
Her boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, thought someone was burglarizing their home and fired his gun to defend himself. But in turn, the officers responded with a hail of bullets. And to make matters worse, Kenneth Walker is now being charged with attempted murder for firing his gun. The officers did not announce themselves when they entered their home -- Kenneth was simply defending his family to intruders who didn't belong there.
The police were at the wrong house and they had no reason to be there in the first place. Breonna was not charged with a crime, there was no warrant, no warning, and no announcement that police were at her door that morning. And the person they actually were searching for had already been arrested more than 10 miles away.2 Breonna was simply existing in her home and that was enough reason for cops to take her young Black life.?
Her murderers, officers Sgt. Jonathan Mattingly, Brett Hankison, and Myles Cosgrove, still have their jobs and are on the force even more than two months after their illegal misconduct and murdering an unsuspecting person in their home.?
We're joining Breonna's mother in calling on Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer and the Commonwealth's Attorney Thomas Wine to immediately fire the three officers and drop the charges against Kenneth Walker.?
#JusticeforBre: Demand the officers who murdered Breonna Taylor are fired and charges against Kenneth Walker are dropped.
Eight times. Breonna Taylor was shot eight times and her killers have faced no consequences.
Time and again, Black women face police harassment and violence at the hands of bloodthirsty racist cops who see no value in Black lives. Even after they took her life, they continued to criminalize her by referring to her as a "suspect" in the press. We know that Breonna was not a suspect and neither was Kenneth Walker. And even if they were "suspected" of a crime, this does not give officers permission to grossly enter someone's home and murder them in cold blood. It is clear that they are charging Kenneth with attempted murder in an attempt to coverup the egregious misconduct at the hands of their officers.?
We will fight until we see justice and we need you to join us. Last year, Color Of Change members joined us to demand that the officers who brutalized Dyma Loving, a young Black woman in Miami, were fired from the force.3 After we brought attention to her case and the constant abuse of state-sponsored violence on Black women, the officers were ultimately charged for the assault and fired from the Miami-Dade Police Department.?
Just like Dyma's family, Breonna's family deserves some semblance of justice. Breonna was an EMT that lived her life on the frontlines as an essential worker, and when we need people like her the most during this pandemic, cops ended her life. We need to hold these officers accountable. Black people are not safe as long as these cops have jobs.?
These officers have got to go. Demand they be fired immediately and charges against Kenneth are dropped.
Until justice is real,
--Scott, Rashad, Arisha, Clarise, Erika, Malachi, Marybeth, Madison, Leonard, and the rest of the Color Of Change team
References:
1. "Who was Breonna Taylor? What to know about the Louisville EMT shot and killed by police" Courier Journal.
2. "Breonna Taylor died but she wasn''t target of investigation. Police had ''no-knock'' warrant, records show" USA Today.
3. "Police Officer Responsible For Assaulting Dyma Loving Formally Charge" Essence.
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Dear Jon,?
While millions of votes are still being counted, Facebook and Twitter are allowing Donald Trump to spread countless lies and conspiracy theories about the election on social media. Demand Twitter and Facebook immediately #SuspendTrump and stop the spread of misinformation.
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In the past 24 hours, Trump has gone on a warpath on Twitter and Facebook--posting ballot suppression and election misinformation and alleging that the election is being stolen from him --with each post and tweet reaching millions before the social media platforms take action. The truth is that Twitter and Facebook have had years to ban Trump and fix the way lies, hate, and election misinformation spread on their platforms, but the best solution they've created is a small label stating that Donald Trump's factually inaccurate posts are "misleading." That's why it's time to #SuspendTrump until all votes are counted-- Facebook and Twitter are not taking action quickly enough and Trump's lies are allowed to be reposted thousands of times before they're labeled as misinformation. With a historic election still in limbo, this is not enough, and the consequences of that failure could be devastating for our democracy and deadly for people close to the counting process.?
Color Of Change has worked tirelessly to ensure these companies stop the spread of misinformation. The only reason Twitter and Facebook have implemented misinformation labeling at all is because of the advocacy of Color Of Change members. And our staff has been in constant contact with Twitter since last night, pushing them throughout this election to take down misinformation from Trump and his surrogates.?
Facebook and Twitter have a duty to stop Trump's misinformation on the platform, tell them to #SuspendTrump until all votes are counted! The voters should determine this election, not misinformation.
Jon, demand Twitter and Facebook immediately suspend Trump's accounts until all votes are counted.
Until justice is real,?
Arisha, Rashad, Jade, Johnny, Evan, Amanda, Eesha, Imani, Marie, Gabrielle, Samantha, Marcus, FolaSade, Taurjhai, Stasia, Jennette, Ciera, and the rest of the COC team
References:?
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ColorOfChange PAC is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Contributions to Color Of Change PAC are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes. This email was sent to @. If you''re absolutely sure you don''t want to hear from Color Of Change again, click here to unsubscribe.
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As one of the co-founders of Black Lives Matter, people often ask me, "how do you turn a hashtag into a movement?" But the honest answer is that hashtags don't start movements. People do.
Over the last seven years, Black Lives Matter has gone from being a controversial statement to a rallying cry for people all over the country who believe that real justice is a possibility for our people. It's been my honor to be a small part of this huge movement, and it's my hope that my recently released book, The Purpose of Power: How We Come Together When We Fall Apart, can help light the way towards the freedom that we all want so desperately and that Color Of Change is fighting for every day.
That's why if you become a monthly donor of Color Of Change, not only will you be supporting a Black-owned bookstore, but they will ship you a copy of The Purpose of Power, as a thank you.
Jon, the truth is that we are in a moment of incredible crisis. But we're also in a moment of incredible opportunity. We've had to work hard this year to push forward a truth many of us know well: that Black communities and our concerns need to be front and center if this country is going to actually achieve the values it espouses.
Color Of Change is fighting for a future that puts more power into the hands of our people, and that changes the rules that have been rigged against our communities for generations.
If you pledge as little as $1 a month to Color Of Change today, they'll send you a copy of The Purpose of Power as a gift, today.
Thank you for your support.
Until justice is real,?
-Alicia Garza
ColorOfChange is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change.
If you''re absolutely sure you don''t want to hear from ColorOfChange again, click here to unsubscribe.Tell Governor Gavin Newsom to make racist 911 calls a hate crime today!
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Cynthia Bond, just started a petition to?Governor Gavin Newsom: Tell Governor Gavin Newsom to make racist 911 calls a hate crime: Sign the CAREN Act today!
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Dear Jon, I just started a petition titled "Tell Governor Gavin Newsom to make racist 911 calls a hate crime: Sign the CAREN Act today!" On September 11th, I was the victim of a potentially deadly racist act. A white man with his posse called 911 and lied. He said I had pulled a gun on him. Within minutes, 8 police cars, sirens blazing were surrounding my house and ordering me to step outside. I do not own a gun. I have never even held a gun.?The reason this is a racist act and not a hate crime is because Governor Gavin Newsom has not yet signed the Caution Against Racially Exploitative Non-Emergencies (CAREN) Act into law.? The Act would make it unlawful to make false emergency claims that are racially biased.? GOVERNOR NEWSOM HAS UNTIL SEPTEMBER 30TH TO SIGN THE CAREN ACT! Demand that he signs it today! Like millions of people in America, I have been impacted financially by the pandemic. I'm a professional writer, and like so many artists and arts organizations, I've taken a major hit and was grateful for the rent moratorium offered in Los Angeles County. But the very fact that I have not been able to pay rent during a pandemic that has cost so many people income was reason enough for my landlord to come to my door with 4 or 5 men and attempt to intimidate me. And then, when that didn''t work, he lied and told the police I had a gun when I did not.?When the police came, the circle of Black women I teach watched interaction online, helpless and full of horror. Afterwards, one of my students recounted feeling cold with fear and filled with helplessness, frightened that she would watch my life end right there over Zoom. My girlfriend arrived, and saw at least six police cars at my house, and more driving away. She ran up to the door scared that the police had shot me. For me, the fear is still palpable. This, and other kinds of predatory retaliation against Black people must end. Right now, the CAREN ACT is sitting on Governor Newsom's desk, join me in urging him to sign it today. Thank you, Cynthia Bond? ?
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Join us and start your own petition on OrganizeFor today!
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Help keep our movement strong.
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Don't be deterred. The fight continues.
Hi Jon,?
Prosecutors have failed to deliver justice for Breonna Taylor.
Moments ago, Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron announced the decision we were all fearing he'd make: No murder charges will be filed against the police officers who murdered Breonna Taylor in her home. Just one officer was charged with "wanton endangerment," and it was NOT for shooting Bre.1
After 194 days.
2.3 million petition signatures.
100,000 phone calls.
And a global uprising demanding justice for our sister, Breonna Taylor.
No justice was served.
By failing to bring murder charges in the brutal killing of Breonna Taylor, Attorney General Cameron has failed to deliver justice for Bre. Instead, after more than six months, all we've received is a second injustice as Bre's killers - Brett Hankinson, Jonathan Mattingly, and Myles Cosgrove - walk free with no murder charges.?
Elected officials at every level - from Mayor Greg Fischer and Commonwealth's Attorney Tomas Wine to AG Daniel Cameron - all failed Breonna, her family, and the millions of people like you who demanded justice.?
Jon, this moment is more than disheartening - it's infuriating. And while you may be thinking, "what more must we do to get justice for a Black woman murdered by police?", don't forget what we've made possible since March:?After millions demanded #JusticeforBre, the phony charge against her boyfriend Kenneth Walker was dropped. Louisville voted to ban no-knock warrants. Audio of the 911 call was released, and one of the police officers involved was removed from the force. None - and I repeat, none - of this would have happened had we not exercised our voices to stand up for Bre.
Color Of Change won't stop fighting. Black Lives Matter Louisville won't stop fighting. And you can't stop fighting either, Jon.?
Here's what you can do right now to continue demanding #JusticeforBre:
Millions, if not billions, of people worldwide have joined the movement to say her name and demand justice for Breonna Taylor. Black kids across the country have recognized their power to effect change. Our white allies are having the much-needed tough conversations at their dinner tables. And so many local organizers now have the resources they need to keep the fight going.?
Breonna Taylor changed the world. And this is not the end.?
We can't be deterred. Because folks like Tamika Palmer, Breonna's mom, are still on the ground fighting relentlessly to secure justice for our people.
We stand with Breonna's family, BLM Louisville, and local organizers and activists in demanding the Louisville City Council take immediate action to divest from the Louisville Metropolitan Police Department and invest in communities.
Today is a hard day, Jon. But although we may be discouraged by this announcement, we will never stop fighting for Black people.?
Until justice is real,
Scott, Rashad, Arisha, Erika, Marybeth, Malachi, Leonard, Ernie, McKayla, Ana, Ariel, and the rest of the Color Of Change team
Reference:
1. "Police officer indicted in Breonna Taylor case." CNN.
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Please help keep our movement strong.
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Students at Syracuse have been punished for protesting.?? Help us show these student protestors that we support their fight for justice.??? GIVE A HOT MEAL?
Jon,
Instead of punishing the students on campus who''ve been committing racist, homophobic, and anti-Semitic hate crimes, Syracuse University has been punishing the students who are protesting against them. Administration officials have gone so far as to try to cut off the students' access to food and hygiene products. In order for the students of #NotAgainSU to continue protesting, they need hot meals to sustain them.?
We need to raise $2,500 in the next 48 hours so these students can keep protesting as they move into a critical stretch of negotiations with the school. Chip in $5 to purchase a hot meal for a student who is protesting injustice.?
Previously, the University moved to suspend the student protesters, and blocked them from receiving food, feminine hygiene products, and other essential supplies in an attempt to starve them into ending their protest. Because of the steadfast dedication of these students, and pressure from tens of thousands of Color Of Change members, the administration backed off of these cruel responses. But we cannot trust that the Syracuse administration will not retaliate again. They already broke their promise not to retaliate when they first suspended student protesters. We need to make sure these students have the resources they need to keep fighting for changes that will make campus safe and comfortable for Black students, Indigenous students, and Students of Color.
Chip in $5 to purchase meals for students who are fighting for change on campus.
The student protestors of #NotAgainSU are making extreme sacrifices in order to keep fighting for justice on their campus. And we want to show these brave students that we support their efforts by providing them with the hot meals and supplies they need to keep fighting for change on campus.?
A $15 contribution would provide one meal for a student who's protesting. If we reach our goal of $2,5000, we can donate approximately 167 meals - that's five meals per person for more than 30 student protestors!?
Since November, student protestors have been trying to get the administration at Syracuse to take action against the hate crimes occurring on campus. In support of the students, more than 21,000 Color Of Change members signed a petition that brought attention to student protestors' demands for accountability, and more than 12,000 Color Of Change members have directly emailed the school administration. The situation is so dire that the governor of New York, Andrew Cuomo, attempted to intervene, demanding accountability from Chancellor Kent Syverud. Because of these actions and the leadership of #NotAgainSU, the administration has been forced to the negotiating table with the students. If we can help these students continue their protest, we can help them win greater change!?
Syracuse students are demanding changes that are long overdue, and the students need our help to get the administration to accept their demands.?
Make a $5 contribution today to help ensure student protestors have the food they need to fight for a hate free campus.
Until justice is real,?
-Brandi, Rashad, Arisha, Jade, Johnny, Future, Amanda, Evan, Imani, Samantha, Jenette, Ciera, Eesha, Marcus, FolaSade, and the rest of the Color Of Change team
References:?
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Help keep our movement strong.
If you''re absolutely sure you don''t want to hear from Color Of Change again, click here to unsubscribe.
Support our critical work to limit the political power of police unions.
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Hey Jon,
We are in a critical point in our movement to reform policing across the country.
Millions of people are taking action to demand police accountability. Members like you,?Jon, are signing petitions, making phone calls, calling out public officials on social media and even risking your life in an unprecedented public health crisis by taking it to the streets and demanding justice. The public pressure is working. Yet, police unions continue to be a roadblock to reform.
In New York, elected officials passed legislation that would ban the use of chokeholds and make disciplinary records for police officers public information. Within days, local police unions filed multiple lawsuits, making the absurd argument that these reforms go too far.1 In the District of Columbia, the city council passed historic legislation that changes the disciplinary process for dangerous cops.?Weeks later, the local FOP announced a federal lawsuit,?challenging the constitutionality of the law and claiming that the statue unfairly targets police officers.2
At this point, we should not be surprised. These ridiculous lawsuits are nothing more than political stunts and a weak attempt to delegitimize our movement. Police unions are desperately trying to hold onto their power because we are in a unique position to actually?dismantle?the status quo.?Our work could drastically change the criminal justice system. Police unions feel their unchecked power slipping away, which is why they are launching these baseless attacks on reform.
And this is where you come in, Jon. Many people are unfamiliar with the role police unions play in blocking accountability and reform. For instance, police unions consistently advocate for bloated police budgets, fail to hold their officers accountable, push for militarized weapons in our communities, and aggressively push back against any mechanisms of accountability.
If we do not make an intervention then their political power will continue to grow unchecked. We have to limit the influence of police unions in our communities. And that starts with making sure our elected leaders reject political contributions from police unions and work to bring their influence to an end.
Here is how you can help.
Donate $5 a month
Donate $10 a month
Donate $15 a month
Donate $20 a month
Donate $50 a month
Police resistance to our work is a sign that we are winning-- and we cannot let police unions slow us down.?We must move full speed ahead.?
Become a monthly sustainer with Color Of Change PAC.
Until justice is real,
--Scott, Marybeth, Malachi and the rest of the Color of Change Pac Team
References:
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Ad paid for by ColorOfChange PAC, colorofchangepac.org. Not authorized by any federal, state, or local candidate or a committee controlled by a candidate. |
ColorOfChange PAC is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Contributions to Color Of Change PAC are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes. This email was sent to yellow71486@. If you''re absolutely sure you don''t want to hear from Color Of Change again, click here to unsubscribe.
The historic wins we''ve seen this month - Georgia flipping Blue, record Black voter turnout, grassroots organizing in the face of voter suppression - were powered by Black organizers and the movement you''ve helped us build. Let''s keep the momentum going!
Chip in $5 a month to power the movement
We made it, Jon.
We did the work. We cast our ballots. We made our voices heard. And now, we wait for results to be certified to put an end to the terror this administration has inflicted on so many of our communities.?
Make no mistake: We, Black people,?chose our next president and a new path forward - and we the people will insist that every vote is counted.
Jon, our opponents know the power we hold. That's why they unleashed unprecedented attacks on Black and Brown voters and did everything they could to stop us from casting our ballots. Even now, they''re peddling lies to sow distrust in the system. But through it all,?Black people - one of the most disenfranchised communities in this country - did everything we could to save our democracy. And we always do.
In a moment, I'll explain how Black communities got it done - but first, I have to ask you to become a monthly supporter of Color Of Change to power our critical work.
When elected officials tried to suppress Black voters, we fought back by voting in droves and bringing our loved ones to the polls in record numbers. Just look at how?Black organizers and voters flipped Georgia blue for the first time in nearly 30 years.1
When law enforcement tried to intimidate us, we organized. Fighting shoulder-to-shoulder with Black organizers on the ground, we centered Black joy and trained Color Of Change members like you to make calls, send texts, and get out the vote across the country.?
And when prosecutors fail Black people, we vote them out. Take a look at what happened in Los Angeles: District Attorney Jackie Lacey declined to bring charges against cops who murdered more than 600 people. This month, she was voted out. Bye, Lacey!2
These wins were only made possible by deep, long-term organizing and the powerful movement we''ve built together. And while the momentum is on our side right now, we still have a lot of work left to do. To build a more equitable world for Black people,?we have to stay prepared and ready for the road ahead.?
This fight didn''t end on Election Day, and we can''t do it alone. That''s why I have to ask, Jon: Can we count on you become a monthly supporter of Color Of Change??
Most of our monthly donors give anywhere from $3 to $25 a month. But no matter what amount you are able to give, your monthly support will be used to power our existing campaigns, plan for the future, and make sure Color Of Change has the resources we need to keep fighting for Black people:
CHIP IN $5 A MONTH TO POWER THE MOVEMENT
Jon, Election Day was only step one. Now, we're taking notice of who we have to hold accountable and keeping tabs on who fails Black people. And we''re just getting started.?
If your budget allows it, consider becoming a monthly supporter of Color Of Change today. We can''t organize for justice or invest in Black futures without help from supporters like you.
As always, thank you for staying in the trenches with us to demand justice for Black people.
Until justice is real,
Scott, Rashad, Arisha, Erika, Malachi, Madison, Ernie, Ariel, Ericka, Ana, McKayla, and the rest of the Color Of Change team
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References:
1. "Why Georgia was so competitive for Democrats this year." Vox. 05 November 2020.
2. "Activists Hit The Streets Of Downtown LA To Celebrate Jackie Lacey''s Potential Defeat, And Protest Trump''s Claims Of Victory." LAist. 04 November 2020.
ColorOfChange is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change.
If you''re absolutely sure you don''t want to hear from ColorOfChange again, click here to unsubscribe.
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Happy Juneteenth,?Jon! I'd like to share why it's vitally important to honor our ancestral fight for Black freedom.?
In your grade school classes, you were likely taught that enslaved Black people were granted freedom when President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863.1 Unfortunately, we were spoonfed an oversimplified revisionist history.
The truth is, President Lincoln intended to preserve the Union rather than abolish slavery in its entirety.2 The Emancipation Proclamation states "that all persons held as slaves" within the rebellious states "are, and henceforward shall be free."3 What this truly means is that slavery was fully intact among southern states and the promise of slavery abolition was dependent on a Civil War victory, which occurred in April 1865.?
Time and time again, the promise of our ancestors' freedom has been delayed, contingent, and deprioritized. It wasn't until June 19, 1865, when 2,000 Union troops arrived in Galveston Bay, Texas that emancipation became a truer reality. There, the army announced that over 250,000 Black enslaved people were granted freedom via executive decree.4?
Juneteenth commemorates the day when the last enslaved Black people in Texas were finally granted freedom according to law. Although slavery legally ended, uninhibited freedom still has not become a reality for all Black people in the United States. Our ancestors were taunted and lynched profusely by white supremacist individuals and organizations like the KKK during the Reconstruction era. Then Jim Crow laws turned Black people into second-class citizens through enforced racial segregation until 1965 with the passing of the Voting Rights Act. And today, we are experiencing police brutality, redlining, voter suppression, and mass incarceration simultaneously.
Our history is rife with injustice and we''ve got a ways to go before all Black people are free from systemic racism. But now more than ever, I encourage you to honor and celebrate the legacy of Black resilience and freedom by making sure you and your community members are registered to vote.
I cannot promise that voting will immediately solve inequities Black people experience every day in this country. But it is one of the best ways we can use our voices to elect leaders that are accountable to Black communities and understand that we need change now.
We are our ancestors' wildest dreams. Let's take that dream even further and envision a world where all Black lives not only matter, but are cherished and protected equally.??
CONFIRM YOUR VOTER REGISTRATION
REGISTER 5 OF YOUR FRIENDS NOW
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Until justice is real,?
Jenni, Drew, Charles, Cristel, Tammi, Alex, Scotty, Daniel and the Color Of Change PAC team
References:? 1. https://act.colorofchange.org/go/252605?t=9&akid=43657%2E5670730%2EnsGJ9f)%20passed%20Congress. 2.?https://act.colorofchange.org/go/252606?t=11&akid=43657%2E5670730%2EnsGJ9f 3.?https://act.colorofchange.org/go/252607?t=13&akid=43657%2E5670730%2EnsGJ9f 4.?https://act.colorofchange.org/go/252608?t=15&akid=43657%2E5670730%2EnsGJ9f
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ColorOfChange PAC is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Contributions to Color Of Change PAC are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes. This email was sent to @. If you''re absolutely sure you don''t want to hear from Color Of Change again, click here to unsubscribe.
Protect Georgia ballot counters.
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Poll workers in Georgia - who are mostly Black women - are being forced to take drastic measures to protect themselves against online threats that are becoming real-world violence. One poll worker was forced into hiding after being harassed on Facebook and having his home address publicly posted. He fled to a friend's house because he no longer feels safe in his own home, while another found a noose outside of his family's home with his name on it.1?The non-stop election misinformation and threats against poll workers have gotten so bad even Georgia's Republican Voting System Manager warned "Someone's going to get hurt, someone's going to get shot, someone's going to get killed."2
Enough is enough. Facebook must stop the poll worker harassment and intimidation happening on the site and implement additional protections for Georgia's election poll workers. Facebook already offers additional privacy and safety features to journalists and politicians - who face similar types of online harassment - yet refuses to similarly protect election workers. This is unacceptable.?
SIGN THE PETITION: Demand Facebook Ban the Harassment of Poll Workers
Despite attempts to undermine our votes, Black women continue to protect our democracy and bear the brunt of white supremacist attacks on it.3?Election misinformation and online harassment driven by Facebook have spilled into the streets and poll workers are afraid. Facebook is directly placing poll workers in harm''s way by not implementing privacy and safety protections for poll workers. By not taking action, Facebook is contributing to hate-driven violence. An internal Facebook report revealed that 64% of people join extremist groups because Facebook recommended it to them. Facebook provided a home for hate groups to grow and is a contributor to the harassment of poll workers. Due to these Facebook-driven hate groups, in several states, white nationalists and militias have gathered outside of election sites with military-style rifles and have sent election workers threats to intimidate them into denying Black votes. Now more than ever Facebook must take immediate action to protect Georgia election workers, extend the protections that are provided to journalists and politicians, and stop the spread of misinformation and violence in Georgia. Jon, help us protect public servants, especially Black women.
SIGN THE PETITION: Demand Facebook Ban the Harassment of Poll Workers
Until justice is real,?
-Jade, Rashad, Arisha, Johnny, Amanda, Evan, Imani, Marie, Samantha, Eesha, Marcus, FolaSade, Eesha,?Jennette, Ciera,?Gabrielle, Taurjhai, Stasia, and the rest of the Color Of Change team
References:?
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Please help keep our movement strong.
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Help make sure people are ready to vote
Hey Jon,
I''m just following up here to remind you about our Black Joy Textathon this Saturday! If you missed the party Wednesday, don''t worry, there''s still room for this weekend. Just RSVP here to let us know you''ll be there.
See you soon,
Shannon, Corina, Destanie, Kaya, and the Color Of Change PAC team
Hey Jon,
We''re back again with your weekly invitation to text and call more Black people in communities around the country to encourage them to get out and vote- we have JUST 2 WEEKS until election day!
RSVP below to join us for one of our Black Joy events this week:
RSVP For saturday
This week is crucial-- with just 2 weeks left, this is the week when many people will need to be reminded to make a plan to vote so their daily lives don''t get in the way. We'll be texting Black voters across the nation to get them this information, and help convince undecided folks to take action.
RSVP today to get essential information to Black voters before November! And bring a friend too!
RSVP for Saturday
Until justice is real,
Shannon, Corina, Destanie, Kaya, Bill, Niesha, Cam, Scotty and the rest of the Color Of Change PAC team
P.S. We''re also collecting videos from people like you about why it''s important to get out and vote, and how it impacts Black communities. Click here to make your own to share with your people!
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ColorOfChange PAC is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Contributions to Color Of Change PAC are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes. This email was sent to @. If you''re absolutely sure you don''t want to hear from Color Of Change again, click here to unsubscribe.
I'm writing to invite you to our California Relationship Building Trainings next week!
Jon,
?OR
Friday, August 28, 4:30-6:00pm PDT
RSVP Here
?OR
Wednesday, August 26, 5:00-6:30pm PDT
RSVP HERE
This year we're working to protect our community from the coronavirus, standing up to decision-makers that enable police brutality, and creating campaigns to make sure our community is not left behind in this "new normal". Black people have fundamentally changed the political landscape and no matter who is in office, we know that we are the answer for our families, our communities, and the nation.
This will be a space to celebrate our unique power and have meaningful discussions--but also a call to action.
It''s time to build our political power and organize our communities around the issues that matter most to Black folks. Can''t wait to have you join us!
Until justice is real,
Shannon, Kwesi, Corina, Destanie, Kaya, Bill, Charles, Scotty and the rest of the Color Of Change PAC team
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Paid Pol. Adv. paid for by ColorOfChange PAC, 1714 Franklin St., Oakland, CA 94612, independently of and not authorized or approved by any federal, state, or local candidate or candidate's committee.
ColorOfChange PAC is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Contributions to Color Of Change PAC are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes. This email was sent to yellow71486@. If you''re absolutely sure you don''t want to hear from Color Of Change again, click here to unsubscribe.
Help make sure people are ready to vote
Hey Jon,
It''s 3 weeks out from election day, and here''s your weekly invitation to text and call more Black people in communities around the country to encourage them to get out and vote!
RSVP below to join us for one of our Black Joy Call Parties this week:
RSVP For saturday
The issues that we care about -- ensuring that Black women are protected, standing up to police brutality, education equity -- will be decided by the people that we elect up and down the ballot.
This week, we'll be calling and texting Black voters across the nation to learn more about the issues they care about and ask for their support. There are many folks who are still undecided and need information.
RSVP today to get essential information to Black voters before November! And bring a friend too!
RSVP for Wednesday
RSVP for Saturday
Until justice is real,
Shannon, Corina, Destanie, Kaya, Bill, Niesha, Cam, Scotty and the rest of the Color Of Change PAC team
P.S. We''re also collecting videos from people like you about why it''s important to get out and vote, and how it impacts Black communities. Click here to make your own to share with your people!
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Ad paid for by ColorOfChange PAC, colorofchangepac.org. Not authorized by any federal, state, or local candidate or a committee controlled by a candidate. |
ColorOfChange PAC is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Contributions to Color Of Change PAC are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes. This email was sent to @. If you''re absolutely sure you don''t want to hear from Color Of Change again, click here to unsubscribe.
This Sunday, we're hosting a virtual brunch in honor of Breonna Taylor, and all Black women who have been murdered by police and the mass incarceration system.
Jon,
RSVP TODAY
At this event, we''ll tell Breonna''s story and listen to one another''s stories of challenge and triumph. We believe telling our stories is essential to celebrating the lives of those we''ve lost and reclaiming our stories that are often reduced to a hashtag. We want to remember to uplift our smiles, remember our selfless actions, and acknowledge the ways we show up for our loved ones and communities daily. This will be a joyful celebration of Black life.
In addition to sharing our stories, we''ll talk about elections and the ways we can use them as a tool to build a world where we don''t lose any more of our sisters, and where those we''ve lost receive the justice they deserve. Elections are not the only tool we need, but they are an opportunity to elect leaders who will listen and be accountable to Black communities.
We''re partnering with LA-based Black businesses and entrepreneurs like?A Little Day Brunch, Autumn Breon, and?We Love Leimert?to help make this event an investment into our own communities.
RSVP today to join our Give Black Women Their Flowers virtual brunch this Sunday!
Until justice is real,
Shannon, Corina, Destanie, Kaya, Kwesi, Bill, Charles, Scotty and the rest of the Color Of Change PAC team
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Paid Pol. Adv. paid for by ColorOfChange PAC, 1714 Franklin St., Oakland, CA 94612, independently of and not authorized or approved by any federal, state, or local candidate or candidate's committee.
ColorOfChange PAC is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Contributions to Color Of Change PAC are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes. This email was sent to yellow71486@. If you''re absolutely sure you don''t want to hear from Color Of Change again, click here to unsubscribe.
Support of Black lives isn't a one-time thing.
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McDonald's supersizes a toxic culture for Black workers. Last week three Black workers were fired for speaking out against the lack of hazard pay and coronavirus safety measures. This comes on the heels of a lawsuit from 50 Black former franchisees after McDonald's redlined their stores. To make a bad situation worse, McDonald's is facing mounting and ongoing sexual assault and harassment lawsuits. As McDonald's tries to partner with Black artists, Black workers at McDonald's stores across the country face a hostile workplace and job insecurity if they speak up about it.
Jon, Tweet McDonald's and demand this corporation address the ways it harms its Black employees and communities.?
The three workers, including an elderly woman named Ms. DeeDee, were fired in a retaliation attempt for demanding hazard pay for heightened risk and exposure to COVID. The workers, mostly women, decided to put their livelihoods on the line because McDonald's, the second-largest fast-food retailer in the world doesn't believe that the demands of women and low-wage workers are worth caring about. Ms. DeeDee and the others simply wanted what would be the minimum wage (if kept with inflation) and protective COVID gear.
The 50 former Black franchisees asked the chain to better support its stores. From updated renovations to increased revenue, the franchise owners asked the company to materialize its "partnership values" and the company simply did not. Instead, it let Black-led McDonald's franchise stores fall behind revenue, an average of $700,000 less than white franchise stores and, as a result, deal with a higher turnover rate.1 The number of Black McDonald's franchisee stores decreased dramatically from 377 in 1998 to 186 this year.2,3 As the company tries to rebrand itself as "for the culture," it would be better served protecting its Black partners.?
Tweet McDonald's and demand this corporation address the ways it harms its Black employees and communities.?
The way McDonald's treats its employees is why we're speaking out about it. This corporation is responsible for harms ranging from wage theft, paid sick leave refusal, and workplace retaliation. McDonald's is being called out about the way it treats our folks so it's trying to scapegoat Black culture to pivot away from its many harms. This company can't support Black culture if it doesn't support Black lives. Plain and simple.?Jon, we've only made three points, but.
If you're already convinced McDonald's needs to address its lip service, tweet them directly, and demand this corporation repair the harms they have caused employees and Black communities.?
Until justice is real,?
-Arisha, Jade, Rashad, Johnny, Amanda, Evan, Imani, Marie, Samantha, Eesha, Marcus, FolaSade, Eesha,?Jennette, Ciera,?Gabrielle, Taurjhai, Stasia, and the rest of the Color Of Change team
References:?
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Please help keep our movement strong.
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And this is big, we got Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke banned from Twitter!
Dear Jon.
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We got Twitter to finally ban white nationalist and former Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke from its platform.1 After we saw David Duke's racist tweets on conspiracy theories and others inspired by him, we met with Twitter and demanded they remove him.?This is a step in the right direction in protecting our people from white nationalists. Twitter should not be a place for white nationalists to spew hate and organize against Black people.?
We celebrate this victory knowing more work needs to be done. Become a recurring donor and demand Twitter stop peddling hate and misinformation.
Color Of Change along with the Change The Terms coalition and several other civil rights organizations have fought hard for more than a year to ensure platforms are free from hate speech. We have to use all of our resources to continue this work to combat not only hate speech but also misinformation.
Jon, support our ongoing work to protect our civil rights and freedom to use social media from white nationalists like David Duke.
Until justice is real,
--Jade, Rashad, Arisha, Evan, Johnny, Amanda, Marie, Eesha, Samantha, Marcus, FolaSade, Jennette,?Cierra, Gabrielle, and the rest of the Color Of Change team
References:
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Please help keep our movement strong.
Make a Donation
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White nationalist groups are using Facebook to mobilize.?
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White nationalist groups are using Facebook to mobilize.? ??
Tell Facebook to ban white nationalist hate groups and stop fueling white nationalism.? TAKE ACTION |
A white nationalist just murdered two protesters demanding justice for Jacob Blake in Kenosha.
While demanding justice for Jacob Blake, the 29-year-old Black man who police recently shot in the back 7 times, paralyzing him from the waist down, an emboldened white nationalist militia member opened fire on protestors, shooting and killing two of them, and wounding a third.1 This white nationalist man was encouraged and emboldened to carry out such violence through a network of Facebook groups in which white nationalists openly discussed how they planned to violently harm protesters, with no intervention from Facebook until after the protesters were killed.2?
Sadly, this isn't the first time white nationalist groups have mobilized on the platform to carry out real-world violence. Facebook promised to ban hate groups after it was used to organize 2018's deadly "Unite the Right" riot. And just last week, they promised to ban far-right militias as threats increased, but white nationalists were still able to use Facebook to organize to harm protesters last night.?
We cannot allow this to continue. Tell Facebook to stop fueling white nationalist hate groups.?
Color Of Change has spent five years now trying to get Facebook to combat hate on the platform, and while we've won important changes to limit the impact of online hate, Facebook still refuses to fully reckon with the ways their company elevates white nationalists and other hate groups. Facebook, for example, automatically recommends hate group pages and content to those who use the platform, indoctrinating people in white nationalist ideologies. In some cases, Facebook will even automatically create pages for new hate groups.3?
Facebook must IMMEDIATELY ban white nationalist hate groups from organizing on their platform.?
Black people are facing undue suppression, harassment, and hate on Facebook. We can't afford for Facebook to keep radicalizing white nationalists, who, through their interactions on Facebook, are driving real-world violence against protesters. White nationalist violence against us must end, and it's Facebook's job to step in and stop it.?
Tell Facebook to stop fueling white nationalist organizing, once and for all.
Until justice is real,?
-Jade, Arisha, Rashad, Johnny, Amanda, Marie, Evan, Imani, Eesha, Gabrielle, Samantha, Jennette, Ciera, Marcus, FolaSade, and the rest of the Color Of Change team
References:
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Please help keep our movement strong.
Make a Donation
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Georgia's primary was a hot, flaming mess
Jon, the message is clear: Black votes and Black lives don't matter to officials in Georgia.
On Tuesday, voters in 2 largely Black counties in the Atlanta area were forced to expose themselves to coronavirus for 3, 4, or 5 hours while waiting in line to vote. People reported dozens of broken voting machines, ballot shortages, and untrained poll workers.1
In response, Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger defended himself and said "It's a good day for Georgia."2
We are outraged, and we refuse to remain silent while white elected officials minimize the same Black voter suppression that's been happening since Jim Crow.
If you're as angry as we are, join us and donate to help us fight Black voter suppression in every. last. state. Or read more below about our plans to fight back.
We''ve already gotten some infuriating reports from Color Of Change members in Georgia:
"We arrived at the polling place at 7:07am. The line was already around the outside of the building. 6.5 hours later we actually made it inside to vote."- Sheryl
"The voting machines were not delivered. We completed paper ballots and placed them in a rolling bag."- Holly
"There were no machines, the staff was ill prepared! The process not streamlined and took much longer than it should have. Stop trying to suppress our votes!!"- Aisha
Just as police murder of Black people has not changed since the origins of police as slave patrols, suppression of Black votes has not changed since the days of poll taxes and literacy tests. It is just one more tactic white politicians and their supporters use to silence and control our communities.
And just as the protests demanding justice for George Floyd are refusing to stand down until policing is radically changed, we must fight until Black voter suppression is eradicated everywhere.
Join us Jon, and donate to help us register thousands of Black folks, use online ads and text messages to get people information about how to vote safely, and call out elected officials who refuse to protect Black voters.
Donate $1
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Donate $50
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Donate another amount
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Until justice is real,?
Arisha, Jenni, Drew, Charles, Tammi, Cristel, Daniel, Alex, Scotty and the Color Of Change PAC team
Sources
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Paid Pol. Adv. paid for by ColorOfChange PAC, 1714 Franklin St., Oakland, CA 94612, independently of and not authorized or approved by any federal, state, or local candidate or candidate's committee.
ColorOfChange PAC is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Contributions to Color Of Change PAC are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes. This email was sent to yellow71486@. If you''re absolutely sure you don''t want to hear from Color Of Change again, click here to unsubscribe.
Everything you need to know to support George Gasc?n
Dear?Jon,
This is the week we decide whether LA County continues to have a District Attorney who cages thousands of Black and brown people and allows cops to kill innocent people without consequence--
--OR we elect George Gasc?n and start our community on a path towards racial justice, accountability, and real safety.
If you haven't voted yet and you care about racial justice and change to our police & criminal justice systems in LA County, vote for George Gasc?n. All the information you need is below.
If you've already voted, take a second, think about everyone you know in LA County, then share the info below with them-- you are the most powerful messenger to get them to vote!
Everything you need to know to vote for George Gasc?n this week
Step 1: Are you registered to vote?
Step 2: How are you voting?
Step 3: Who and what should you bring?
Step 4: Track your ballot
Ok lastly, here's a few more resources to help you inform people about George Gasc?n:
Let's make sure we've all done every last thing in our power to elect George Gasc?n and move towards real justice in LA County. Don't let yourself regret doing less.
And?Jon, thank you for all you do to fight for racial justice. We see you and appreciate you.
Until justice is real,
Jenni, Arisha, Drew, Corina, Destanie, Kaya, Charles, Karl?h, Scotty and the Color Of Change PAC team
P.S. You can watch some great videos from Color Of Change PAC members on why they support Gasc?n here and here. Share them, and use them as inspiration to make your own!
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Ad paid for by ColorOfChange PAC, Supporting Gascon for LA County District Attorney 2020, colorofchangepac.org. Committee major funding from: Susan Pritzker Wayne Jordan Quinn Delaney Not authorized by any federal, state, or local candidate or a committee controlled by a candidate. |
ColorOfChange PAC is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Contributions to Color Of Change PAC are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes. This email was sent to yellow71486@. If you''re absolutely sure you don''t want to hear from Color Of Change again, click here to unsubscribe.
Demand justice for our brother who was almost murdered by police in another anti-Black act of violence.
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Jake Blake.
Jon, we're sending you this message with a heavy heart this Monday afternoon. Jacob "Jake" Blake, a 29-year-old Black man, was shot multiple times in his back by a Kenosha, WI police officer on Sunday.1 Jake was calmly walking away from officers and trying to get into his car when one officer shot him at point-blank range in his back at least 7 times. And it all happened in broad daylight in front of his small children, who sat in the car traumatized as they witnessed?their father being shot in front of them.?
#JusticeforJake: Demand the officer who shot Jake Blake is held accountable for attempting to take his life.
Police were called to Jake's neighborhood due to a domestic dispute. When police arrived on the scene, they encountered Jake, a 29-year-old father. Witnesses say Jake had just broken up a fight between two women in the neighborhood. Cellphone video footage shows Jake walking away from two police officers, and both officers have their weapons drawn on him as he attempts to enter his vehicle. Once Jake opened the door of his vehicle, one officer grabbed his shirt and began firing off shots.
Jake was savagely shot by a racist cop who saw his Blackness as a threat. As of now, we don't know what took place before the viral video starts -- and we don't need to know. Because what we all saw in the video was an attempted execution, period.?
The officer who fired the shots must be held accountable. We're calling on District Attorney Michael Graveley, Mayor John Antaramian, and Attorney General Josh Kaul to immediately fire and arrest?the cop who attempted to murder Jake.?
Justice can't wait another second.?
Sign the petition to bring justice for Jake and his family.?
We are tired. And we know you are too.?
Black people are still reeling from the deaths of so many other Black folks at the hands of police violence this summer -- Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, Rayshard Brooks, Tony McDade -- and the thousands of other names we don't know. The thousands of other Black people who just want to breathe and live free of the terror from state violence.?
In the 12 hours since Jake was shot, Kenosha officials are already attempting to stop our fight for justice. A city-wide curfew was put in place to stop anyone from rightfully protesting. And the Kenosha Police Department released a vague statement absolving their department of wrongdoing.
Stand with us. Stand with Jake's family. Demand accountability now.
We have to fight for Jake just as hard as we've been fighting for Breonna and her family. We must fight for his small children, his family, his friends, and all the other Black folks who deserve to live in a just society.?
We've witnessed police officers shoot and kill Black folks too many times. And each time, we feel the hurt. This is not normal. We can't let it ever become normal and we refuse to stand idly by as police officers kill us with impunity. Stand with us in the fight.
Until justice is real,
--Scott, Rashad, Arisha, Erika, Malachi, Marybeth, Madison, Leonard, Ernie, McKayla, and the rest of the Color Of Change team
References:
1. "Police shooting of Jacob Blake: Protests erupt, Wisconsin DOJ to investigate" USA Today.
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Please help keep our movement strong.
Make a Donation
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Demand justice for our brother who was almost murdered by police in another anti-Black act of violence.
|
Jake Blake.
Jon, we're sending you this message with a heavy heart this Monday afternoon. Jacob "Jake" Blake, a 29-year-old Black man, was shot multiple times in his back by a Kenosha, WI police officer on Sunday.1 Jake was calmly walking away from officers and trying to get into his car when one officer shot him at point-blank range in his back at least 7 times. And it all happened in broad daylight in front of his small children, who sat in the car traumatized as they witnessed?their father being shot in front of them.?
#JusticeforJake: Demand the officer who shot Jake Blake is held accountable for attempting to take his life.
Police were called to Jake's neighborhood due to a domestic dispute. When police arrived on the scene, they encountered Jake, a 29-year-old father. Witnesses say Jake had just broken up a fight between two women in the neighborhood. Cellphone video footage shows Jake walking away from two police officers, and both officers have their weapons drawn on him as he attempts to enter his vehicle. Once Jake opened the door of his vehicle, one officer grabbed his shirt and began firing off shots.
Jake was savagely shot by a racist cop who saw his Blackness as a threat. As of now, we don't know what took place before the viral video starts -- and we don't need to know. Because what we all saw in the video was an attempted execution, period.?
The officer who fired the shots must be held accountable. We're calling on District Attorney Michael Graveley, Mayor John Antaramian, and Attorney General Josh Kaul to immediately fire and arrest?the cop who attempted to murder Jake.?
Justice can't wait another second.?
Sign the petition to bring justice for Jake and his family.?
We are tired. And we know you are too.?
Black people are still reeling from the deaths of so many other Black folks at the hands of police violence this summer -- Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, Rayshard Brooks, Tony McDade -- and the thousands of other names we don't know. The thousands of other Black people who just want to breathe and live free of the terror from state violence.?
In the 12 hours since Jake was shot, Kenosha officials are already attempting to stop our fight for justice. A city-wide curfew was put in place to stop anyone from rightfully protesting. And the Kenosha Police Department released a vague statement absolving their department of wrongdoing.
Stand with us. Stand with Jake's family. Demand accountability now.
We have to fight for Jake just as hard as we've been fighting for Breonna and her family. We must fight for his small children, his family, his friends, and all the other Black folks who deserve to live in a just society.?
We've witnessed police officers shoot and kill Black folks too many times. And each time, we feel the hurt. This is not normal. We can't let it ever become normal and we refuse to stand idly by as police officers kill us with impunity. Stand with us in the fight.
Until justice is real,
--Scott, Rashad, Arisha, Erika, Malachi, Marybeth, Madison, Leonard, Ernie, McKayla, and the rest of the Color Of Change team
References:
1. "Police shooting of Jacob Blake: Protests erupt, Wisconsin DOJ to investigate" USA Today.
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Please help keep our movement strong.
Make a Donation
?
Dear Jon,
We can't dismantle the system that allowed the murders of Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and George Floyd think that they could kill with impunity in one election, but if we work together now and win the Senate races in Georgia we can keep moving in the direction of justice.
Over the last few months, we''ve seen how powerful we can be when we work together. Thousands of Color Of Change PAC members, like yourself, came together to elect candidates up and down the ticket that will stand up for Black people across this country.
There's no time to lose -- from runoff elections, to holding the Biden-Harris administration''s feet to the fire to make sure they show up for racial justice, we can't take our foot off the gas now.
Will you commit to volunteering with Color Of Change PAC to make it happen?
Since the general election, Color Of Change PAC members have continued to show up in hotly contested runoff elections to elect Deborah Gonzalez for Athens-Clarke and Oconee counties District Attorney and Jason Williams for Orleans Parish District Attorney.
We have two races and 26 days left to ensure that we win the Senate. -- but we can only win if we work together. Click here to commit to volunteering with Color Of Change PAC to make it happen!
In 2020 we proved that when we work together, we''re an unstoppable force for justice. From the top of the ticket all the way down. We can''t slow up now.
Until justice is real,
Shannon, Andrew, Charles, Patrick, Naima, Charles, Olivia, Jamie, and the rest of the Color Of Change PAC team
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Paid Pol. Adv. paid for by ColorOfChange PAC, 1714 Franklin St., Oakland, CA 94612, independently of and not authorized or approved by any federal, state, or local candidate or candidate's committee.
ColorOfChange PAC is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Contributions to Color Of Change PAC are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes. This email was sent to yellow71486@. If you''re absolutely sure you don''t want to hear from Color Of Change again, click here to unsubscribe.
Jon,
This just in -- The remaining three officers who stood by and did nothing to stop former Officer Derek Chauvin from killing George Floyd have been charged with aiding and abetting murder. And finally, Chauvin's murder charges have been upgraded to the second-degree.1
This is a testament to our movement to end police violence and white supremacy. Tens of thousands of people have been rising up across the country and the world, demanding an end to the inhumane treatment of Black people in this country. More than 4 million people signed the Color Of Change petition, and tens of thousands more made phone calls, and amplified our demands on social media. Our rallying cry is clear, Black Lives Matter, invest in our communities, and defund the police.?
But we still have work to do. We know that white supremacy and anti-blackness are ingrained in every level of society, and we must hold the enablers who allow the devaluing of Black lives accountable for their actions.? We're asking you?Jon to take the following actions, to ensure that our voices are heard and that justice is won.?
Join us in continuing to fight for justice by taking the following? actions:
Now we must stand together and fight for the collective freedom of Black people.?
Until Justice is Real,
Rashad
References:
1. "Attorney General Keith Ellison to elevate charges against officer who knelt on George Floyd''s neck; also charging other 3 involved." Star Tribune.
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Help keep our movement strong.
If you''re absolutely sure you don''t want to hear from Color Of Change again, click here to unsubscribe.
Jon,?
As soon as we realized the pandemic was going to wreak havoc on incarcerated people, we knew we had to jump in to protect the most vulnerable people.
We didn't wait. We took action. Within the first few days, Color Of Change launched a nationwide campaign demanding elected officials at every level immediately implement a humane plan to protect incarcerated people and corporations end all practices that unjustly harm people behind bars and their families.
Within two days, 75 partner organizations stood with us, more than 20,000 Color Of Change members like you, Jon, signed the petition, our fight was gaining steam on social media, and we helped local community groups launch more than 20 campaigns across the country to bring the fight locally.
And even though we've had some victories, the fight continues to this day, and beyond.
Jon, will?you make a monthly investment of $5 a month to power the movement you helped create??
I'm going to be honest,?Jon - this has been an unprecedented time for Color Of Change. We have launched more campaigns in the first half of this year than I can remember in my 5 years of running the Criminal Justice department. But this is why we're here. Because elected officials, Black and Brown communities, and people just like you are relying on us to show up in these moments. You're relying on us to provide you with strategic ways to take action about the injustices you see in the world.
And we need your help to power this ship. As long as we're here and you're in the fight with us, corporations, and elected officials alike, will be held accountable.
chip in $5 a month to power the movement?
Jon, you may have already noticed that Color Of Change isn't afraid to call out corporations and elected officials whenever we see injustices toward Black people. Like when GoFundMe allowed the killers of Ahmaud Arbery to raise money on their platform. And we got their fundraising pages taken down. Or when prison phone companies exploit incarcerated people. And we fought in Dallas to reduce the jail phone rate by 95%. Or when Judge Mary Ellen Brennan jailed a 15-year-old Black girl for not doing her homework. And we fought to get her released.
And because we fight unabashedly for Black communities, we don't take money from corporations or elected officials. We refuse to trade money for silence on racism. This is why we need you in the fight with us. We can't risk losing this momentum in our movement that you helped us fight to get.
power the movement with a donation!?
Until justice is real,
Scott, Rashad, Arisha, Erika, Marybeth, Malachi, Ernie, Leonard, Madison, McKayla, and the rest of the Color Of Change team
ColorOfChange is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change.
If you''re absolutely sure you don''t want to hear from ColorOfChange again, click here to unsubscribe.
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Dear Jon,
Color Of Change has less than 30 days to raise $5,000 to provide the young men of Ron Brown College Preparatory High School (RBHS) resources to support their 2021 Black Boy Joy Book and Movie Club. This season of giving, will you chip in $5 to support our kids?
Located in Washington, D.C., RBHS is the only all-male school in the area driven by the pillars of Character, Scholarship, and Service. The Black Boy Joy Movie and Book Club was created in response to social, emotional, and academic needs of RBHS's Young Kings during the pandemic and distance learning. In these historic and uncertain times, Black children--specifically young Black men--need our sustained support to continue learning and smiling. Since opening its doors in August of 2016, RBHS has not run out of innovative ways to develop and enhance young men's character, academic curiosity, and service. Your donation and support will provide the Young Kings of Ron Brown High School with resources to use literature and movies to discuss and deepen course content and connection.?Can the young men of RBHS count on you Jon, to support Black Boy Joy and learning?
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YES! I will chip-in $5 |
Not too long ago, 20,000 Color Of Change members took action and pressured New York City public schools to invest in culturally responsive education, ensuring Black NYC public school students had a curriculum with books and materials containing characters who look like them, live like them, or have similar experiences. Jon, this giving season invest in our children again as they learn and cope during this unprecedented time with culturally relevant books and movies.
Jon, your donation could make a huge difference in a young Black boys life. Will you chip in $5 to help us meet our $5,000 goal?
The Black Boy Joy Book and Movie Club is a product of the RBHS Culture and Restorative Efforts (C.A.R.E) Team (a collective of Ron Brown's school psychologist, counselors, social workers, culture coach, and other career/college readiness coaches).?You can be assured that your donation is going towards meaningful activities that will deeply enrich not only the education the young men receive but also support their overall well-being.
RBHS embodies the fight you helped win in New York by providing students a student-centered, culturally relevant, college preparatory curriculum. Now, more than ever, the Young Kings of RBHS in Washington, D.C., need your support.?Jon,?we know times are hard but every little bit counts when it comes to our children.?If you''d like to do even more, become a recurring donor and support our on-going education justice work.
Until justice is real,?
--Jade, Arisha, Rashad, Johnny, Evan, Amanda, Eesha, Imani, Marie, Gabrielle, Samantha, Marcus, FolaSade, Taurjhai, Stasia, Jennette, Ciera, and the rest of the COC team
References:
ColorOfChange is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change.
If you''re absolutely sure you don''t want to hear from ColorOfChange again, click here to unsubscribe.Support of Black lives isn't a one-time thing.
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McDonald's supersizes a toxic culture for Black workers. Last week three Black workers were fired for speaking out against the lack of hazard pay and coronavirus safety measures. This comes on the heels of a lawsuit from 50 Black former franchisees after McDonald's redlined their stores. To make a bad situation worse, McDonald's is facing mounting and ongoing sexual assault and harassment lawsuits. As McDonald's tries to partner with Black artists, Black workers at McDonald's stores across the country face a hostile workplace and job insecurity if they speak up about it.
Jon, Tweet McDonald's and demand this corporation address the ways it harms its Black employees and communities.?
The three workers, including an elderly woman named Ms. DeeDee, were fired in a retaliation attempt for demanding hazard pay for heightened risk and exposure to COVID. The workers, mostly women, decided to put their livelihoods on the line because McDonald's, the second-largest fast-food retailer in the world doesn't believe that the demands of women and low-wage workers are worth caring about. Ms. DeeDee and the others simply wanted what would be the minimum wage (if kept with inflation) and protective COVID gear.
The 50 former Black franchisees asked the chain to better support its stores. From updated renovations to increased revenue, the franchise owners asked the company to materialize its "partnership values" and the company simply did not. Instead, it let Black-led McDonald's franchise stores fall behind revenue, an average of $700,000 less than white franchise stores and, as a result, deal with a higher turnover rate.1 The number of Black McDonald's franchisee stores decreased dramatically from 377 in 1998 to 186 this year.2,3 As the company tries to rebrand itself as "for the culture," it would be better served protecting its Black partners.?
Tweet McDonald's and demand this corporation address the ways it harms its Black employees and communities.?
The way McDonald's treats its employees is why we're speaking out about it. This corporation is responsible for harms ranging from wage theft, paid sick leave refusal, and workplace retaliation. McDonald's is being called out about the way it treats our folks so it's trying to scapegoat Black culture to pivot away from its many harms. This company can't support Black culture if it doesn't support Black lives. Plain and simple.?Jon, we've only made three points, but.
If you're already convinced McDonald's needs to address its lip service, tweet them directly, and demand this corporation repair the harms they have caused employees and Black communities.?
Until justice is real,?
-Arisha, Jade, Rashad, Johnny, Amanda, Evan, Imani, Marie, Samantha, Eesha, Marcus, FolaSade, Eesha,?Jennette, Ciera,?Gabrielle, Taurjhai, Stasia, and the rest of the Color Of Change team
References:?
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Please help keep our movement strong.
Make a Donation
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Dear Jon,
Thanks to the advocacy of activists like you, the U.S. House of Representatives recently passed the HEROES Act, a bill responding to the health and economic crises exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic. In addition to mandating extra pay for essential workers, this bill would increase SNAP benefits at a time when food assistance is desperately needed. It extends unemployment provisions, subsidizes the cost of broadband access by household and includes another round of direct cash assistance, providing crucial help for Black people who have lost income and employment during this pandemic. The bill's student loan debt cancellation would help many debt-burdened Black folks avoid further economic insecurity.?The HEROES Act also includes long overdue regulation on the predatory prison telecom industry, reducing the financial burden of staying connected to incarcerated loved ones in this difficult time. And these are just a few of many reasons why it's urgent that we turn up the pressure on the Senate to protect and expand key provisions of this bill and future relief packages.?
As the COVID-19 outbreak has made abundantly clear, our ability to vote is a matter of life and death. The $3.6 billion in the current version of the HEROES Act plus the $400 million from the CARES Act is the minimum amount states need in order to protect Black voters from COVID-19 and increases in violent behavior threatening Black people. It''s crucial that we maintain or increase this amount in order to have free, fair, and safe elections for all in 2020. Join us to flood Congress with calls demanding that they fully fund or increase the Election Resilience grants to states in the HEROES Act.?
In addition, there are several other key provisions of this Act that Senators have a moral and economic obligation to pass. Act now to:
While there are many provisions in this bill that are of critical importance to Black communities and America as a whole, even this bill doesn't yet match the scale of the crisis we're experiencing. In this bill and future relief packages, Congress must expand Medicaid. They must provide recurring, direct emergency payments in amounts that reflect the true cost of living in America. Nearly all student loan borrowers are facing economic distress, so they must expand student debt cancellation to include all borrowers. And they must prevent Wall Street from exploiting this crisis to prey upon companies in ways that leave Black workers unemployed and unsupported. Please join us to take one, more, or all of the actions above, so we can keep the pressure on the Senate to pass a HEROES Act that meets the urgent needs our communities face right now.?
Until justice is real,
Rashad, Jenni,?Arisha, Scott, Sabrina, Drew, Johnny, Amanda, Kwesi, Shannon, Alexandra, Malachi, Leonard and the rest of the Color Of Change team
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Help keep our movement strong.
If you''re absolutely sure you don''t want to hear from Color Of Change again, click here to unsubscribe.
Hey Jon, today is Election Day in California!?Polls are open 7 AM -- 8 PM. You can now choose from over 900 vote centers to cast your ballot. Select a vote center that works best for you here.
If you''re struggling to find a ride to the polls, you can ride an LA Now shuttle for free! Click here to schedule your ride service.
Go cast your vote today, and bring all your people too! If you haven''t registered to vote yet that''s okay. Same-day registration is available at all vote centers. Although ID isn't required, it's a good idea to bring yours for extra precaution.?
Every vote matters -- that''s how we get Jackie Lacey out of the District Attorney''s office once and for all.?
Until justice is real,?
Arisha, Jenni, Drew, Shannon, Destanie, Corina, Alex, Scotty, Cristel, Tammi, Daniel, and the Color Of Change PAC team
P.S. --?Make sure to also vote YES on Measure R. It's a ballot measure that brings oversight, transparency, and accountability to the LA Sheriff''s Department. Measure R will directly address problems of Sheriff deputy misconduct and corruption, and demand solutions to severe overcrowding and inadequate mental health care in our jails. Click here to learn more.
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ColorOfChange PAC is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Contributions to Color Of Change PAC are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes. This email was sent to yellow71486@. If you''re absolutely sure you don''t want to hear from Color Of Change again, click here to unsubscribe.
Facebook's accommodation of right-wing politicians allows them to conduct voter suppression and spread misinformation.
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Mark Zuckerberg continues to let right-wing politicians spread lies, misinformation, and hatred on Facebook.? ??
Tell Facebook to stop allowing politicians to spread lies and misinformation.? ? TAKE ACTION |
Here we are again, demanding Mark Zuckerberg choose civil rights over allowing the spread of misinformation, outright lies, and hate speech on Facebook's platforms. Even though Rashad and I met with him less than two weeks ago, Zuckerberg still refuses to institute civil rights protections that will protect Black people from harm and prevent the destruction of our democracy.1?
Most recently, Zuckerberg allowed politicians to break the rules and lie on Facebook about the upcoming election, leading millions of people to believe that mail-in ballots will result in voter fraud.2 These kinds of falsehoods spread like wildfire and are transparent attempts to suppress our votes. Too often, politicians get away with breaking Facebook's rules because Zuckerberg continually allows accommodations for politicians that exclude them from following the same Facebook rules you and I must follow every day. With one of the most important elections of our time looming, we cannot afford for Zuckerberg to supercharge voter suppression by keeping up special rules for politicians.?
Tell Mark Zuckerberg to end special rules for politicians. ?
This doesn't just impact the spread of misinformation; it also harms Black people. In the 2016 election, for example, Facebook's lax rules led to foreign interference that targeted Black social media users.3 Currently, these kinds of exceptions enable right-wing users to share information that violates civil rights laws and drives real-world violence toward Black people. In May, for example, Donald Trump threatened protestors through a Facebook post, saying "when the looting starts, the shooting starts."4 Donald Trump has also been continuously attacking voting by mail, sharing outrageous, false claims that mail-in ballots will lead to a 'rigged election' and 'fraudulent' voting.5? ? ? ??
Politicians should not be immune from the rules. Tell Facebook to end accommodations for politicians.?
We are less than five months away from the presidential election, and Facebook's giant policy loopholes let politicians spread unchecked voter suppression, harassment, and lies. By not fact-checking politicians and allowing them to mislead the public regarding voting methods, Facebook is setting a dangerous precedent ahead of the 2020 election. These policies, which exempt politicians' lies from the same community standards you and I must abide by, infect Facebook with injustice and inequality.?
End Facebook''s special rules for politicians NOW.
Until justice is real,?
-Arisha, Rashad, Brandi, Jade, Johnny, Amanda, Marie, Evan, Imani, Eesha, Samantha, Jennette, Ciera, Marcus, FolaSade, and the rest of the Color Of Change team
References:
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Please help keep our movement strong.
Make a Donation
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Trained medical and mental health professionals - not cops - should respond to medical calls.
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Daniel Prude needed mental health assistance.
Today, the officers involved were suspended. DEMAND JUSTICE NOW |
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Jon,
Last night, newly-released police bodycam footage shocked the nation - and we were heartbroken and enraged by what we saw.
Daniel Prude, a 41-year-old Black man in need of mental health assistance, was murdered by Rochester, New York police in March.1?To make matters worse, the seven police officers involved in his murder remained on active duty up until just a few hours ago when Rochester''s mayor announced their suspension.2
Jon, a suspension more than five months later isn''t enough.?We are sick and tired of police officers murdering us and getting away with it - and we need your help to fight back right now.?
Demand justice for Daniel Prude: Tell Rochester District Attorney Sandra Doorley to arrest and charge the police officers who murdered Daniel in March.?Trained medical and mental health professionals - not cops - should respond to medical calls.
We probably would have never heard about this case if Daniel''s family and organizers at Free The People Roc hadn''t obtained and released the brutal minute-by-minute bodycam footage.?We''re not uplifting the bodycam footage depicting Daniel''s tragic murder, but here''s what we know, Jon:?
On March 22, Daniel Prude arrived in Rochester to visit his brother, Joe. When Daniel began acting strangely and threatened to harm himself, Joe called the police for help. Daniel was taken to the hospital and released hours later - and in the early morning hours of March 23, Daniel bolted out the back door and into the cold, snowy street.
Joe called the police again. He explained that Daniel was experiencing a mental health crisis, that his brother was naked in the street, and that he was only a danger to himself. Joe begged the responding police officers not to kill his brother.?They didn''t listen.
Body camera footage shows Officer Mark Vaughn threatening Daniel with a taser and telling him to get on the ground with his hands behind his back. He immediately complies and is handcuffed without incident. At least five Rochester police officers stand over Daniel, who is lying on the cold, wet ground with his hands bound.
The footage shows Daniel Prude - who is clearly in the throes of a mental health crisis - complying with the police. That didn''t save him. Instead of helping him or calming him down, police officers mocked Daniel. And what the video shows next is nothing short of a public lynching.
Officer Vaughn pulls a "spit sock" out of his pocket and puts it over Daniel''s head. Then, Vaughn pushes Daniel''s face into the ground while another officer, Troy Taladay, kneels on Daniel''s back. Daniel repeatedly asks the officers to get off of him before he falls silent.
The police officers don''t listen. They knelt on his back and pushed his face to the ground for so long that Daniel stopped breathing - just like how police officers in Minneapolis murdered George Floyd in the street.
By the time emergency medical technicians arrive in an ambulance, Daniel Prude had stopped moving. The EMTs perform CPR, and the officers uncuff Prude and get him onto a gurney. At this point, Daniel Prude is brain dead from oxygen deprivation. His family decided to take him off life support one week later. And although Daniel''s death was ruled a homicide by asphyxia (suffocation) due to "physical restraint,"3 not one Rochester police officer responsible for Prude's murder has been punished or fired.
Jon, people like you in?Rancho Palos Verdes and around the world came together to demand justice for George Floyd. We started a critical national conversation on police violence - and we are still seeing that conversation lead to encouraging steps in the right direction. Now, it''s up to us to demand justice for Daniel Prude and continue to defend Black lives.
Demand Justice for Daniel Prude now?
Daniel needed care - not handcuffs, not shame, and definitely not a public execution.?The responding police officers didn't offer Daniel a blanket or help him get off the cold, hard ground. They didn't ask if he was cold or what was wrong. They didn't try to calm Daniel down until trained medical responders arrived on the scene. They offered Daniel Prude no compassion or even humane treatment. Instead, they mocked him, covered his face, and murdered him in the street. And until now, they got away with it.?
Daniel''s tragic story is EXACTLY what we mean when we say "defund the police,"?Jon.?Time and time again, we have seen that police are not equipped to respond to mental health crises. We have seen cities rely on untrained and violent police officers to respond to medical emergencies, mental health crises, minor disputes, and people who are unhoused and just trying to survive. We have seen Black people become victims of police brutality through no fault of their own. We have seen too many Black people who need care be murdered by police.
What''s worse are the cases that we DON''T see.?We would have never known about this story - a tragedy that took place four months ago - without Prude''s family and organizers in Rochester sounding the alarm yesterday. And for every video of police brutality released to the public, there are countless incidents that were never filmed. There are countless stories that we will never hear, names that we will never know.
But what we do know - and what the police shooting of Jacob Blake and the brutal, videotaped murders of George Floyd and Daniel Prude make crystal clear - is that police are NOT equipped to keep Black, Brown, and Indigenous people safe.?
It is obvious from the bodycam footage that Daniel Prude was at the lowest point of his life at that moment. The last people who should be responding to a mental health crisis are racist police officers with guns and tasers. We must do everything in our power to ensure that what happened to Daniel Prude never happens to anyone in this country again.
Daniel Prude deserved care. Instead, he was murdered by police.
Now, Daniel deserves justice. His family deserves justice. Jon, stand with us to demand that the officers who brutally murdered Daniel Prude are charged and arrested immediately. Add your name to demand that Rochester requires?trained medical and mental health professionals as first responders to medical calls.
Jon, we know you are tired. We are tired, too. But we have to keep fighting to end police violence - and to defend Black lives everywhere.
As always, thank you for taking action with us.?
Until justice is real,
-- Scott, Rashad, Arisha, Erika, Malachi, Marybeth, Ernie, Madison, Leonard, McKayla and the rest of the Color of Change Team
?
References:
1. "His brother called for help after he was acting strangely. Police knelt on him until he was brain dead." 02 September 2020,?The Appeal.?
2. "7 Rochester Police Officers Suspended in Death of Black Man Whom They Hooded." 03 September 2020, The New York Times.
3. "Autopsy report: Daniel Prude death ruled a homicide, died from asphyxia due to 'physical restraint.''"?02 September 2020,?Rochester First.
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Please help keep our movement strong.
Make a Donation
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Kentucky's AG rigged the process, then lied to the people.????????????????????????
AG Daniel Cameron rigged the grand jury to let Breonna Taylor's killers walk.
Help us replace Daniel Cameron and elect prosecutors who will defend Black lives:
DONATE NOW: $3
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Jon --
Last week, a grand jury failed to bring charges against the cops who murdered Breonna Taylor. And last night, we found out why: Attorney General Daniel Cameron didn't let them.
That's right, Jon: After pressure from Breonna's family, BLM Louisville, and Color Of Change members like you, AG Cameron finally released recordings from the grand jury proceedings.1 Here''s what we know:
AG Cameron didn't recommend any charges for the killer cops. By his own admission, he never even gave the grand jury the option to consider charges in Breonna Taylor's death.2 Instead, Cameron said the cops who shot Breonna six times were "justified in their acts," recommended bogus "wanton endangerment" charges, and then lied to our faces about the grand jury proceedings on national TV.3
We won't let Daniel Cameron get away with this, Jon, and we won't stop demanding justice for Breonna Taylor.
Color Of Change PAC is fully committed to removing KY Attorney General Daniel Cameron from office. We'll use every tool we've got - digital and TV ads, billboards, phonebanks, get-out-the-vote events - to show Cameron the door and elect prosecutors who will actually fight for us.
Defeating prosecutors like Daniel Cameron won't happen overnight, and it won't happen without a fight.
Jon, can we count on you to support our efforts to fire Attorney General Daniel Cameron and elect prosecutors who will defend Black lives? Choose an amount that feels powerful to you as an investment in this critical work:
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DONATE NOW: $3 DONATE NOW: $5 DONATE NOW: $10 |
DONATE NOW: $25 DONATE NOW: $50 OTHER AMOUNT |
Make no mistake, Jon: We knew a grand jury wouldn't win justice for Breonna, because prosecutors like Daniel Cameron completely control the grand jury process. They choose who will sit on the jury, what evidence is presented, and which witnesses can testify. They can even recommend charges - so it's no surprise that grand juries almost never indict violent cops.
But the grand jury recordings reveal what happened behind closed doors, and how Daniel Cameron did everything he could to ensure a favorable outcome for the police officers who murdered Breonna Taylor.
In front of cameras, Cameron said that he walked jurors through "every homicide offense, and also presented all of the information that was available."3 In reality, he didn't give the grand jury an option to charge the three LMPD officers with her murder.4 Cameron''s office told grand jurors they didn't have enough time to show all the video footage from the case. Instead of answering their questions, the prosecutors and witnesses often implied the issues raised were not important.5 Later, Cameron admitted to stacking the deck against Breonna - claiming that allowing the grand jury to consider a murder charge in her death would have been "inappropriate."6
The only thing that has been "inappropriate" is Daniel Cameron's handling of this case and his unapologetic subservience to racist cops. That's why we demanded Cameron release the grand jury transcripts last week - and why we need your help to send him packing as soon as possible.
Jon, Color Of Change PAC can''t power our fight for justice without supporters like you. Will you chip in $3 a month to support our ongoing efforts to remove Daniel Cameron and elect prosecutors who will defend Black lives?
Attorney General Cameron delayed the release of these recordings because he thought we'd lose focus and move on.7 He thought we'd stop demanding justice for Breonna Taylor, a Black woman murdered by Louisville police in her own home.
He couldn't be more wrong.
We won't stop fighting, Jon, and we hope you won't either. Because as long as Daniel Cameron is handling this case, we'll never get justice for Bre. And as long as Cameron and prosecutors like him are in power - in Louisville, in Rancho Palos Verdes, anywhere - we'll never win real, lasting justice for Black people.
We deserve elected officials who fight for us, not the police. Together, with your help, we will elect those leaders - and throw cowards like Daniel Cameron out of office.
Until justice is real,
-- Arisha, Scott, Malachi, Ernie, and the rest of the Color Of Change PAC team
References:
1. Breonna Taylor grand jury recordings reveal chilling scene of chaos and misinformation. Louisville Courier Journal, 02 October 2020.
2. Grand jury not presented with murder charges against 2 officers in Breonna Taylor''s death, AG Cameron says. WDRB, 29 September 2020.
3. It Sure Looks Like Daniel Cameron Lied About Breonna Taylor's Killing. New York Magazine, 30 September 2020.
This wasn't the only dubious claim that Cameron expected the public to take at face value. He also said that the grand jury agreed that Taylor's death was justified. "While there are six possible homicide charges under Kentucky law," he explained, "these charges are not applicable to the facts before us because our investigation showed - and the grand jury agreed - that Mattingly and Cosgrove were justified in the return of deadly fire after having been fired upon." But the grand jury may not have actually agreed.
4. Kentucky attorney general says he did not present homicide charges to grand jury in Breonna Taylor case. The Washington Post, 29 September 2020.
5. Grand jury recordings capture dispute over Breonna Taylor's final moments, but not prosecutors' recommendations. The Washington Post, 02 October 2020.
Much of the public criticism of Cameron's handling of the case has centered on what evidence his office presented to the grand jury and what charges it recommended. At a news conference announcing the grand jury's decision, Cameron said that he walked jurors through Kentucky's six homicide charges, but he later said his office only suggested they indict on wanton endangerment charges.
6. Grand jury was never asked to mull homicide charges in Breonna Taylor case. Politico, 29 September 2020.
7. Release of grand jury proceedings postponed in Breonna Taylor case after prosecutor requests delay. The Washington Post, 29 September 2020.
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ColorOfChange PAC is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Contributions to Color Of Change PAC are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes. This email was sent to @. If you''re absolutely sure you don''t want to hear from Color Of Change again, click here to unsubscribe.
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Dear?Jon,?
Elijah McClain, a 23-year-old Black man in Aurora, Colorado, was murdered at the hands of police almost a year ago and still no justice.
On August 24, 2019, three white police officers stopped Elijah while he was walking home from a convenience store -- after a 911 caller reportedly described Elijah as a "suspicious person."?1 The details that led to Elijah's death are horrific. The officers can be heard on bodycam video threatening to bring their dog to bite Elijah and even accusing Elijah of provoking arrest. Minutes later, officers then put Elijah in a deadly chokehold, causing him to go unconscious.2 Paramedics rushed to the scene only for Elijah to later suffer from a heart attack; he was declared brain dead three days later.3
That's why we must call on Attorney General Phil Weiser to stand up for what is right and file criminal charges against the officers who murdered Elijah McClain. He has the power to ensure these officers are not free to roam the streets while Elijah''s family is forced to mourn the loss of their loved one.?
Elijah Mcclain should still be alive today. Sign the petition to demand AG Phil Weiser charge the officers who murdered Elijah.
Here''s the truth: Officer Nathan Woodyard, Jason Rosenblatt, and Randy Roedema are responsible for Elijah''s death.?But the police-led autopsy report suggests the cause of Elijah''s death was unclear even though the coroner listed intense physical exertion as one of the contributing factors that sent Elijah into heart failure.4 To make matters worse, the police review board defended the police officers saying, " the force applied during the altercation. was within policy and consistent with training."?5 The officers were placed on administrative leave but later put back on the force because prosecutors declined to file charges.?There''s no denying the Aurora County police officers and District Attorney Dave Young have delayed justice for Elijah at every turn.?As we''ve seen in the countless number of police-involved shootings that have resulted in Black people being killed, police are rarely held accountable for the violence and harm they inflict on Black people.
If the police had simply allowed Elijah to walk home, he would still be alive today.?Elijah''s murder is yet another example of what we already know -- the police do not keep our communities safe. Just yesterday, members of Elijah''s community held a peaceful vigil, march, and rally where they honored Elijah''s life by observing a few violinists perform and holding hands. But in a widely circulated video, police disrupted the event wearing riot gear -- they deployed pepper spray and were physically violent toward attendees. Our communities aren''t even safe to mourn and honor the lives lost to police violence.6 We can''t sit by while Black people are being killed needlessly in the street by these violent police officers -- now more than ever they must know that enough is enough.??
Jon, we know that when we continually call out these atrocities against our communities, it becomes impossible to ignore. We''ve seen this happen after more than 43,000 Color Of Change members called for #JusticeforBre and more than 300,000 members #RanwithAhmaud. As a result, charges against Bre's boyfriend were dropped, and the three men who murdered Ahmaud have been charged. And we know the same thing can happen for Elijah McClain.?
Enough is enough. Demand the cops who murdered Elijah are charged NOW.?
Until justice is real,?
--Scott, Rashad, Arisha, Erika, Malachi, Marybeth, Madison, Leonard, Ernie and the rest of the Color Of Change team
?References:
ColorOfChange is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change.
If you''re absolutely sure you don''t want to hear from ColorOfChange again, click here to unsubscribe.Add your name: Demand #JusticeForDanielPrude
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Daniel Prude needed mental health assistance.
Tell District Attorney Doorley: ADD YOUR NAME NOW |
Jon,
Last night, newly-released police bodycam footage shocked the nation - and we were heartbroken and enraged by what we saw.
Daniel Prude, a 41-year-old Black man in need of mental health assistance, was murdered by Rochester, New York police in March.1?To make matters worse, the officers who pinned Daniel down until he was brain dead were never disciplined and remain on active duty.?We probably would have never heard about this case if Daniel''s family and organizers at Free The People Roc hadn''t obtained and released the brutal minute-by-minute bodycam footage.?
Jon, we are sick and tired of watching our Black brothers, sisters, and family members be brutalized by police in our streets. We are sick and tired of police officers murdering us and getting away with it. And we need your help to fight back right now.?
Demand justice for Daniel Prude: Tell Rochester District Attorney Sandra Doorley to arrest and charge the police officers who murdered Daniel in March.?Trained medical and mental health professionals - not cops - should respond to medical calls.
We''re not uplifting the bodycam footage depicting Daniel''s tragic murder, but here''s what we know, Jon:?
On March 22, Daniel Prude arrived in Rochester to visit his brother, Joe. When Daniel began acting strangely and threatened to harm himself, Joe called the police for help. Daniel was taken to the hospital and released hours later - and in the early morning hours of March 23, Daniel bolted out the back door and into the cold, snowy street.
Joe called the police again. He explained that Daniel was experiencing a mental health crisis, that his brother was naked in the street, and that he was only a danger to himself. Joe begged the responding police officers not to kill his brother.?They didn''t listen.
Body camera footage shows Officer Mark Vaughn threatening Daniel with a taser and telling him to get on the ground with his hands behind his back. He immediately complies and is handcuffed without incident. At least five Rochester police officers stand over Daniel, who is lying on the cold, wet ground with his hands bound.
The footage shows Daniel Prude - who is clearly in the throes of a mental health crisis - complying with the police. That didn''t save him. Instead of helping him or calming him down, police officers mocked Daniel. And what the video shows next is nothing short of a public lynching.
Officer Vaughn pulls a "spit sock" out of his pocket and puts it over Daniel''s head. Then, Vaughn pushes Daniel''s face into the ground while another officer, Troy Taladay, kneels on Daniel''s back. Daniel repeatedly asks the officers to get off of him before he falls silent.
The police officers don''t listen. They knelt on his back and pushed his face to the ground for so long that Daniel stopped breathing - just like how police officers in Minneapolis murdered George Floyd in the street.
By the time emergency medical technicians arrive in an ambulance, Daniel Prude had stopped moving. The EMTs perform CPR, and the officers uncuff Prude and get him onto a gurney. At this point, Daniel Prude is brain dead from oxygen deprivation. His family decided to take him off life support one week later. And although Daniel''s death was ruled a homicide by asphyxia (suffocation) due to "physical restraint,"2 not one Rochester police officer responsible for Prude's murder has been punished or fired.
Jon, people like you in?Rancho Palos Verdes and around the world came together to demand justice for George Floyd. We started a critical national conversation on police violence - and we are still seeing that conversation lead to encouraging steps in the right direction. Now, it''s up to us to demand justice for Daniel Prude and continue to defend Black lives.
Demand Justice for Daniel Prude now?
Daniel needed care - not handcuffs, not shame, and definitely not a public execution.?The responding police officers didn't offer Daniel a blanket or help him get off the cold, hard ground. They didn't ask if he was cold or what was wrong. They didn't try to calm Daniel down until trained medical responders arrived on the scene. They offered Daniel Prude no compassion or even humane treatment. Instead, they mocked him, covered his face, and murdered him in the street. And until now, they got away with it.?
Daniel''s tragic story is EXACTLY what we mean when we say "defund the police,"?Jon.?Time and time again, we have seen that police are not equipped to respond to mental health crises. We have seen cities rely on untrained and violent police officers to respond to medical emergencies, mental health crises, minor disputes, and people who are unhoused and just trying to survive. We have seen Black people become victims of police brutality through no fault of their own. We have seen too many Black people who need care be murdered by police.
What''s worse are the cases that we DON''T see.?We would have never known about this story - a tragedy that took place four months ago - without Prude''s family and organizers in Rochester sounding the alarm yesterday. And for every video of police brutality released to the public, there are countless incidents that were never filmed. There are countless stories that we will never hear, names that we will never know.
But what we do know - and what the police shooting of Jacob Blake and the brutal, videotaped murders of George Floyd and Daniel Prude make crystal clear - is that police are NOT equipped to keep Black, Brown, and Indigenous people safe.?
It is obvious from the bodycam footage that Daniel Prude was at the lowest point of his life at that moment. The last people who should be responding to a mental health crisis are racist police officers with guns and tasers. We must do everything in our power to ensure that what happened to Daniel Prude never happens to anyone in this country again.
Daniel Prude deserved care. Instead, he was murdered by police.
Now, Daniel deserves justice. His family deserves justice. Jon, stand with us to demand that the officers who brutally murdered Daniel Prude are charged and arrested immediately. Add your name to demand that Rochester requires?trained medical and mental health professionals as first responders to medical calls.
Jon, we know you are tired. We are tired, too. But we have to keep fighting to end police violence - and to defend Black lives everywhere.
As always, thank you for taking action with us.?
Until justice is real,
-- Scott, Rashad, Arisha, Erika, Malachi, Marybeth, Ernie, Madison, Leonard, McKayla and the rest of the Color of Change Team
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References:
1. "His brother called for help after he was acting strangely. Police knelt on him until he was brain dead." 02 September 2020,?The Appeal.?
2. "Autopsy report: Daniel Prude death ruled a homicide, died from asphyxia due to 'physical restraint.''"?02 September 2020,?Rochester First.
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Please help keep our movement strong.
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Jon-
Mass incarceration targets Black people. And when it comes to COVID-19, as a result of systemic inequality, Black communities aren't just more vulnerable- they're under attack.?
Become a monthly supporter of our campaign as we urgently fight to mitigate COVID outbreaks behind bars.
In the midst of a pandemic, Black people experiencing incarceration are being strategically isolated from their loved ones while the state fails to meet the minimum requirements to mitigate outbreaks. At a time when people should be released faster than ever, all court dates, hearings, and release dates have been routinely delayed.
These dual crises have a devastating effect on our safety, our well-being, and our lives.?
Jon, we know our loved ones cannot get well in a cell. Will you chip in every month to help us continue the fight to end the humanitarian and public health disaster that is happening behind bars??
Black people and people of color are not only incarcerated at rates higher than white people, but they also have higher rates of comorbid health conditions that predispose them to severe COVID-19 symptoms. That's why we are demanding the reduction of jail, prison, and detention center populations. But?Jon, to take on the prison industrial complex - and to win - we need resources.?
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Every family directly impacted by mass incarceration deserves to hear from their loved ones regularly. They deserve updates about how their loved one is doing. And they deserve to know what the state is doing to protect them from COVID-19.??
Jon will you chip in every month to help us continue our fight to end family separation and state-sanctioned violence? ???
We know that incarceration is fundamentally incompatible with human dignity and human health. Jails, prisons, and detention centers subject people too dangerous, unhealthy, and inhumane conditions by design. That's why we're campaigning to reduce the population of every prison, jail, and detention center in the nation.?
We have to fight back, Jon- and with your continued support, we will continue the fight to reduce incarcerated populations.?
Here's how:?
Until justice is real,
Scott, Erika, Malachi, Marybeth, Ernie, Ariel, Leonard, Madison, Ana, McKayla, and the rest of the COC team
?
References:?
1. "Mass Incarceration: The Whole Pie 2020, Prison Policy Initiative, March 24, 2020, https://act.colorofchange.org/go/274641?t=13&akid=47671%2E4887299%2EfuhbR2?
ColorOfChange is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change.
If you''re absolutely sure you don''t want to hear from ColorOfChange again, click here to unsubscribe.
Read about the candidate we believe will stand with Black people in LA County
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Hey?Jon,
We are proud to officially endorse Holly J. Mitchell for the LA County Board of Supervisors, District 2!
A 3rd-generation Angeleno, Mitchell has a track record of pushing for prison and justice reform, healthcare for all Californians, protecting jobs, and more in her 7 years as a California legislator.
On the Board of Supervisors, Holly J. Mitchell pledges to:1
If you believe we need these changes too, you can help elect Holly J. Mitchell by educating 3 friends or family members about her and why you support her. To get more information, click below:
Help Elect Holly J. Mitchell
In her time in office, Mitchell has done amazing work for the people of California.?
In 2018, her #EquityandJustice package was signed into law. It included laws that reduced sentence enhancements for low-level drug offenses, removed court fees for the innocent, stopped the sentencing of juveniles to life without parole, and much more.
She led the repeal of the Maximum Family Grant Rule that prohibited families from receiving vital financial support through CalWORKS, ensuring that low-income families receive support for all of their children.
And she showed compassion for those struggling with addiction by authoring and passing SB 323, which made it easier for health centers and the county to get people treatments.
Holly J. Mitchell will fight to keep her people in LA County safe and thriving. Vote-by-mail or early vote starting in October for Holly J. Mitchell for LA County Board of Supervisors, or vote on Election Day, November 3rd!?
Take your first step to support Holly J. Mitchell by taking the challenge to educate 3 friends about her!
Until justice is real,
Arisha, Jenni, Drew, Charles, Tammi, Cristel, Alex, Erick, Scotty, Daniel, and the Color Of Change PAC team
P.S. To vote, you have to be registered! Check your registration status here, and then help your friends and family do the same
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ColorOfChange PAC is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Contributions to Color Of Change PAC are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes. This email was sent to @. If you''re absolutely sure you don''t want to hear from Color Of Change again, click here to unsubscribe.
Billionaire Pinterest CEO Ben Silbermann says his "Black employees matter" but has been underpaying them. That's not right.
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Concerned Staff just started a petition to Ben Silbermann, Pinterest Co-Founder & CEO to: Pay Your Black Employees What You Owe Them!
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Dear Jon, I just started a petition titled "Tell Pinterest: Pay your Black employees what you owe them!" Two weeks ago, Pinterest CEO, Ben Silbermann, released a statement expressing solidarity with his Black staff in light of the recent protests against the police brutality our community is facing, and committed to taking action to support them, saying that "our Black employees matter." The problem? Under Silbermann's watch, Pinterest has not only underpaid its Black employees, but it has retaliated against those willing to take a stand against them with racist threats, intimidation, and harassment. And when one white employee went as far as to doxx a Black co-worker for speaking up, the company failed to do enough to protect her. While it's easy to appreciate the wave of corporations, brands, and celebrities who are seeing the importance in publicly affirming their stance against racism, Pinterest needs to do much more than issue a statement to meaningfully support Black people. Company values or statements mean nothing unless they're backed up by the leadership, the payroll, and the operations. If he really believes his Black employees matter, Ben Silbermann owes his current and former Black staff an apology, an independent third party evaluation of employee pay by race and gender, and a commitment to giving them the back pay they are owed. Billionaire Pinterest CEO Silbermann says his Black employees matter but is underpaying them. Tell him to put his money where his mouth is. Five years ago, "Black lives matter" was a controversial statement. Today, though structural white supremacy and racism persist, the leadership and political power of Black people have made the cost of failing to affirm this truth too high even for corporations like Pinterest to ignore. But we've seen how easily companies jump from diversity & inclusion messaging to underpaying their own Black workers, discriminating against Black customers, and harming Black users and community members. Pinterest is no exception. Ben Silbermann simply cannot claim to care about his Black staff without expecting us to examine the ways his actions contradict his words. Corporations that have anti-Blackness built into their business models need to follow up their statements against racism with concrete action. Will you sign the petition and forward this email to make sure your voice is heard? Add your name here. In this moment we are publicly interrogating the harms Black people face from the institutions like the police that claim to keep us safe. But the fact is that plenty of corporations also bear responsibility for violence, harm, and discrimination against Black people, whether they carry it out, enable it, or profit from it. We deserve more than lip service from the companies that rely on us as workers, creators, and cultural ambassadors. Tell Ben Silbermann to put his money where his mouth is. Tell Pinterest to issue an apology, hire an independent 3rd part to evaluate employee pay by race and gender, and give its Black employees the back pay they are owed immediately. Lip service won''t protect Black employees at Pinterest from pay inequity. Action will. Tell Ben Silbermann to pay them what they are owed. Thank you, Concerned Staff ? ?
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Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Please help keep our movement strong.
Make a Donation
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Tell California's Superintendents to put students first.
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Tanosha R. just started a petition to?Kyla Johnson-Trammel, Oakland Unified?School Superintendent
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Dear Jon, I am the mother of a 12-year-old special needs student. Since schools closed, I have been creating learning opportunities at home. As a full-time employee and now a mom that's homeschooling, I know my struggle is similar to that of other parents. Schools are doing the best that they can in these times, but it's not enough. I strongly urge Oakland Unified School District Superintendent, Kyla Johnson-Tramell, to create a plan to expand the district's WiFi network access so that all district families can use the service at home, provide mobile devices for all students and create a multi-disciplinary capstone project at all grade levels in order for students to demonstrate mastery or growth. These capstone projects should not be dependent upon WiFi access or the use of technology. California's superintendents have an obligation to all students to live up to the state's vision to "create strong, effective schools that provide a wholesome learning environment" and are equitable even in a pandemic.? Tell OUSD Superintendent, Kyla Johnson-Tramell to demand more for our students.? On Tuesday, the state announced that schools would remain closed for the duration of the school year and that remote learning would continue.? However, just two weeks ago schools dismissed without providing long-term resources to students and no clear plan for what would happen when social quarantines were extended beyond the recommended two weeks. Oakland Unified School District serves over 50,000 pupils with more than 70% of students eligible for free and reduced lunch. The COVID-19 pandemic is forcing students and parents to make alternative learning plans, largely shifting the focus to online learning. Unfortunately, many students from low-income families will suffer due to the digital divide. For at-risk students impacted by poverty and inequality, this virus has the potential to further widen the achievement gap and deepen the consequences. Slow responses to the coronavirus from national leaders have already exposed the structural deficiencies within our communities.? Our students need WiFi and alternative continuation of learning opportunities to make progress during this pandemic! I recognize the effort that local educators have put into planning a thoughtful response for district families, but the district must go farther and do the most for those that matter most -- our students, our future. This pandemic, while challenging, presents a new opportunity for students and teachers to demonstrate creativity and promote learning through discovery and experimentation. As a distinguished leader in education, we demand that Superintendent Kyla Johnson-Tramell set a new national standard by ensuring that students make progress and that plans for long-term distance learning are accessible for everyone.?? Join me to demand that #CaliforniaLeads and our children are not a casualty of COVID-19.? California's education system was once a model for the nation.? We need bold solutions that promote equity and ensure students and parents have the necessary tools and resources to adjust to the demands of the current crisis. This is also a pivotal moment for educators to promote learning beyond the classroom, allowing space and time for imagination and experimentation. The time is now to create a new national standard with California educators leading the way and OUSD being the example! I strongly urge Superintendent Kyla Johnson-Tramell to make the school district's resources accessible for ALL students. Taking action to increase access, bridge the digital divide and promote student growth would demonstrate her commitment to shrinking the achievement gap. ??? Take action now!? Thank you, Tanosha Redman
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Join us and start your own petition on OrganizeFor today!
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Help keep our movement strong.
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Dear?Jon,?
Ahmaud Arbery, a 25-year-old Black man, was jogging near his neighborhood in Brunswick, GA when he was chased down, shot, and killed in cold blood.1?
His executioners were a father & son, Gregory and Travis McMichael, two white men, who told police they believed Ahmaud fit the profile of a suspect in a series of break-ins in the area.2?The entire thing was filmed by a third person, Bryan Williams.?But the truth is: Ahmaud's murder was an act of hatred and white supremacy.
Worst of all, the two DAs who''ve recused themselves, District Attorney Jackie Johnson and District Attorney George Barnhill, played a key role in a blatant cover-up and delays in justice for Ahmaud and his family.?DA Barnhill even defended Ahmaud's murderers by making the outrageous claim that Travis McMichael acted in self-defense and his actions fell within Georgia's citizen arrest laws.3
Instead of seeking justice, DA Johnson refused to bring charges against Ahmaud''s killers and DA Barnhill abused his authority to exonerate the McMichaels in the media.4 Police are quick to arrest and throw our people in cages, but when we are killed, it''s crickets for months from the legal system. For their complicity, both?District Attorney Gregory Barnhill and District Attorney Jackie Johnson must immediately resign.?
Sign the petition. Demand DA George Barnhill & DA Jackie Johnson resign immediately.
Glynn County law enforcement is doing everything it can to ensure the McMichaels get away with Ahmaud''s murder. Gregory McMichael is a retired police officer who worked with DA Barnhill''s son in District Attorney Jackie Johnson''s office.5?In the moments leading up to Ahmaud''s death,?the McMichaels stated they saw him stop by a house that was under construction and look through the window.6?But?you actually have to be observing a crime or be in the immediate knowledge of a crime for self-defense or citizen laws to be applicable.7?Ahmaud was not committing a crime, he was jogging. Any effort to use citizen's arrest or self-defense as an excuse for Ahmaud's murder is a weak attempt to cover-up this injustice.
What's clear is Gregory McMichael's former affiliation with the local DAs office is allowing him to escape accountability.?The McMichaels grabbed their shotgun and a pistol, chased Ahmaud in their truck, and when Ahmaud attempted to defend himself he was shot twice and killed. Nevertheless,?Ahmaud''s case has been tossed from one DA''s office to the next. Every step along the way the police have been quick to shift the blame away from the McMichaels.?Police even told Ahmaud's mother that her son was involved in a burglary and there was a confrontation between Ahmaud and the homeowner and a struggle over a gun.8?THESE ARE LIES.?Glynn County law enforcement has been quick to do nothing but ensure the McMichael's are not held for this atrocity.
White supremacy and corruption are running rampant in Glynn County-- and both DA Barnhill and DA Johnson are perpetuating it.?In his letter to the Glynn County police, Barnhill stated, "it appears {Travis and Gregory McMichael''s} intent was to stop and hold this criminal suspect until law enforcement arrived. Under Georgia law, it is perfectly legal."9?Barnhill also went on to falsely claim that Ahmaud was prone to violence and that there was no need for arrest.10?It is because of Barnhill''s suggestions to police that two months have gone by without an arrest or any form of accountability.?Now, Tom Durden of Liberty County has finally decided to bring the case to a grand jury -- which doesn''t convene until after June 2.11?And even he is doing his part to delay justice.?Durden could issue an arrest warrant right now on a complementary charge if he wanted to, he doesn''t need an indictment.12?Instead, he continues to protect the vigilantes'' rights to utilize their weapons and their power to end Black lives.?
DA Jackie Johnson is known for letting corrupt officers off the hook. During her first six years in office, she had at least 16 cases where she''s recused herself because of conflict of interest.13?In 2010 she protected an officer who later went on to murder his ex-wife and then himself.14?And earlier this year three former top officers and the police chief were indicted for ignoring evidence that an officer was working with drug dealers --? one was having sex with two confidential informants.15?The lack of police accountability in Glynn County has reached a fever pitch. Voters are even considering getting rid of the police department for good.16?And?this year Johnson is vulnerable because she is up for re-election.17?Elected leaders must take the necessary steps to ensure our people are protected and free to live without fear of violence and destruction.?That''s why now more than ever, both DA Barnhill and Johnson must feel the pressure from us to resign. They need to know we are on to them -- we won''t allow this corruption to continue in Glynn County.?
DA Barnhill and DA Johnson have got to go. Sign the petition.?
Every second Ahmaud's executioners evade accountability shows just how little Glynn County law enforcement cares about Black lives. Under no circumstance should it be acceptable for these men to roam the streets and relax in their homes while Ahmaud's family and community continue to mourn the premature loss of their son and loved one. Black communities?deserve protection -- not to be preyed upon and hunted down in the street.
The most painful part of this injustice has been the fact that Ahmaud''s murder took place almost eight years to the day after Trayvon Martin was slain by a racist vigilante. Time and time again, our communities face the highest rates of state-sanctioned violence -- whether it's mass incarceration, police killings, 'stop and frisk,' or the all too familiar rhetoric of broken windows policing. Ahmaud''s death is just another disturbing example of a violent society that marks Blackness as inherently dangerous -- where Black people are more likely to be seen as instigators rather than people in need of help in times of danger.
Demanding DA Barnhill and Johnson to resign is crucial to getting the justice Ahmaud deserves. Our leaders must stop treating Black lives as if we are disposable. We must stand up to this racist terror and that starts with holding local prosecutors accountable. Enough is enough. We are demanding justice for Ahmaud -- we refuse to lose any more of our loved ones to these reckless acts of violence.
Ahmaud deserves justice. Demand DA Barnhill & DA Johnson resign NOW.?
Until justice is real,?
--Scott, Rashad, Arisha, Clarise, Erika, Malachi, Marybeth, Madison, Leonard, Cheryl, and the rest of the Color of Change team
?References:
1. "A Georgia man was chased and killed while jogging, his mother says." CNN. https://act.colorofchange.org/go/245948?t=7&akid=42331%2E4887299%2EiO2TB4
2. Ibid.
3. George E. Barnhill Letter to Glynn County Police Department. NYT.?https://act.colorofchange.org/go/245949?t=9&akid=42331%2E4887299%2EiO2TB4
4. #iRunwithMaud. Our Prism. https://act.colorofchange.org/go/245950?t=11&akid=42331%2E4887299%2EiO2TB4
5.?George E. Barnhill Letter to Glynn County Police Department. NYT.?https://act.colorofchange.org/go/245949?t=13&akid=42331%2E4887299%2EiO2TB4
6. "A Georgia man was chased and killed while jogging, his mother says." CNN. https://act.colorofchange.org/go/245948?t=15&akid=42331%2E4887299%2EiO2TB4
7. Ibid.
8. Ibid.
9.?George E. Barnhill Letter to Glynn County Police Department. NYT.?https://act.colorofchange.org/go/245949?t=17&akid=42331%2E4887299%2EiO2TB4
10. Ibid.
11. "Status of Liberty County Jury Trials." Liberty County Office of the Clerk of Courts. https://act.colorofchange.org/go/245954?t=19&akid=42331%2E4887299%2EiO2TB4
12.#iRunwithMaud. Our Prism. https://act.colorofchange.org/go/245950?t=21&akid=42331%2E4887299%2EiO2TB4
13. Ibid.
14. Ibid.
15. "Glynn County police chief, 3 ex-officers booked into jail." News 4 Jax.?https://act.colorofchange.org/go/245952?t=23&akid=42331%2E4887299%2EiO2TB4
16. "Legislation first step to abolishing county police department." The Brunswick News. https://act.colorofchange.org/go/245953?t=25&akid=42331%2E4887299%2EiO2TB4
17. #iRunwithMaud. Our Prism. https://act.colorofchange.org/go/245950?t=27&akid=42331%2E4887299%2EiO2TB4
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Help keep our movement strong.
If you''re absolutely sure you don''t want to hear from Color Of Change again, click here to unsubscribe.
Hey Jon,?
I'm emailing to give an update on results from the Los Angeles District Attorney's race on March 3rd.??
The results call for a runoff between George Gasc?n and Jackie Lacey. The runoff election will take place in November because no individual candidate was able to secure more than 50 percent of the total vote count.1?
Our fight for progressive criminal justice reform has become even more urgent due to the coronavirus pandemic. LA County has the largest jail population in the United States. Folks serving time in these overcrowded jails are at heightened risk for becoming infected, and only 10% of the jail population has been released so far.2?
We have to be clear here. DA Jackie Lacey is responsible for LA's overcrowded jails. And now more than ever, we need a District Attorney that will end predatory incarceration of Black and brown people -- not just when we're living through a public health emergency. We have an uphill battle against Lacey. She nearly won the primary election, and we cannot let that happen again in November. Will you donate to our LA County digital fund so we can continue engaging with Black voters throughout this unpredictable coronavirus pandemic?
Together we must persist in our fight to help elect George Gasc?n for LA County District Attorney. Our field team has even more turf to cover in order to educate thousands upon thousands of Black voters about this election. But the harsh reality is, due to coronavirus we cannot knock on folks' doors for the foreseeable future until it is safe for our staff and volunteers. This means our work will not be possible without an additional $10,000 in the bank to launch digital ads and text voters.?Will you help fund our work to contact thousands of Black voters ahead of the November runoff election?
Let me give you an idea of the amazing work we, along with our all-volunteer squad, have been able to do in LA prior to coronavirus:?
If we can do this much work in less than 2 months, imagine what we could do from now until the runoff election in November. Are you committed to making sure Black voters are educated about the LA County District Attorney's runoff election?
Yes, I realize the impact that local elections have on Black communities and will donate $5 to make sure Black voters in LA are reached by Color Of Change PAC.
For a powerful 2020,?
Jenni, Drew, Shannon, Destanie, Corina, Alex, Scotty, Cristel, Tammi, Daniel, and the Color Of Change PAC team
P.S. -- Did you vote in the March 3rd primary election? If so, we want to hear from you! Whether voting in the primary was easy or difficult, we''d love to hear about your experience.?Click here to take our Super Tuesday survey.
References?
1.?
https://act.colorofchange.org/go/242564?t=6&akid=41478%2E4887299%2Ebjn_I-
2.?All inmates released have been nonviolent offenders with less than 30 days left to serve. https://act.colorofchange.org/go/242565?t=8&akid=41478%2E4887299%2Ebjn_I-
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ColorOfChange PAC is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Contributions to Color Of Change PAC are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes. This email was sent to yellow71486@. If you''re absolutely sure you don''t want to hear from Color Of Change again, click here to unsubscribe.
The Post Office is going bankrupt because the government refuses to fund it
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The government continues to cut funding to the Post Office,?which may cause it to disappear.? ?
Write to your Congress member demanding they protect the Post Office.?? TAKE ACTION |
The post office may disappear in the coming months. The United States Postal Service (USPS) may not be here when we need them most. From ordering essential supplies during this pandemic, to getting counted in the 2020 census, to casting our votes by mail in the upcoming election, we need the Post Office more than over. But because of a Republican, Congressional mandate that the postal service fund itself off revenue - a stipulation of no other government agency - the postal service is running at a deficit and is desperately in need of funding. In the middle of an election and census year, as people struggle to find work, and obtain basic supplies, not having the Post Office could cause devastating impacts. But Congress has the power to step in and save it.?
WRITE A LETTER to Congress and tell them to save the United States Postal Service.
The Post Office's history is an activist one: not only did it employ Black workers throughout the 20th Century, it empowered Black workers to organize, supported Black and small-owned businesses, fought for civil rights, and began to establish a Black middle class.1 It was the country's first savings bank and an early response to food insecurity.2 In fact, the Post Office has been a crucial step towards the financial stability and upward mobility of Black people for more than a century. This is particularly true for Black women, for whom employment in post office positions provided "refuge from the highly unfavorable conditions that confronted them in the private sector."3 To this day, more than 20% of Post Office workers are Black, and the Post Office continues to provide stable employment and a decent standard of living for Black people.?
Despite the positive impacts the Post Office has on the Black community, some in the government do not want to fund this essential service, despite it being a self-funded entity. The post office is not in trouble due to increasing forms of other communication, such as texting and email; but because a Repbulican-led Congress mandated that the post office set aside $5 billion a year over ten years. The effect was almost immediate as the post office went from recording a net income of $900 million to a loss of $3.8 billion. Not nearly enough sold stamps could match that, now leaving thousands of jobs, families into a state of struggle, while throwing safety and election security into jeopardy. We cannot let this happen - during the coronavirus pandemic or otherwise.
WRITE A LETTER to your Congress member and tell them why they must protect the Post Office.?
In addition to the ways the Post Office has empowered Black people, it has provided reliable and affordable shipping methods. If we lose the Post Office, people all across the country will lose a necessary, budget-friendly means of transporting essential goods. We will also lose out on all the services the Post Office could provide: secure, vote-by-mail services for the upcoming election; food delivery services for those who need meals; and financial services that could replace payday loan centers in low-income communities. For these reasons, it is imperative that Congress protect the Post Office. WRITE A LETTER to your Congress member NOW demanding they save the United States Postal Service.
Until justice is real,?
-Brandi, Rashad, Arisha, Jade, Johnny, Amanda, Marie, Evan, Imani, Eesha, Samantha, Jennette, Ciera, Marcus, FolaSade, and the rest of the Color Of Change team
?References:
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Please help keep our movement strong.
Make a Donation
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Over the summer, you were a part of the largest movement in U.S. history.1
That's right, Jon. When we looked back at our record of petition signers, one name kept showing up: Yours. You stood with us to demand justice for Black people killed by police - joining millions of others to fight for change and defend Black lives. Thank you!
Today is Giving Tuesday - and as we begin to close the door on 2020 and prepare for the fights ahead, we need to know you're still with us.
So we have to ask, Jon: Can we count on you to become a monthly supporter of Color Of Change to power the fight for racial justice? Choose an amount that feels powerful to you as an investment in our critical work ?
DONATE NOW: $3
DONATE NOW: $5
DONATE NOW: $10
OTHER AMOUNT
After setting up a recurring donation, your monthly gift will process on this day each month.
You can easily change your gift or cancel at any time.
Jon, I think we can all agree: 2020 has been a challenging and unpredictable year. But if there's one thing we know, it's that our best supporters show up and show out in the fight for racial justice - especially when we need you the most.
By signing our petitions, you let Color Of Change know that you are committed to the fight for racial justice. You joined a community of activists taking real action to defend Black lives. Just this year, Color Of Change members like you made tens of thousands of phone calls, sent thousands of texts, and amplified our demands for justice on social media. And with your help, our movement has made history - fueling an ongoing national conversation about policing2 and showing anti-Black elected officials the door.3
But we can't stop now, Jon - there's too much at stake. Confirm your commitment to the fight. Become a monthly supporter of Color Of Change today:
YES, I''LL CHIP IN TO CONTINUE THE FIGHT FOR RACIAL JUSTICE
As always, thank you for everything you do to push our movement forward.
Until justice is real,
-- Scott, Rashad, Arisha, Erika, Malachi, Ernie, Madison, McKayla, Ana, Ariel, Ericka, and the rest of the Color Of Change team
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References:
1. Black Lives Matter May Be the Largest Movement in U.S. History. The New York Times, 03 July 2020.
2. How 'Defund the Police' went from moonshot to mainstream. Politico, 17 June 2020.
3. How Black voters and simmering protests contributed to Trump''s loss. CNN, 10 November 2020.
ColorOfChange is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change.
If you''re absolutely sure you don''t want to hear from ColorOfChange again, click here to unsubscribe.Help make sure people are ready to vote
Hey Jon,
We''re back again with your weekly invitation to text and call more Black people in communities around the country to encourage them to get out and vote- we have JUST 2 WEEKS until election day!
RSVP below to join us for one of our Black Joy Call events this week:
RSVP For saturday
This week is crucial-- with just 2 weeks left, this is the week when many people will need to be reminded to make a plan to vote so their daily lives don''t get in the way. We'll be texting Black voters across the nation to get them this information, and help convince undecided folks to take action.
RSVP today to get essential information to Black voters before November! And bring a friend too!
RSVP for Wednesday
RSVP for Saturday
Until justice is real,
Shannon, Corina, Destanie, Kaya, Bill, Niesha, Cam, Scotty and the rest of the Color Of Change PAC team
P.S. We''re also collecting videos from people like you about why it''s important to get out and vote, and how it impacts Black communities. Click here to make your own to share with your people!
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ColorOfChange PAC is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Contributions to Color Of Change PAC are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes. This email was sent to @. If you''re absolutely sure you don''t want to hear from Color Of Change again, click here to unsubscribe.
We need George Gasc?n to be elected
Dear?Jon,
Back in March, we fought hard for George Gasc?n and brought it to a runoff election in the LA County District Attorney Election against Jackie Lacey. Now, it's time to finish the fight.
Since March, we've had historical uprisings against police brutality throughout our country, including in Los Angeles County, where Dijon Kizzee and at least 22 others have been killed by police in 2020.1
Current LA County DA Jackie Lacey has failed to press charges for even one of these murders.
We need every last person we can to get out and vote George Gasc?n in and Jackie Lacey out. Here are 4 things you can do to help win this race:
1) Make sure you're registered to vote here, and if you are, look out for your ballot arriving in the mail soon; every registered Californian will receive one! Then make sure your friends and family check their registration too.
2) Click here for our in-depth summary of why we support George Gasc?n; then send the link along to your friends and family in LA County
3) Forward this email to any relevant email lists you're on, or to at least 5 friends
4) Click here to record a video about why you support George Gasc?n that you and Color Of Change PAC can share on social media!
George Gasc?n has a record of fighting for change to our criminal justice system:
Meanwhile, for 8 years current Los Angeles District Attorney Jackie Lacey has resisted criminal justice reforms while defending tough-on-crime policies:
Please, don't assume Jackie Lacey will lose on her own. She has powerful support from police unions and other conservative groups that don't care about safety for Black and brown people in LA.
Every last one of us has to do our part to elect George Gasc?n. Talk to friends and family, forward along information, and make sure people register and get out to vote by November 3rd!
Until justice is real,
Jenni, Arisha, Drew, Charles, Corina, Destanie, Kaya, Scotty, and the Color Of Change PAC team
Sources
1. "Reign of terror: a summer of police violence in Los Angeles", The Guardian, 6 Sept 2020,?https://act.colorofchange.org/go/274596?t=5&akid=47090%2E5670730%2E3qT4Lu
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ColorOfChange PAC is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Contributions to Color Of Change PAC are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes. This email was sent to @. If you''re absolutely sure you don''t want to hear from Color Of Change again, click here to unsubscribe.
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Hey?Jon,
Yesterday marked the 155th anniversary of Juneteenth--June 19, 1865 also known as Freedom Day--when enslaved Black people in Galveston, Texas got word from Union Army General Gordon Granger that they were finally freed.
It is my hope that you honor the celebration of the abolition of slavery in this country while also recognizing the pure resilience and determination shown by Black people to this day, who 155 years later continue to fight against racist, systemic oppression in hopes of true equality.
To celebrate the legacy and vision for freed Black people every day, become a Color Of Change PAC sustainer with a monthly gift of $5 or more today.
A monthly gift is the most efficient way to support Color Of Change PAC's long-term efforts to fight for equality for Black people by building independent Black political power, engaging Black voters, electing candidates who share our values, and holding them accountable to our communities.
Donate $1 a Month
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Donate Any Amount Monthly
I''d Rather Make a One-Time Donation
Jon, over the past few months we've seen unarmed Black people killed by police, we've seen major voter suppression tactics in action, we've seen Covid-19 disproportionately kill Black people and so much more.
When you start a monthly gift today, know that your monthly support enables my team and me to put up a fight against all of these racial injustices that Black folks must face each day. Whether it's endorsing a District Attorney that will hold police officers accountable for their actions or sending hundreds of thousands of text reminders to Black folks to register to vote, trust that Color Of Change PAC is putting in the work each and every day to get Black people closer to true equality.
Thank you for all of your support.?
Until Justice is Real,
Arisha, Jenni, Drew, Charles, Tammi, Cristel, Alex, Scotty, Daniel, and the Color Of Change PAC team
We need your help fighting back against attempts to discourage Black voters from casting their ballots.?Please help us report and hold accountable those who are trying to keep us from voting.
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Paid Pol. Adv. paid for by ColorOfChange PAC, 1714 Franklin St., Oakland, CA 94612, independently of and not authorized or approved by any federal, state, or local candidate or candidate's committee.
ColorOfChange PAC is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Contributions to Color Of Change PAC are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes. This email was sent to yellow71486@. If you''re absolutely sure you don''t want to hear from Color Of Change again, click here to unsubscribe.
Many Black businesses have not received COVID-19 relief, and may have to close their doors as a result. Call Congress and tell them to implement relief measures that protect Black-owned businesses.? CALL NOW?
Jon,
Nearly half of all Black-owned businesses will be gone in six months. Yes you read that correctly; many Black-owned businesses will be forced to close their doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic.1 The House of Representatives is currently working on adjustments to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) that will provide additional financial relief for small business owners. These kinds of changes could save small businesses by distributing additional loan funds, providing loan forgiveness, giving additional time for business owners to spend relief funds, and removing restrictions that have been preventing small businesses from being eligible for loan forgiveness.2 But we must ensure that these adjustments include specific provisions and protections for Black and Latinx-owned businesses. ??
Call your representative and demand that updates to the PPP include measures to protect Black-owned businesses.?
The PPP as it's written isn't working. Black and Latinx small business owners' needs were essentially ignored. Despite the majority of Black and Latinx business owners asking for less than $20,000 in assistance, only about 12% received the assistance they requested--even though Politico reports that "more than $100 billion remains available for loan approvals."3 4?This kind of discrimination is why Congress must include measures that specifically address the needs of Black and Latinx-owned businesses.?
Tell Congress to implement relief measures for Black-owned businesses. ?
The current proposed changes to the PPP still may not be enough to keep Black-owned businesses operating. Although revising the PPP is a step in the right direction, we need legislation that provides funds and benefits for a greater number of small business owners without strings attached. Legislation like the Paycheck Recovery Act, for example, provides an opportunity for small businesses who apply to receive an initial three-month lump sum grant payment. This would allow many more Black and Latinx small business owners to make up some of the revenue they've lost due to the pandemic and cover business operating costs like paying employees' salaries.5?
Without specific measures like the ones the Paycheck Recovery Act provides, we will lose not just our businesses, but all of the support and compassion they bring to our communities. The stakes are too high in this unprecedented time to leave our voices unheard. Call your representative NOW and demand Congress include specific relief measures for Black-owned businesses in their updates to the PPP.
Until justice is real,?
- Rashad and the rest of the Color Of Change team
References:?
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Help keep our movement strong.
If you''re absolutely sure you don''t want to hear from Color Of Change again, click here to unsubscribe.
Many Black businesses have not received COVID-19 relief, and may have to close their doors as a result. Call Congress and tell them to implement relief measures that protect Black-owned businesses.? CALL NOW?
Jon,
Nearly half of all Black-owned businesses will be gone in six months. Yes you read that correctly; many Black-owned businesses will be forced to close their doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic.1 The House of Representatives is currently working on adjustments to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) that will provide additional financial relief for small business owners. These kinds of changes could save small businesses by distributing additional loan funds, providing loan forgiveness, giving additional time for business owners to spend relief funds, and removing restrictions that have been preventing small businesses from being eligible for loan forgiveness.2 But we must ensure that these adjustments include specific provisions and protections for Black and Latinx-owned businesses. ??
Call your representative and demand that updates to the PPP include measures to protect Black-owned businesses.?
The PPP as it's written isn't working. Black and Latinx small business owners' needs were essentially ignored. Despite the majority of Black and Latinx business owners asking for less than $20,000 in assistance, only about 12% received the assistance they requested--even though Politico reports that "more than $100 billion remains available for loan approvals."3 4?This kind of discrimination is why Congress must include measures that specifically address the needs of Black and Latinx-owned businesses.?
Tell Congress to implement relief measures for Black-owned businesses. ?
The current proposed changes to the PPP still may not be enough to keep Black-owned businesses operating. Although revising the PPP is a step in the right direction, we need legislation that provides funds and benefits for a greater number of small business owners without strings attached. Legislation like the Paycheck Recovery Act, for example, provides an opportunity for small businesses who apply to receive an initial three-month lump sum grant payment. This would allow many more Black and Latinx small business owners to make up some of the revenue they've lost due to the pandemic and cover business operating costs like paying employees' salaries.5?
Without specific measures like the ones the Paycheck Recovery Act provides, we will lose not just our businesses, but all of the support and compassion they bring to our communities. The stakes are too high in this unprecedented time to leave our voices unheard. Call your representative NOW and demand Congress include specific relief measures for Black-owned businesses in their updates to the PPP.
Until justice is real,?
- Rashad and the rest of the Color Of Change team
References:?
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Help keep our movement strong.
If you''re absolutely sure you don''t want to hear from Color Of Change again, click here to unsubscribe.
Tell your Senators to let the next President replace Justice Ginsburg.
Dear?Jon,
Last night, we lost trailblazing Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. During her 27 years on the Court she repeatedly stood firm in her protection of many issues important to Black and Brown people including voting and workers' rights, affirmative action, and women's and LGBTQ equality. Mitch McConnell has already expressed his plans to bring Justice Ginsburg's replacement to a vote on the Senate floor as soon as possible. This is the same Senate Majority Leader who hasn't passed a bill to address the pandemic in nearly seven months. With less than 50 days left until the election, sign our petition and demand that your Senators wait until the inauguration of the next President to replace Justice Ginsburg.
Mitch McConnell's Senate has done nothing for months while hundreds of thousands of Americans?- who are disproportionately Black and Brown?- have died of COVID-19. Millions more have lost their jobs and small businesses due to the Senate's refusal to pass a meaningful COVID relief bill, while McConnell said he felt no urgency to act. Ginsburg's family told our grieving country that her "most fervent wish was not to be replaced until a new president [is] installed."1 Yet mere moments after Justice Ginsburg died, McConnell has decided that it's time to get something done, only it's not freezing evictions or renewing extra unemployment benefits. Instead, he wants to ensure that the Supreme Court is positioned to attack and ignore our communities for another generation. Stand up for our communities and send a message to your Senators that the next President be the one to replace Justice Ginsburg.
While Mitch McConnell assumes he has the votes to push a new Justice onto the Court, we're seeing signs that he may not have the lockstep support he's expecting. Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski (R) went on the record hours before the announcement of Ginsburg's death to say she would not vote to confirm a Supreme Court nominee this close to an election2, and she may not be the only one choosing country over party as November 3rd approaches. We just need 51 Senators to hold the line and stand up for our communities, which means it's on all of us to ramp up the pressure. We need to apply all the pressure we can on the Senate. Tell your Senators to wait until the next inauguration to appoint Justice Ginsburg''s replacement.
Jon, we know 2020 has been an extremely difficult year. It can be hard to keep up with it all?- especially as we deal with the consequences of the Senate's failure to address this pandemic. It's understandable to feel scared and even helpless, but now is not the time to give up on the fight for justice. We'll keep fighting, but we are stronger when we're all doing our part together. This is a fight that we can win. Tell your Senators that they shouldn't appoint a Supreme Court Justice until after the inauguration of the next President.
?
Until justice is real,?
Jenni, Trevor, Arisha, Sabrina, Drew, Charles, Alex, Scott, Cristel, Tammi, and the rest of the team
?References:
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Ad paid for by ColorOfChange PAC, colorofchangepac.org. Not authorized by any federal, state, or local candidate or a committee controlled by a candidate. |
ColorOfChange PAC is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Contributions to Color Of Change PAC are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes. This email was sent to @. If you''re absolutely sure you don''t want to hear from Color Of Change again, click here to unsubscribe.
We can't allow the NBA to just drop their arena workers! Demand that all NBA team owners pay laid off arena workers for the duration of the NBA's hiatus! Take Action ??
The NBA made the hard decision to cancel the current basketball season to protect its players, employees, and fans from the Coronavirus after a Utah Jazz player tested positive for the virus. While this shocked and upset many people, it took jobs away from tens of thousands of arena workers whose incomes are dependent on the NBA games being played. With many cities around the country locking down entire sectors of the economy, these people have no other option to turn to for income.
Black workers disproportionately make up the low-wage hourly workforce which includes the vast majority of game-day employees.1?40% of hourly workers lack any savings and over 75% of them have less than $500 saved for emergencies. The coming days and weeks are likely to wipe out these savings and force employees to take on toxic debt or make difficult choices around food and medical care.2 And because of the systemic lack of healthcare and economic infrastructure in many Black communities, Black people are at particular risk for the extensive harm this pandemic will cause. We can't allow the NBA to just drop these workers, with no income in the midst of a global pandemic.
Demand that all the NBA team owners pay laid off arena workers for the duration of the NBA's hiatus!
19-year old NBA player Zion Williamson stood up for arena workers, donating his own money to support them, along with Kevin Love, Blake Griffin, Rudy Gobert, and Giannis Antetokounmpo.3 These players have shown remarkable generosity by donating to support the low-income arena workers - but it's not their responsibility to pay the wages of other employees. NBA players, while well-paid, are still employees of the NBA. Their generosity is remarkable. It speaks volumes about their character and the spirit of giving back that we honor in our community, but they shouldn't have to pay the NBA's bills.
NBA team owners are some of the wealthiest individuals in the country. Their wealth was built off of investments from taxpayers (like you and I) whose income taxes were used to build their arenas. We're talking about hundreds of millions of dollars in some cases! The taxes of working-class people have funded the NBA's explosive growth - it's time for the NBA to own up to its responsibilities to the people and communities that make their game-day experience so profitable.4
The NBA is a multi-billion-dollar league that has the funds to cover the wages of impacted employees. The responsibility to provide income should be on the league, not its players. So we are calling on all NBA team owners to work with the various companies who manage stadium concessions to ensure those employees are also paid for the duration of the NBA's hiatus.
Demand that all NBA team owners commit to paying all arena workers for the duration of the NBA''s hiatus!
Until justice is real,
Brandi, Rashad, Arisha, Johnny, Jade, Evan, Amanda, Eesha, Samantha, Marcus, FolaSade,?Jennette,?Cierra?and the rest of the Color Of Change team
References:
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Help keep our movement strong.
If you''re absolutely sure you don''t want to hear from Color Of Change again, click here to unsubscribe.
Hey?Jon,
Being a Black person living in America feels increasingly difficult. We are trying to survive two deadly viruses at the same time: Covid-19 and racism. I am tired, and I know you must be too.?
This email has been difficult to write, but I must tell you the truth: we are experiencing a nationwide voter registration crisis due to the coronavirus. In several states, voter registration numbers fell by close to 50% since 2016, including in Texas, North Carolina, Maryland, Missouri, and Kansas.1 Even worse, Virginia has 73% fewer registrations last month than it did just four years ago,2?and New Jersey saw a near-73% drop.3?
Due to Covid-19, on-the-ground voter registration events are no longer feasible, and we need to keep our field organizers and members safe. Black voters already experience heightened voter suppression in this country, and added barriers to voter registration make it even more difficult for us to vote. But?Jon, we cannot give up. I believe that we can turn our collective pain from this moment into Black political power.?
Color Of Change PAC is even more committed to making sure Black people have full access to the ballot box. Increased access starts with educating thousands of Black voters about how to register online or by mail during this pandemic. In order to activate Black folks to register before the November elections, we will be sending texts, running ads, and hosting virtual voter registration events.?
I can't promise that voting will immediately solve inequities Black people experience every day in this country. But it is one of the best ways we can use our voices to elect leaders that are accountable to Black communities and understand that we need change now.
If you are financially able, please donate whatever you can to our rapid-response Black voter registration program.?With your generous donation, we will have the resources necessary to reach as many Black voters as possible virtually before November.
Choose which donation amount feels right for you:
Donate $5
Donate $10
Donate $25
Donate $50
Donate $100
Until justice is real,
Arisha, Jenni, Drew, Charles, Tammi, Cristel, Alex, Scotty,?Daniel, and the Color Of Change PAC team
References:?
1.?https://act.colorofchange.org/go/248416?t=13&akid=43016%2E5670730%2EXJdxG9
2.?https://act.colorofchange.org/go/248304?t=15&akid=43016%2E5670730%2EXJdxG9
3.??https://act.colorofchange.org/go/248417?t=17&akid=43016%2E5670730%2EXJdxG9
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Paid Pol. Adv. paid for by ColorOfChange PAC, 1714 Franklin St., Oakland, CA 94612, independently of and not authorized or approved by any federal, state, or local candidate or candidate's committee.
ColorOfChange PAC is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Contributions to Color Of Change PAC are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes. This email was sent to @. If you''re absolutely sure you don''t want to hear from Color Of Change again, click here to unsubscribe.
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No, it's not another hit song or music video with Cardi B - it's Meg's powerful defense of Black women in The New York Times. Here's an excerpt:?
"I recently used the stage at 'SNL' to harshly rebuke Kentucky's attorney general, Daniel Cameron, for his appalling conduct in denying Breonna Taylor and her family justice. I anticipated some backlash. [...] But you know what? I'm not afraid of criticism. And it's ridiculous that some people think the simple phrase 'Protect Black women' is controversial. We deserve to be protected as human beings."1
Meg is 100% right - the phrase "Protect Black Women" shouldn't be controversial.?But the truth is, we live in a country where protecting Black women and gender non-conforming folks is NOT the norm. Here's how Color Of Change is fighting to change that:
We're still demanding justice for Breonna Taylor. As Meg points out, Attorney General Cameron denied Breonna and her family justice - but if you think one crooked prosecutor will stop us, think again. Color Of Change has already organized 1.5 million people across the country to demand justice for Bre. Now, we're calling for a new prosecutor in this case and investments in Louisville communities. We're in this fight for the long haul, Jon.
We're fighting for reproductive justice - regardless of the outcome of this election.?With reproductive rights and Roe in jeopardy, Black people will be criminalized first. We'll need to put increased pressure on prosecutors who have the power to ensure no one is thrown in jail for seeking critical reproductive health care.
We're protecting protestors and lifting up the voices of people with incarcerated loved ones.?Right now, Black women in America are targeted by two life-threatening crises: COVID-19 and racism. Color Of Change has pushed for criminal charges against anti-racist protestors to be dropped - and for the voices of Black women with loved ones behind bars during COVID to be lifted up.
This work is critical, but it isn't possible without support from people like you. Jon, can we count on you to become a monthly supporter of our work to protect and champion Black women?
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In her op-ed, Megan Thee Stallion goes on to name more challenges Black women face every day: Sexism and double standards in the workplace and in the music industry. Violence against Black trans women. Body dysmorphia. The lack of Black women leaders in positions of power.
There's no question: This system wasn't designed to protect Black women, much less champion them. That's why these campaigns are so critical in our mission to build a more just world for all of us. Jon, we know that you stand with Color Of Change and our efforts to protect Black women. But the fact is, changing the status quo and winning these tough fights is hard. It takes resources - and committed supporters like you who can fight with us in the months to come.
Because here's the thing, Jon: We can only ramp up our efforts to protect Black women with buy-in from supporters like you. So, if your budget allows it, we're asking you to chip in $3 a month to power our campaigns to victory:
YES, I'LL CHIP IN TO PROTECT BLACK WOMEN
For years, Color Of Change has heard the call to "Protect Black Women" loud and clear - from Megan Thee Stallion, activists in the streets, and supporters like you, Jon.
And we're committed to taking on the system to demand and win positive change for Black people. It's what we do.
We hope we can count on you to continue the fight with us, Jon.
Thank you for standing with us - today, next month, and until justice is real.
-- Scott, Rashad, Arisha, Erika, Malachi, Marybeth, Ernie, Leonard, Madison, McKayla, Ariel, Ana, and the rest of the Color Of Change team
References:
1. Megan Thee Stallion: Why I Speak Up for Black Women. The New York Times, 13?October 2020.
ColorOfChange is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change.
If you''re absolutely sure you don''t want to hear from ColorOfChange again, click here to unsubscribe.Facebook's accommodation of right-wing politicians allows them to conduct voter suppression and spread misinformation.
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Mark Zuckerberg continues to let right-wing politicians spread lies, misinformation, and hatred on Facebook.? ??
Tell Facebook to stop allowing politicians to spread lies and misinformation.? ? TAKE ACTION |
Here we are again, demanding Mark Zuckerberg choose civil rights over allowing the spread of misinformation, outright lies, and hate speech on Facebook's platforms. Even though Rashad and I met with him less than two weeks ago, Zuckerberg still refuses to institute civil rights protections that will protect Black people from harm and prevent the destruction of our democracy.1?
Most recently, Zuckerberg allowed politicians to break the rules and lie on Facebook about the upcoming election, leading millions of people to believe that mail-in ballots will result in voter fraud.2 These kinds of falsehoods spread like wildfire and are transparent attempts to suppress our votes. Too often, politicians get away with breaking Facebook's rules because Zuckerberg continually allows accommodations for politicians that exclude them from following the same Facebook rules you and I must follow every day. With one of the most important elections of our time looming, we cannot afford for Zuckerberg to supercharge voter suppression by keeping up special rules for politicians.?
Tell Mark Zuckerberg to end special rules for politicians. ?
This doesn't just impact the spread of misinformation; it also harms Black people. In the 2016 election, for example, Facebook's lax rules led to foreign interference that targeted Black social media users.3 Currently, these kinds of exceptions enable right-wing users to share information that violates civil rights laws and drives real-world violence toward Black people. In May, for example, Donald Trump threatened protestors through a Facebook post, saying "when the looting starts, the shooting starts."4 Donald Trump has also been continuously attacking voting by mail, sharing outrageous, false claims that mail-in ballots will lead to a 'rigged election' and 'fraudulent' voting.5? ? ? ??
Politicians should not be immune from the rules. Tell Facebook to end accommodations for politicians.?
We are less than five months away from the presidential election, and Facebook's giant policy loopholes let politicians spread unchecked voter suppression, harassment, and lies. By not fact-checking politicians and allowing them to mislead the public regarding voting methods, Facebook is setting a dangerous precedent ahead of the 2020 election. These policies, which exempt politicians' lies from the same community standards you and I must abide by, infect Facebook with injustice and inequality.?
End Facebook''s special rules for politicians NOW.
Until justice is real,?
-Arisha, Rashad, Brandi, Jade, Johnny, Amanda, Marie, Evan, Imani, Eesha, Samantha, Jennette, Ciera, Marcus, FolaSade, and the rest of the Color Of Change team
References:
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Please help keep our movement strong.
Make a Donation
?
Dear?Jon,?
It's been about 150 days since Breonna Taylor was murdered by plain-clothed police officers in Louisville, Kentucky in a no-knock raid.?They stormed into her home in the middle of the night, spraying bullets at both Breonna and her boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, leaving their lives in shambles. Not one of those cops has been arrested or charged. This is unacceptable. Breonna's life was stolen as a result of the police violence that runs rampant in Louisville. And the truth is, Breonna's tragic story is not unique.
There''s?one thing that's become undeniably clear?Jon, Black women are often underserved, overlooked, and the least protected in our communities. More often than not, we serve as the backbone in families and households across the country but rarely do I see the issues that are impacting us at disproportionate rates, brought to the forefront or prioritized in the political landscape.
At Color of Change, we are working to uplift and highlight the issues that are putting Black women in harm''s way. We're taking real steps to ensure that our loved ones have the tools they need to thrive.
Because it's not enough to just imagine a world in which Black women are protected, championed, and free. We actually need to do the work it takes to get us there.
YES, I''ll Chip in for Black women
We're running campaigns every day that keep us in the fight for Black women.?And so far, we've been winning. Last year, we worked in partnership with local organizations to win justice for women like Latice Fisher. Latice is a young Black mother who was charged with 2nd-degree murder after having a stillbirth-- she needlessly faced life imprisonment and separation from her family. Latice was criminalized simply for being a pregnant Black woman -- she never should've faced police violence or intervention.
This year we launched a campaign in defense of Grace, a 15-year-old Black girl who was sent to jail for not doing her homework. Grace was separated from her mother for months because of homework, and we rallied together to ensure she was freed. And we haven't stopped there. We are committed to freeing Black mamas on Mother's Day through our work with the National Bailout Collective.1 And we amplified our efforts to free Black mothers who were especially vulnerable to contracting COVID-19 because no one should die in a cage simply because they are too poor to afford bail. It was because of the support of members like you that we were able to do this work. Now more than ever we need you to keep this momentum going.
And that starts with your support. Chip-in $7 to become a monthly sustainer.
Until justice is real,
Erika, Rashad, Arisha, Scott, Malachi, Marybeth, Madison, Leonard, Ernie, McKayla, and the rest of the Color of Change team.
?References:
ColorOfChange is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change.
If you''re absolutely sure you don''t want to hear from ColorOfChange again, click here to unsubscribe.
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Jon,
$376. That's how much a Chicago-area food truck was left with after Grubhub deducted administrative and promotional fees from over $1000 in orders.1 The food truck isn't alone; restaurants across the country are reporting exorbitant commissions that eat away at their profits and barely cover the price of the food, much less payroll or operating expenses. It's ridiculous that while small restaurants are trying to feed their communities and survive this devastating public health and economic crisis, they're being slammed with Grubhub's exploitative commissions and delivery fees. That's why we're demanding that Grubhub #DropTheFees and cap commissions at 10%. Small restaurants are the lifeblood of our communities. During the coronavirus pandemic, Grubhub must reduce the barriers to their sustainability, not cause increased hardship.
Demand that GrubHub''s CEO stop exploiting small businesses and #DropTheFees!
The slim profits that restaurants are earning are even more shocking when you consider that Grubhub is making more money than ever while the restaurant industry is nearing a collapse.2 While Grubhub reports record revenues with a 20% daily increase in orders, the restaurant industry has lost $25 billion and restaurant owners have had to lay off more than three million employees.3,4 Food delivery services wouldn't exist without restaurants and Grubhub's excessive fees not only harm their profitability but make them unsustainable. The challenge is compounded for Black-owned restaurants that are already at an economic disadvantage during the Coronavirus pandemic--especially considering that up to 90% of Black businesses are locked out of federal relief programs.
Demand that Grubhub's CEO #DropTheFees and stop taking profits from small restaurants!
Prior to the pandemic, restaurant customers were already paying more for food because of the contracts amongst third-party services like GrubHub, UberEats, Postmates, and DoorDash. But now, as people around the country are mandated to stay at home, many restaurants are forced to rely on these services for delivery. Grubhub is taking full advantage of that. Last month, Grubhub released a sentimental commercial claiming that "Restaurants are our family" while simultaneously charging their "family" standard commissions of 30%.5 It's time Grubhub drops the double talk and upholds the values it claims. Stand with our local restaurants and demand that GrubHub stop exploiting small businesses.
Demand that Grubhub's CEO stop aiding in the collapse of the restaurant industry and #DropTheFees!
Until justice is real,
Jade, Rashad, Arisha, Brandi, Johnny, Evan, Amanda, Eesha, Samantha, Marcus, FolaSade,?Jennette,?Ciera?and the rest of the Color Of Change team
References:
?Black people continue to be disproportionately harmed by COVID-19. We created The Black Response to ensure Black people survive this pandemic and thrive in its aftermath. Visit?theblackresponse.org?to take action on the issues impacting our communities the most during the pandemic, and join our upcoming events, including LIVE conversations with Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal, and actors Kerry Washington and Marsai Martin on @colorofchange's Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Help keep our movement strong.
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Sign the petition. It's time for Fairfax to stop profiting from exploitation.
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Jon,
Earlier this year, we pressured another top company to divest from?the predatory bail industry. This is a HUGE victory - and now it''s time to hold the last publicly-traded company in the bail industry accountable.
Thanks to Color Of Change members like you, Endeavour Capital, a private equity firm, sold its stake in the company that owns Aladdin Bail Bonds. This company has been fueling the exploitation of Black, Brown, and cash-poor people for years. And Endeavour''s divestment will have a significant impact on its viability.
But it''s not just this one company - the entire bail bond industry is on its last breath.?According to industry researchers, the bail bond industry is in jeopardy of being completely wiped out.1 And the proof is in the pudding: Three major bail industry backers have divested in just the last year. Our movement to abolish cash bail is winning.2
Last year, we used the strategy of threatening Endeavour with losing some of its biggest investors, including the University of Washington and Washington State public employee pension funds. We worked with university and state employees to let them know we wouldn''t let public funds be used to support an exploitative and racist industry like bail.3 Combined with efforts across the country to outlaw the use of bail, our collective work is making the bail industry so unprofitable, all of its major investors are walking away. But there''s one publicly-traded company left in the bail business - Fairfax Financial Holdings. We need your help to pressure Fairfax Financial to follow suit.??
Fairfax''s divestment from the bail companies it owns would even further isolate the industry. It would essentially be the nail in the coffin for bail. And we know that if we could pressure three other major companies to exit the bail industry, then with your help, we surely can do it again.
Sign the petition: Demand Fairfax Financial CEO Prem Watsa immediately divest from bail.
Getting Endeavour to divest from bail was a critically important victory, so let me break it down:?Typically, when a bond is set, a person pays the bond amount to the court, and the money is returned to them once they appear for trial. However, if an individual chooses to use a bail bond company, they will never see that money again.4?While they may only have to pay a smaller deposit upfront, they are forced into a contract requiring an even more expensive installment plan in the future. These contracts almost always come with deceptive payment plans with high-interest rates trapping people into cycles of debt,?invasive surveillance,?the potential of re-arrest (even when a person makes all of their court appearances), or selling off collateral assets and foreclosure of property.5?And worse yet,?even after charges are dropped, a person can still be on the hook for repayment.6?Bail bond companies create the illusion of hope for poor Black and Brown people who are forced to make the impossible choice between their freedom and losing their jobs, housing, and even custody of their children.
There''s no doubt: The bail bond industry must be abolished - but even after every company divests from the bail industry, our fight is far from over. The abolition of cash bail brings us only one step closer towards pre-trial justice and ending the overuse of jailing people who are legally innocent. Over 540,000 mostly Black and Brown people are locked up pre-trial on any given day across federal, local, and youth jails, even as crime rates are declining.7 But instead of passing laws that would ensure the presumption of release for the vast majority of people, moderate Democrats are pushing for laws that would replace cash bail with systems that would trap people in jail with NO way out. Many states are developing and using racist algorithms called risk assessments to determine who must stay locked up. And even more states are using invasive ankle shackles as in-home jails.
Our legal system treats people as guilty until they''re proven innocent when it should be the other way around. But if we come together and refuse to settle for anything less than our people coming home to be with their communities, we can do away with pre-trial detention once and for all.?
Tell Fairfax''s CEO Prem Watsa: The bail industry exploits Black families and communities. Cut ties now.
Despite the for-profit bail industry's steady decline in recent years, Fairfax Financial continues to invest millions of dollars in the racist and exploitative system of cash bail.8?Fairfax Financial Holdings is a publicly-traded company based in Toronto, Canada that acquired several bail companies in the U.S. from other companies that divested, making it the largest backer of bail bonds in the country.9?In Canada, bail bonds are illegal and considered morally reprehensible. But Fairfax prides itself on supporting the bail industry - so it''s going to take more than a moral argument to get it to divest. Fortunately, that''s where we have an advantage. 2019 was a rough year for Fairfax despite its high profits.10?Fairfax''s stock shares severely underperformed and earlier this year their long-time President announced his retirement.11?
Fairfax is vulnerable and the bail industry is in a decline.?With the news that Endeavour has left the bail industry, momentum is swinging our way. But we have to keep fighting, and we must demand real accountability from Fairfax Financial.?
Just this month, Fairfax CEO Prem Watsa was named a co-chair of the BlackNorth Initiative - a group of business leaders?"committed to the removal of anti-Black systemic barriers negatively affecting the lives of Black people."12 Yet Watsa's company still owns the largest insurer of for-profit bail companies in the United States. Standing with the ACLU, Color Of Change sent a letter to Watsa demanding that he divest Fairfax from the for-profit bail industry. We first reached out last year, and our petition already has thousands of signatures.?We''ve received no response from Watsa.
Now more than ever, it is time Fairfax Financial divest from for-profit bail. It is time to make?it clear to CEO Prem Watsa: you cannot get rich by tearing Black and Brown families apart. Until you divest, your commitment to anti-Black racism rings hollow.?
No company should be allowed to profit from Black suffering.
Until justice is real,?
Scott, Rashad, Arisha, Erika, Malachi, Leonard, Marybeth, Madison, Ernie, McKayla and the rest of the Color Of Change team
?
?References:
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Please help keep our movement strong.
Make a Donation
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Hi?Jon,
My name is Destanie, and I'm the new Regional Field Manager in Los Angeles County. The District Attorney's race is quickly approaching. We have exactly one week until election day. That's why I am inviting you to join me at our two Community Walks this weekend to help get Jackie Lacey out of the LA District Attorney's office.
#ByeJackieLacey Weekend of Action?
Saturday, Feb 29, 9am-12pm, and 1pm-4pm
Color of Change PAC Office, 4331 Crenshaw Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90008
RSVP HERE
#ByeJackieLacey Weekend of Action?
Sunday, March 1, 9am-12pm, and 1pm-4pm
Color of Change PAC Office, 4331 Crenshaw Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90008
RSVP HERE
I'm not fighting to get Jackie Lacey out of the DA's office for political reasons; this is personal. South LA raised, I know the damage Jackie Lacey has done to my community first hand. I've seen my peers disappear into the criminal justice system. And by the time they re-enter our communities, they barely have a fair chance at getting resources and living a dignified life.
I have witnessed first hand the pain of the loved ones who she denied justice in refusing to prosecute in officer-involved killings. My community and I have been through enough.?
I believe in progressive criminal justice reform, and DA Lacey is the opposite of progressive. She wants to continue protecting cops that kill Black and brown people. I've had enough, and that's why I'm working with Color Of Change PAC to educate thousands of Black voters about why it's crucial that we vote out Jackie Lacey and help elect George Gasc?n for District Attorney.?
If we don't educate our community members about the importance of this election, Lacey could have 4 more years to make living in LA a more dangerous place for Black people to live in.?
Please,?Jon, we still have 1000s of people to reach, and the early voting period has already begun.?
Every last person we contact is a voter that could decide this election. And the only way to reach them is with your help. Join me and our beautiful community of friends and neighbors standing with Gasc?n this Saturday or Sunday!
RSVP FOR SATURDAY HERE
RSVP FOR SUNDAY HERE
(You can RSVP to both!)
Until justice is real,
Destanie, Corina, Jenni, Drew, Charles, Cristel, Tammi, Alex, Scotty, Daniel and the Color Of Change PAC team
P.S. If you can't come out this weekend, you can sign up here to let us know that you want to help out in the future, including just posting things on social media, sending emails to your friends, or making a video to support George Gasc?n!
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ColorOfChange PAC is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Contributions to Color Of Change PAC are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes. This email was sent to yellow71486@. If you''re absolutely sure you don''t want to hear from Color Of Change again, click here to unsubscribe.
Our democracy is at stake if Facebook doesn't clamp down on election misinformation and calls to violence.
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Facebook must remove misinformation to ensure people don''t use the platform to undermine the election.?
Tell Facebook #DoYourJob and prevent the platform from being used to influence election results.? ? TAKE ACTION |
Facebook is already causing election chaos. In just the last few days, they've allowed ads to tens of thousands of voters in swing states telling them the wrong election date, as well as Spanish-language ads filled with misinformation and anti-Black dog whistles.1,2?Too much is at stake in this election. Facebook must do their job and make sure the platform isn't used to suppress our votes or drive right-wing violence against our communities.?
Tell Facebook #DoYourJob and cut off voter-manipulating misinformation.????
To make matters worse, last week, Senate Republicans held a sham hearing with Mark Zuckerberg and the other Big Tech CEOs in an attempt to bully tech companies into allowing more election misinformation on their platforms.3?With Election Day less than 24 hours away, and millions of early ballots already being cast, we can't afford for Facebook to bow to pressure to make it easier for people to spread misinformation. Removing misinformation is necessary to protect our democracy. Here's what Facebook still needs to do to make sure the platform doesn't accelerate the spread of misinformation:?
Facebook has gotten away with not doing their job for long enough. And when they don't do their job, the platform is used to commit violence against us and contribute to the destruction of our democracy.?
Tell Facebook #DoYourJob and stop the spread misinformation that's influencing our election.?
Until justice real,
-Jade, Rashad, Arisha, Johnny, Amanda, Marie, Gabrielle, Evan, Imani, Taurjhai, Stasia, Eesha, Samantha, Jennette, Ciera, Marcus, FolaSade, and the rest of the Color Of Change team
References:?
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Please help keep our movement strong.
Make a Donation
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We need your voice to make this successful.
The protections in the HEROES Act are what Black people need right now. We need YOUR voice to make this successful. RECORD A VIDEO?
Dear Jon,
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This month, 36% of renters were unable to fully pay rent and 4.2 million homeowners went into forbearance.1,2 Studies show that by the end of September, Black and Latinx communities would disproportionately encompass the 22 million Americans facing eviction.3 Even prior to the pandemic, rent had been unaffordable in all 50 states.4 Now, the bans on foreclosures and evictions are expiring at the local, state, and federal levels, all while expanded unemployment benefits ended on July 25. In addition, Black-owned businesses have been hit hardest during this pandemic, declining by 41%.5 We need economic relief fast!
It's been two months since the House of Representatives passed the Health and Economic Recovery (HEROES) Act, legislation which would provide larger direct payments for families, increased protections for Black-owned businesses, and an extension of unemployment insurance. But Senate Leader McConnell has not even allowed a vote on this bill in the Senate and time is running out! This week, Senate Republicans rolled out a watered-down bill which would reduce unemployment benefits by $400 a week and deny moratoriums on evictions, utility shutoffs, and debt collection for small businesses, which are especially hurting at this time. Black people have been through crisis after crisis in 2020. With no end to the pandemic in sight, we need the strongest safety net possible from our government.
Jon,?will you record a video telling Senator Feinstein and Senator Harris to extend full unemployment and provide direct support to small businesses?Three million small businesses have been forced to close between February and April of this year.6 Among the Black and Latinx small business owners that are still open and operating, almost half expect to close by election day if conditions remain the same.7 That''s why this legislation is crucial.?The provisions in the HEROES Act would:
These and the many more protections in the HEROES Act are what Black communities need right now. Our elected representatives need to hear this-from us. They need to hear from everyday people, Black business owners, renters, homeowners, and everyone in between.?Record a video telling Senator Harris and Senator Feinstein to extend full unemployment to protect families and Black-owned businesses!
Sharing Black stories is the foundation of the work we do at Color Of Change. Since 2018, hundreds of Color Of Change members across the country have told their personal stories through our YourVoice platform, speaking truth to those in power through this effective tool. Telling your story helps us make sure Black voices are centered, our experiences are acknowledged, and our demands are clear. Jon, we need your voice to make this successful.
Senate leadership will not ensure the provisions in the HEROES Act are met without our demands from them! The fact that 140,000 Americans have already lost their lives, that there are over 3.8 million COVID-19 cases across the country, and there are tens of thousands of new cases emerging everyday is clearly not enough for them. These representatives need to hear from the people that put them in office and have the power to take them out!
Jon, use YOUR voice to demand that Senator Feinstein and Senator Harris fight for the protections Black people need!
Until justice is real,?
- Jade, Rashad, Arisha, Brandi, Johnny, Amanda, Evan, Eesha, Samantha, Marcus, FolaSade, Jennette, Ciera, Marie, Gabrielle and the rest of the Color Of Change team
References
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Please help keep our movement strong.
Make a Donation
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Jon,
120. For?the last 120 days, people across the country have been taking action and demanding more for their political leader. From the millions of people signing petitions to the hundreds of thousands of people risking their lives by hitting the pavement and declaring that Black Lives Matter.?
We are in an unprecedented moment. And for the first time in a long time, many are beginning to see the role prosecutors play in holding police officers accountable.?That is why pressuring local prosecutors to enact policies and practices that are in the best interest of communities is critical. And it's not just about holding police officers accountable.?
Prosecutors are single-handedly one of the most powerful players in the criminal justice system. Every day, they make decisions that impact the lives of Black and brown people -- from whether to request a bail that is impossible to pay to whether to charge a child as an adult or at all.2? Collectively, no decisions fuel mass incarceration and the disproportionate criminalization of Black and brown communities more than the decisions of prosecutors.?
More prosecutors need to be responsive to community calls for change --- and not just in moments in crisis. We need true prosecutorial accountability all year long. But we need your help to do it, Jon. Will you consider becoming a monthly sustainer and help grow our movement to pressure district attorneys to transform the criminal justice system?
Yes, i will become a monthly sustainer!
This journey for prosecutorial accountability began with the demand for police accountability. After witnessing case after case of police officers walking away, our team at Color Of Change quickly began to understand the important and powerful role of prosecutors in the criminal justice system.?Now because of the movement to transform the district attorney office, we are beginning to see reform-minded prosecutors all over the country take bold action.3
It's time to take this important intervention to the next level. Here is our plan to grow the movement for prosecutorial accountability nationwide:
We need to do everything within our power to stop the attacks on Black and brown people. And it's going to take all kinds of creative tactics to build the public pressure needed to effect change.?This moment is our chance to change the political landscape for district attorneys on a much bigger scale. Can I count on you to support?
Yes, i will chip-in $5 each month
Yes, i will chip-in $10 each month
Yes, i will chip-in $20 each month
Yes, i will chip-in $50 each month
Become a monthly sustainer with Color Of Change today.
Until justice is real,
--Scott, Rashad, Arisha, Erika, Malachi, Marybeth, Leonard, Madison, Ernie, McKayla and the rest of the Color Of Change team
References:
ColorOfChange is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change.
If you''re absolutely sure you don''t want to hear from ColorOfChange again, click here to unsubscribe.
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Dear?Jon,
It's time for Netflix to remove all cop shows from the streaming platform. Back in January, we questioned Netflix about having the law enforcement show "Border Security: America''s Front Line" on their platform, a reality show that glorifies border patrol agents. Now that the world is protesting against police and the atrocities they commit, it is important that media leader Netflix take a strong stand against police violence.?
Tell Netflix to remove all cop shows from its platform.?
Shows about police have been an ongoing problem in the television and entertainment landscape. Whether it is reality shows like "Live PD" or "Cops," or fictional television shows like "Law & Order: SVU," cop shows heroize police.1 But we know from what's going on in our country that police are not heroes. They are out in the streets of cities and towns across America right now, tear-gassing Black people and beating protestors until they bleed.2 They habitually demonize Black people, harass and kill us regularly, and make us feel unsafe and unwelcome in this country.3?
SIGN THE PETITION: Netflix has a responsibility to remove harmful cop shows from its platform.?
Police are harmful, not heroic. With every cop show that remains streaming, police officers' violent behavior is glorified and legitimized in real life. Police officers' stories are frequently centered and they are always the main characters. While storytelling through TV and film can create larger than life characters, it can also change the way audiences understand the world. By demanding Netflix remove all cop shows from their platform, we will take steps toward ending the false, stereotypical narrative that police are heroes and improve people's understanding of how police officers cause harm in the real-world.???
The stakes are just too high. We cannot allow cop shows to continue to stream. Tell Netflix to dump its cop shows.
Until justice is real,?
-Brandi, Rashad, Arisha, Jade, Johnny, Amanda, Marie, Evan, Imani, Eesha, Samantha, Jennette, Ciera, Marcus, FolaSade, and the rest of the Color Of Change team
References:?
Photo: Institute for Policy Studies.
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Help keep our movement strong.
If you''re absolutely sure you don''t want to hear from Color Of Change again, click here to unsubscribe.
People need to hear from us
Hey Jon,
People are longing for connection in this difficult time. So we''re making calls to connect with Black voters, to share our stories, and to encourage our community in this year that has been so hard for so many.
RSVP below to join us for one of our Black Joy Call Parties this weekend:
RSVP For saturday
The issues that we care about -- ensuring that Black women are protected, standing up to police brutality, education equity -- will be decided by the people that we elect up and down the ballot.
This week, we'll be calling Black voters in Florida to learn more about the issues they care about and ask for their support. There are many folks who are still undecided and need information.
RSVP today to get essential information to Black voters before November! And bring a friend too!
RSVP for Friday
RSVP for Saturday
Until justice is real,
Shannon, Corina, Bill, Destanie, Kaya, Niesha, Cam, Scotty and the rest of the Color Of Change PAC team
P.S. We''re also collecting videos from people like you about why it''s important to get out and vote, and how it impacts Black communities. Click here to make your own to share with your people!
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Ad paid for by ColorOfChange PAC, colorofchangepac.org. Not authorized by any federal, state, or local candidate or a committee controlled by a candidate. |
ColorOfChange PAC is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Contributions to Color Of Change PAC are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes. This email was sent to yellow71486@. If you''re absolutely sure you don''t want to hear from Color Of Change again, click here to unsubscribe.
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Dear Jon,
Sleeping in your home -- yet another privilege Black people are not afforded.
Breonna Taylor, a 26-year-old Black woman, was in her home in Louisville, KY on March 13th when officers from the Louisville Metro Police Department barged in her home, exploded her door, fired off more than 20 bullets, and ultimately took Breonna's life.1 What should have been an average morning was turned into a tragedy by murderous cops.
Her boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, thought someone was burglarizing their home and fired his gun to defend himself. But in turn, the officers responded with a hail of bullets. And to make matters worse, Kenneth Walker is now being charged with attempted murder for firing his gun. The officers did not announce themselves when they entered their home -- Kenneth was simply defending his family to intruders who didn't belong there.
The police were at the wrong house and they had no reason to be there in the first place. Breonna was not charged with a crime, there was no warrant, no warning, and no announcement that police were at her door that morning. And the person they actually were searching for had already been arrested more than 10 miles away.2 Breonna was simply existing in her home and that was enough reason for cops to take her young Black life.?
Her murderers, officers Sgt. Jonathan Mattingly, Brett Hankison, and Myles Cosgrove, still have their jobs and are on the force even more than two months after their illegal misconduct and murdering an unsuspecting person in their home.?
We're joining Breonna's mother in calling on Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer and the Commonwealth's Attorney Thomas Wine to immediately fire the three officers and drop the charges against Kenneth Walker.?
#JusticeforBre: Demand the officers who murdered Breonna Taylor are fired and charges against Kenneth Walker are dropped.
Eight times. Breonna Taylor was shot eight times and her killers have faced no consequences.
Time and again, Black women face police harassment and violence at the hands of bloodthirsty racist cops who see no value in Black lives. Even after they took her life, they continued to criminalize her by referring to her as a "suspect" in the press. We know that Breonna was not a suspect and neither was Kenneth Walker. And even if they were "suspected" of a crime, this does not give officers permission to grossly enter someone's home and murder them in cold blood. It is clear that they are charging Kenneth with attempted murder in an attempt to coverup the egregious misconduct at the hands of their officers.?
We will fight until we see justice and we need you to join us. Last year, Color Of Change members joined us to demand that the officers who brutalized Dyma Loving, a young Black woman in Miami, were fired from the force.3 After we brought attention to her case and the constant abuse of state-sponsored violence on Black women, the officers were ultimately charged for the assault and fired from the Miami-Dade Police Department.?
Just like Dyma's family, Breonna's family deserves some semblance of justice. Breonna was an EMT that lived her life on the frontlines as an essential worker, and when we need people like her the most during this pandemic, cops ended her life. We need to hold these officers accountable. Black people are not safe as long as these cops have jobs.?
These officers have got to go. Demand they be fired immediately and charges against Kenneth are dropped.
Until justice is real,
--Scott, Rashad, Arisha, Clarise, Erika, Malachi, Marybeth, Madison, Leonard, and the rest of the Color Of Change team
References:
1. "Who was Breonna Taylor? What to know about the Louisville EMT shot and killed by police" Courier Journal.
2. "Breonna Taylor died but she wasn''t target of investigation. Police had ''no-knock'' warrant, records show" USA Today.
3. "Police Officer Responsible For Assaulting Dyma Loving Formally Charge" Essence.
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Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Help keep our movement strong.
If you''re absolutely sure you don''t want to hear from Color Of Change again, click here to unsubscribe.
Ventilator manufacturers are preventing hospitals from fixing broken ventilators, machines that keep coronavirus patients alive.? Tell manufactures to let hospitals fix ventilators! Take Action?
Jon,
??
In the midst of the global COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, ventilators are a life-saving tool that are being used to treat coronavirus. But these life-saving machines are in short supply. Hospitals are facing an extreme shortage of these devices, and they need to repair the ventilators they have. Because of the repair restrictions put in place by ventilator manufacturers - like GE Healthcare, Medtronic, Ventec Life Solutions, and Hamilton Medical - and the group that lobbies for them, AdvaMed, they are not allowed to fix these critical devices in the fight to save patients from coronavirus.??
Tell ventilator manufacturers to let hospitals fix broken ventilators.?
The number of patients seeking treatment for coronavirus is increasing exponentially. This means there is an increase in the need for ventilators, which are used to assist a patient's breathing or may breathe for them. But if hospitals try to repair their ventilators, they will be locked out of them by anti-repair software. If hospitals hire independent repair technicians to fix their ventilators, they face legal ramifications.1 For every broken ventilator or ventilator whose software cannot be updated, a patient in need of a ventilator will die. This is particularly life-threatening for Black patients; because Black people disproportionately suffer from illnesses like asthma, they are that much more likely to need a ventilator to stay alive if they contract coronavirus.2?
Help get hospitals the equipment they need to save coronavirus patients. Tell manufacturers to let hospitals fix broken ventilators.?
The stakes are high. There are only 62,000 ventilators in service across the country, and states like New York alone need at least 30,000 more.3 Hospitals cannot afford to purchase new ventilators due to their high prices; producing new ventilators will take months to meet the urgent demand; and, without repair documentation and software, hospitals cannot fix the ventilators they already have.4?5?However, there are as many as 100,000 older ventilators in need of repair stored in hospitals and warehouses around the country. These ventilators could be quickly brought into service if ventilator manufacturers immediately act.6 100,000 more ventilators means thousands upon thousands of people will be given a fighting chance to beat coronavirus.?
Amid dwindling medical equipment, medical staff are being forced to decide whether they should implement a universal "do not resuscitate" rule, which could have disproportionate impacts on Black patients, who are more likely to have the pre-existing health conditions that would disqualify them from treatment if such drastic measures are implemented.7 We cannot allow Black people to suffer because ventilator manufacturers value profit over our lives.
Join us in taking action to demand manufacturers release ventilator repair manuals and allow hospitals to fix broken ventilators.
Until justice is real,?
-Brandi, Rashad, Arisha, Jade, Johnny, Amanda, Evan, Imani, Samantha, Jennette, Ciera, Eesha, Marcus, FolaSade, and the rest of the Color Of Change team
References:?
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Help keep our movement strong.
If you''re absolutely sure you don''t want to hear from Color Of Change again, click here to unsubscribe.
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Dear Jon,
On Monday night, Los Angeles County sheriff''s deputies shot and killed a 29-year-old Black man, Dijon Kizzee, over alleged bicycle code violations.
Now officials from the Los Angeles Sheriff''s Department (LASD) are reporting that a handgun fell from Dijon''s belongings as he attempted to run away from the officers, making the deadly altercation even more outrageous. Upon seeing the gun on the ground, the deputies opened fire and shot Dijon more than 20 times.1 At this point, Dijon posed no threat to these officers -- he was simply afraid, panicking, and running for his life. Yet Dijon was shot in the back multiple times.
Bottom line: Dijon''s attempt to get away from officers did not warrant a death sentence. The deputies had no right to take his life. Dijon was simply minding his own business and riding his bike when police accosted and murdered him.
This is just the latest iteration in a long line of Black people who are brutalized and murdered by the police. Just last week we saw Jacob Blake, another 29-year-old Black man, who was shot several times in the back in front of his children.2 Jacob is now paralyzed from the waist down. We refuse to see any more of our loved ones killed at the hands of the police with no accountability.
That''s why we''re calling on Los Angeles District Attorney Jackie Lacey to intervene. DA Lacey can ensure these officers face criminal charges for their blatant disregard for Black life. But we need your help to put pressure on DA Lacey NOW.
Sign the petition: Demand justice for Dijon Kizzee.
For years, District Attorney Jackie Lacey has failed hold killer cops accountable. Since taking office in 2012, hundreds of people have been killed by law enforcement in LA county. Yet, DA Lacey has not brought a single charge against an officer for deadly force.
In the case of Brendon Glenn, yet another Black man who was murdered by LA police in 2015, even the Police Chief, Charlie Beck, recommended criminal charges.4 Jackie Lacey's response? She refused to prosecute and even defended the officer in an 83-page memo.5 She also refused to prosecute Ed Buck, a white man who preyed upon and tormented countless young Black gay men in LA. And she consistently relies upon the testimonies of corrupt law enforcement officers.6 That's why we must make this issue too big for her to ignore. With enough public pressure, we can get DA Lacey to do her job and hold killer cops accountable for the atrocities they commit against Black people.
What happened to Dijon could happen to any of us. We don''t want to see any more Black families mourn the loss of a loved one. Black children, like Jacob Blake''s kids, should not have to see their parents shot down in the street. And Black people should be able to ride their bikes without police harassment. This is the world that Black people deserve. But first, we need you to join us in this fight for justice.
Dijon should still be here. Demand DA Lacey holds these killer cops accountable.
Until justice is real,
--Scott, Rashad, Arisha, Erika, Marybeth, Madison, Malachi, Leonard, Ernie, McKayla, and the rest of the Color of Change team.
References:
ColorOfChange is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change.
If you''re absolutely sure you don''t want to hear from ColorOfChange again, click here to unsubscribe.
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Jon, did you know that prosecutors wield more power than almost every other actor in the criminal justice system - and we have the power to elect them?
This means we have the power to hold prosecutors accountable and vote them out when they fail to protect Black people! And it's why Color Of Change built the nation's largest directory of each and every local prosecutor - all 2,300 of them - and where they stand on issues most relevant to Black communities.
Introducing to you, Jon: Winning Justice1?- a directory for every local prosecutor and district attorney in the country, and a tool to hold them all accountable.?
I'd be lying if I said we don't desperately need your monthly support to power this database to hold prosecutors accountable to Black lives. Here's how you can help today:
Make a monthly contribution to protect Black lives. Chip in $5 a month, or whatever works with your budget:
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Protect Black people: Chip in $5/Month |
A database of local prosecutors at this scale has never been done before, and Color Of Change is leading the charge.
We created Winning Justice to increase the transparency of prosecutors' offices so we are better equipped to end the most unjust practices prosecutors use to target Black people? - money bail, over-charging, over-sentencing, over-policing, the drug war, attacking immigrants and sending our Black children to adult prisons.???
The more information we have on prosecutors, the easier it is for members like you to hold prosecutors accountable to what matters to Black communities.?
Jon, we need your help to maintain Winning Justice, and ultimately take it to the next level. Your monthly donation will fund our efforts to research prosecutors, support outreach, compile the data, and keep the Winning Justice directory up-to-date -?in the lead up to Election Day and beyond.
Are you in the fight with us? Yes, count me in for a monthly contribution to tell prosecutors to stop sending Black kids to adult prison!??
Here's a quick snapshot of prosecutors and why we must take action:
Here's the takeaway: prosecutors wield tremendous power, almost all are elected, and they don't reflect the gender and racial diversity of the communities they're prosecuting.
We can change that, Jon - but not without the continued support of people like you. Together, we'll expand Winning Justice and continue the fight to end the prosecutorial practices that harm Black people.?
COUNT ME IN TO HOLD PROSECUTORS ACCOUNTABLE!Until justice is real,?
Scott, Rashad, Arisha, Erika, Marybeth, Malachi, Leonard, Ernie, Madison, Ariel, Ana, Ericka, McKayla, and the rest of the Color Of Change team
References:
1. Visit?WinningJustice.org?to find your prosecutor, see where they stand on our issues, and learn more about the role of prosecutors.
2. "5 Reasons You Should Care About Your Local Prosecutor Race." Ben and Jerry''s. 2 March 2020.
ColorOfChange is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change.
If you''re absolutely sure you don''t want to hear from ColorOfChange again, click here to unsubscribe.Demand these cops are held accountable now.
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Jon,
For most kids, Saturday mornings are spent watching cartoons, sleeping in, or playing outside - not being shot at by the police. But that's exactly what happened to a group of Black children in Waycross, Georgia on Saturday.?
Here's what we know: A Black 16-year-old was driving his younger siblings home before heading to a football game. Waycross Police Officer Jesse Shook began following the car after the driver allegedly ran a stop sign, but Officer Shook never turned on his sirens or flashed his lights to tell the young driver to pull over. Instead, the cop followed the kids home. Scared and confused, the 16-year-old stopped the car at an intersection near their home and told the younger kids in the back seat - his 9-year-old brother, 12-year-old sister, and a 14-year-old friend - to run home to get their father.?
That's when a second officer, Lt. Scott Rowell, arrived at the scene and opened fire on the car and the children.1 The youngest child said at least seven shots were fired and that one bullet nearly struck him as he ran.2?Thankfully, neither the children nor anyone in the Waycross neighborhood was hit by the bullets - but according to a witness, one of the children was pistol-whipped by the police.3
Officer Shook and Lt. Rowell's reckless and racist decision to target, tailgate, and open fire on a group of Black kids is reprehensible. Both officers are now on paid administrative leave, and an investigation is ongoing.?But it doesn't take an investigation to know this: Both police officers must be held accountable for their actions.?
Tell Waycross Mayor Michael-Angelo James: Cops who shoot at Black children and terrorize Black neighborhoods must be removed from the force. Fire these officers immediately.
ADD YOUR NAME NOW
Jon, this isn't the first time Lt. Scott Rowell was a part of an officer-involved shooting. In 2013, Alicia Herron called 911 for medical assistance when she noticed that her fiance, Jack Lamar Roberson, was acting erratically after taking his blood sugar medication. Instead of paramedics, Rowell and two other police officers showed up. The officers did nothing to de-escalate the situation or provide the medical assistance Roberson clearly needed.?
Unfortunately - as is often the case when cops are dispatched to handle medical and mental health emergencies, particularly involving Black people - the police officers only made matters worse. Minutes after they arrived on the scene, Lt. Rowell and his partners shot and killed Roberson in front of his mother and his fiance?.4 Both women confirmed he was unarmed, yet the Georgia Bureau of Investigation cleared the officers of any criminal wrongdoing - allowing Rowell to return to the force and continue terrorizing Black people.5
Last Saturday, 7 years after the murder of Jack Lamar Roberson, Lt. Rowell responded to another non-violent situation with unnecessary use of force. He fired a gun at a group of Black children, in their neighborhood, in front of their father. This time, Rowell will be held accountable for his actions.
Jon, we're calling on Mayor James to break this dangerous cycle and fire the officers who shot at Black children in South Georgia last week. Add your name now to demand accountability.
In an interview, the children's father expressed a fear Black parents know all too well: That their child could be the next victim of police brutality - their life cut short, reduced to a Twitter hashtag. "Officer Rowell was shooting at our babies...How are they going to protect us when they're shooting at us?" Dominique Goodman Sr. asked. "They are babies. What was the purpose of shooting?"6
What happened in Waycross on Saturday - which could have ended in tragedy - never should have happened in the first place. And sadly, the incident only highlights a sad, dangerous truth in America: Black people are living in terror.?
Young Black children are afraid of the police because they know that one altercation with a cop could kill them. They've seen it happen before. Officers Shook and Rowell made that nightmare real by opening fire on the children as they literally ran for their lives.?
Black children in Waycross - and everywhere - deserve to feel safe. And it's up to us to hold reckless and racist cops accountable.?
Tell Mayor James: Fire Officers Shook and Rowell now.
Until justice is real,
-- Scott, Rashad, Arisha, Erika, Malachi, Marybeth, Leonard, Madison, Ernie, McKayla and the rest of the Color Of Change team
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References:
1.?Two police officers in Georgia put on leave after shooting at minors. 9 August 2020, CNN.
2.?Waycross police shoot at teens following traffic stop, GBI says. 8 August 2020, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (AJC).?
3.?Georgia cops open fire on kids running home to get father after traffic stop.?8 August 2020, Pinac News.
4.?Police Fatally Shoot Man After Family Calls For Medical Assistance. 8 October 2013, Huffington Post.
5.?GBI report clears Waycross police officers in October shooting death, DA says. 25 February 2014, The Florida Times-Union.?
6.?Georgia family says cops shot at a car full of unarmed children, report says. 8 August 2020, New York Post.?
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Please help keep our movement strong.
Make a Donation
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Join our call for free prison and jail phone calls.
Families are struggling to connect with their incarcerated loved ones.?? Demand Congress lower the rate of jail and prison calls. Take Action?
Jon,
The coronavirus pandemic has revealed just how fragile and inequitable our systems are, from our healthcare system to the economy, and even our sworn elected leaders. Now more than ever, people are recognizing the critical need for strong communities and staying in touch with their loved ones.
But unfortunately, not everyone has the ability to even pick up the phone to call or text to check-in on their parents or grandparents during this trying time. And for incarcerated people, the barriers to remaining connected are even worse. Every prison and jail has suspended in-person visits, and are forcing families to pay exorbitant rates for phone and video calls to ensure their incarcerated loved ones are safe.
Prison telecom corporations charge families as much as $25 for a 15-minute phone call. That's out of reach for many families under normal circumstances, but nearly impossible during today's pandemic, especially for Black families who've been particularly hit hard. Black people are disproportionately affected by the mass layoffs and because of systemic health inequities, are at a higher risk of contracting and dying from the virus. Our communities should not have the added stress of trying to make ends meet to afford to connect with a loved one behind bars.?
Passed by the House of Representatives, the Senate is now considering?a provision that would set interim rate caps at 4 and 5 cents per minute, bar government agencies from profiting off phone calls, and restore the Federal Communications Commission's authority to regulate all prison and jail calls. Families need to remain connected and this bill would help get us there, but we need to push Congress to act now!
Sign the petition calling on the Senate to pass The Martha Wright Reed Bill to lower the rate of jail and prison phone calls.
The $1.2 billion prison telecom industry exploits vulnerable populations who are simply trying to connect with their loved ones. At a time when families need it the most, corporations like Securus, have done little if anything to keep families connected. And our elected leaders are failing to step in. In some jails and prisons, they don''t even have access to a phone to make a call. And though federally incarcerated people received free phone calls1 for the duration of the pandemic, this is far from enough for the millions of other incarcerated people at local and state facilities.
COVID-19 is deadly and is changing by the minute and for incarcerated people, many who are immuno-compromised and high risk, a missed call can mean that they'll never speak to their loved ones again.
We need your help to demand that our elected officials lower the rate of jail and prison calls, now and forever.
Families and children of incarcerated people have taken to social media over the past few days to demand access to free prison and jail communication. And the public response has been overwhelmingly positive. We need to keep up the pressure on our elected leaders to guarantee our incarcerated loved ones remain connected.
Your action today can stop the cruel separation of families and instead connect them. Everyone deserves to know their loved ones are safe.
Until justice is real,
Scott, Rashad, Arisha, Erika, Malachi, Leonard, Marybeth, Madison, Ernie, McKayla and the rest of the Color Of Change team?
References:
1. "Federal prisons make inmate calling, video visits free during pandemic." Politico.?https://act.colorofchange.org/go/255764?t=8&akid=44138%2E4887299%2Et5iOq_
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Please help keep our movement strong.
Make a Donation
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Dear?Jon,
California's Central Valley schools have a history of anti-Blackness. Administrators routinely silence students when they try to speak about their experiences, ignore complaints about racism, and do nothing to address the hostile environment Black students face.?These students are excessively punished and denied fair investigations and solutions.
We're using our YourVoice video platform to expose all of the ways these Black students are marginalized and silenced. Color Of Change has a team to edit the videos - shout out to the Video Squad - and financial costs to operate the platform. Your donation will help to pay for the expenses necessary to run this invaluable platform that will pave the way for even more Black stories to be told.
Chip in $4 so that we can continue to document and share these students' stories!
When a teacher at Del Paso Elementary School threw away students' Black Lives Matter (BLM) projects1, Color Of Change joined forces with the ACLU of Northern California to advocate for the students involved in this case. In the midst of fighting for strategic demands to be met, it became clear that several school districts throughout the region were also ignoring Black children's experiences and treating them as one-off instances, minimizing the systemic problem.
Here are some recent disturbing examples:
Across the board, their complaints have been poorly investigated and swept under the rug by teachers and administrators.?Black children throughout the region are struggling in hostile school environments where they are silenced and traumatized by school culture that repeatedly denies their experiences of racism.
That's why we are collecting stories of Black children to tell the California Department of Education that enough is enough. We will not accept half-hearted investigations into racist school districts. We're going to expose the systemic failures of Central Valley schools by making the voices of Black children unignorable. We're going to be able to prove that this is a systemic issue and demand the California Department of Education create a more equitable environment for Black students.
Help us expose the systemic racism in Central Valley schools by chipping in to tell our stories in a way that makes the greatest impact.
Sharing Black stories is the foundation of the work we do at Color Of Change. Since 2018, hundreds of Color Of Change members from across the country have told their personal stories through our YourVoice platform on issues ranging from their experiences of hair discrimination to the ways the criminal justice system impacts their families. This powerful platform has been an effective tool for everyday people to speak truth to power. Now, to address the anti-Blackness at Central Valley Schools, we are using our YourVoice platform to demand that decision-makers listen to the voices of Black children.
We need your help to make this successful. Supporting our video platform and the people power behind it helps us to make sure Black voices are heard and our experiences centered, and stops the denial of racism in schools.
Help us gather students' stories and expose the anti-Blackness in Central Valley schools with our YourVoice video platform!
Until justice is real,
Brandi, Rashad, Arisha, Evan, Johnny, Jade, Future, Eesha, Samantha, Marcus, FolaSade,?Jennette,?Cierra?and the rest of the Color Of Change team
References
1. "Sacramento school accused of discrimination after students'' art thrown out," KCRA3 News, November 22, 2019, https://act.colorofchange.org/go/230428?t=9&akid=41173%2E4887299%2E8xUd_s
2.?"ACLU Files Discrimination Complaint on Behalf of Black Students in Central California," The Root, October 24, 2019, https://act.colorofchange.org/go/230433?t=11&akid=41173%2E4887299%2E8xUd_s
3.?"FUSD apologizes for racially insensitive English assignment at Roosevelt High," Yourcentralvalley.com, January 23, 2020, https://act.colorofchange.org/go/230432?t=13&akid=41173%2E4887299%2E8xUd_s
4.?"ACLU files complaint on behalf of two students at Bullard High over blackface video," ABC 30, October 20, 2019, https://act.colorofchange.org/go/230431?t=15&akid=41173%2E4887299%2E8xUd_s
5. "A boy and his hair are behind the latest Clovis Unified dress code debate," The Fresno Bee, February 6, 2016, https://act.colorofchange.org/go/237142?t=17&akid=41173%2E4887299%2E8xUd_s
6. "Black mom furious after honor roll son is kicked out of class because of his haircut," The Grio, March 9, 2018, https://act.colorofchange.org/go/237141?t=19&akid=41173%2E4887299%2E8xUd_s
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Help keep our movement strong.
If you''re absolutely sure you don''t want to hear from Color Of Change again, click here to unsubscribe.
Jon,
We just received great news to provide us all with a glimmer of hope! Since the outbreak of COVID, we knew we had to fight hard for incarcerated people because our elected leaders failed to make a humane plan to address those who would be hardest hit.?
So we decided to launch our fight.
Thousands of Color Of Change members joined us in pushing to make all communication free of charge for incarcerated people and their families during this crisis, and forever. As of last week, people incarcerated at federal prisons have finally been granted free phone calls during the pandemic, up to 500 minutes a month. Before we launched our campaign and more than 18,000 people signed our petition, many incarcerated folks were only given two fifteen-minute free calls per week, some received even less.
This is what's possible when we unabashedly fight for those most impacted, in the face of elected leaders who show indifference for incarcerated people. We win and keep families connected!
But?Jon, we know we have much more to do to ensure ALL incarcerated people receive the humane response needed to ensure their wellbeing. Here is what we need you to do to continue fighting with us:
? 1.?Share the petition with your friends and family demanding elected leaders grant ALL incarcerated people with free calls. This includes state prisons, county jails, and all detention centers.
? 2. Start or join a local campaign and demand your elected leaders implement a humane plan for incarcerated people. We need mass releases and an end to the constant churn of people in and out of facilities across the country.
Until justice is real,
Scott, Rashad, Arisha, Clarise, Erika, Malachi, Leonard, Marybeth, Madison, and the rest of the Color Of Change team
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Help keep our movement strong.
If you''re absolutely sure you don''t want to hear from Color Of Change again, click here to unsubscribe.
We need help
Dear?Jon,
We just got back some research about our members in LA County concerning the election between George Gasc?n and Jackie Lacey. Here's what we found out:
This research shows us that our work is cut out for us: people want an alternative to Jackie Lacey who will make major changes to end police brutality and hold officers accountable. But if people don't know who George Gasc?n is, they're likely to just re-elect Jackie Lacey because they recognize her name and aren't familiar with the issues.
Jon,?will you help us make sure as many people as possible get to know George Gasc?n and vote for him so we can move towards real justice in LA County?
Here's what you can do:
Additionally, here's some talking points you can use when you're talking to your family and friends or posting on social media about George Gasc?n:
If you want, you can even make a video using these talking points and your own perspectives on criminal justice reform in LA County to share with your people!
Please share this information with as many people as you can; talking to people you trust is one of the best tools we have to make sure George Gasc?n defeats Jackie Lacey in just a couple weeks.
Thank you for standing with us for justice for Black and brown communities in LA!
Until justice is real,
Jenni, Arisha, Corina, Destanie, Kaya, Scotty and the Color Of Change PAC team
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Ad paid for by ColorOfChange PAC, Supporting Gascon for LA County District Attorney 2020, colorofchangepac.org. Committee major funding from: Susan Pritzker Wayne Jordan Quinn Delaney Not authorized by any federal, state, or local candidate or a committee controlled by a candidate. |
ColorOfChange PAC is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Contributions to Color Of Change PAC are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes. This email was sent to yellow71486@. If you''re absolutely sure you don''t want to hear from Color Of Change again, click here to unsubscribe.
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Dear?Jon,?
WRITE A LETTER to ventilator manufacturers to demand they allow hospitals to fix broken ventilators!
Ventilator manufacturers Vyaire Medical, GE Healthcare, Medtronic, Hamilton Medical, and the group that lobbies for them, AdvaMed, still haven't taken responsibility for their role in hospitals'' inability to fix broken ventilators.1 Meanwhile, the COVID-19 (coronavirus) health pandemic has only become more deadly for Black people.?
Our communities are dying from complications due to coronavirus at disproportionately high rates.2 Ventilators are a key medical intervention that can help keep Black people breathing long enough to fight the virus. Without increased access to ventilators, our friends, grandparents, children, and spouses will continue to suffer.?
It's time for ventilator companies to step in to help Black, disabled, and low-income communities get the medical care they need to survive.?WRITE A LETTER to ventilator manufacturers and tell them to let hospitals fix ventilators.??
But the problem isn't just that ventilators are in short supply. The current ventilator shortage, and its impacts on Black communities, replicates and magnifies long-existing racial disparities in medical care.3 4 We are routinely denied access to healthcare, no matter how deadly our symptoms or how severe our pain.5 6 Those of us who are Black and disabled are so thoroughly ignored that we face constant challenges while trying to receive the healthcare we need to live.7 The coronavirus is no exception. Michigan mother Deborah Gatewood, for example, passed away in April after seeking treatment for coronavirus symptoms at the hospital where she worked for 31 years. She visited that same hospital four times before she died and was denied care each time. When her daughter took her to a different hospital, it was too late. She was unresponsive, she had developed bilateral pneumonia, and her kidneys failed shortly after.8?
Deborah's story is not an unfortunate mistake; it reflects a pattern of racism in medical care that plays into who will and will not receive a ventilator when needed. Due to the persistent shortage, ventilators are being rationed in large part by patients' likelihood of survival.9 10 This means that our family and friends being treated for coronavirus may not receive a ventilator, or may be forced to share a ventilator, because our "chances of survival" are diminished by disabilities or pre-existing conditions like asthma, heart disease, and diabetes.11 12 In this world, a world in which we cannot count on our federal government to purchase additional life-saving ventilators, and Black people will keep dying daily because of this, we need companies-like ventilator manufacturers-to step in.13?
WRITE A LETTER to ventilator manufacturers to demand they step up and help save as many lives as possible.
Until justice is real,?
-Brandi, Rashad, Arisha, Jade, Johnny, Amanda, Evan, Imani, Eesha, Samantha, Jennette, Ciera, Marcus, FolaSade, and the rest of the Color Of Change team
References:?
Image: Karen Moskowitz, Getty Images via The New York Times
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Help keep our movement strong.
If you''re absolutely sure you don''t want to hear from Color Of Change again, click here to unsubscribe.
Dear?Jon,
A week ago today marks the anniversary of the Tulsa Race Massacre. From May 31 to June 1, 1921, the affluent Black community of Greenwood was attacked by white supremacists who killed more than 300 Black people. As our people are depicted as looters and rioters in a rightful response to the murder of George Floyd, the truth is white supremacy looted us--our businesses, banks, and homes and continues to do so. Billionaires have accumulated an extra $434 billion in wealth. Corporations received $500 billion in stimulus money, and you and I?Jon, received $1,200. This only scratches the surface. In addition to stolen wealth, Tulsa like all of our Black Wall Streets was looted.?Jon, now is the time for reparations.
SIGN THE PETITION: Join us in demanding reparations for our Black Wall Streets.
For forty-eight hours, the fires raged and burned everything in their paths, leaving nothing but ashes. Where beautiful homes, businesses, and banks once stood, a proud and thriving Black Tulsa was destroyed by fire. The same systemic hate that targeted Tulsa is what's before us now. This is why now is the time for reparations.? The massacre of the Greenwood community along with the desecration of our relics and economic immobility continues to be part of a long history of racial terror and intimidation. As the spirit of Black Wall Street lives on, resilience is and continues to be the underpinning of our community. Today as we remember Tulsa, let's also demand a full redress. SIGN THE PETITION: Join us in demanding reparations for our Black Wall Streets.
More on the Black Wall Streets campaign below:
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As HBO's series, The Watchmen reminds us, harm was done to the folks of Tulsa, Oklahoma. Angry at the economic success of Black people, on June 1, 1921, white residents of Tulsa attacked the all-Black, Greenwood neighborhood known as Black Wall Street. After looting Greenwood, attackers used dynamite and planes to bomb the city, leaving more than 8,000 people homeless.1?The white power structure did nothing to stop the massacre, as the intent was to let successful Black businesses and wealth burn. Tulsa's Black Wall Street wasn't the only city crushed by white terrorist violence - be it destruction, assault, or the orchestrated erosion of Black communities.? With few safe spaces for Black banking and business, Black people created safe havens to meet economic and financial needs.
That's why this Black History Month, we're lifting up our Black Wall Streets and calling for a combined $300 billion reparative investment to help reinvigorate the spirit of the pinnacles of Black success. Like Tulsa's Greenwood neighborhood, themes of entrepreneurship, ingenuity, and fullness resounded with Blackness.? Nearly all of the Black Wall Streets had banks, businesses, and residential homes. Most declined around the Great Depression, but the cities themselves still exist. While there aren't many records of each Black Wall Street's total asset holdings, one estimation indexed to today's inflation gives a value of around $195,000,000,2?totaling an equivalent value of?$300 billion. Sign our petition demanding economic redress for the once vibrant Wall Streets of Black America.
The municipal banks receiving the investments would house no-repayment business investment initiatives for Black businesses, zero percent interest loans, and equity funding for neighborhood stabilization efforts. $300 billion is the equivalent value of cited Black Wall Street holdings during their peak economic boom. Our Black Wall Streets are directly impacted by decisions made at the municipal level; therefore it would be their responsibility to ensure these neighborhoods remain a part of the local fabric. These are the Black Wall Streets we're calling on local municipalities to restore:
After the 1930s, despite their resilience,? Black communities couldn't keep up with urban renewal efforts. With inflated and unaffordable land, housing, and the number of Black-owned banks at their lowest number for the first time in history,13?the trail of ever-widening disparities can be traced to orchestrated attacks on Black Wall Streets. This trail will serve as the foundation for just repair. Join us by signing our petition demanding reparations for our Black Wall Streets.
?
Until justice is real,
--Brandi, Rashad, Arisha, Jade, Johnny, Amanda, Evan, Eesha, Samantha, FolaSade, Marcus and the rest of the Color Of Change team?
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
References:
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Help keep our movement strong.
If you''re absolutely sure you don''t want to hear from Color Of Change again, click here to unsubscribe.
A quick review of what we will accomplish together ahead of Nov. 3
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Hey?Jon,
In the past 2 weeks we've seen all 50 U.S. states plus 18 countries participate in protests against police brutality after the murder of George Floyd. Time and time again we've watched people channel their outrage of the senseless killings of unarmed Black folks to the streets. And time and time again, the outrage is followed by disappointment in a racist, broken criminal system led by prosecutors that place no accountability on the killers.
At Color Of Change PAC we realized one solution to the unjust criminal system was voting out these district attorneys and other elected officials who continue to fail us.? These elected officials hold so much power yet their elections often go unnoticed.?
District Attorneys have the power to decide who gets charged with crimes and who doesn''t, whether police are held accountable for harming and killing people, whether cash bail keeps poor people locked up, and so much more.
Since 2016, Color Of Change PAC has worked to educate and engage hundreds of thousands of Black voters in dozens of races through digital ads, direct mail, radio ads and in-person events. Most recently, my team has been tracking voter disinformation ahead of the primaries like today''s in Georgia and West Virginia--to make sure Black folks are not being discouraged from casting their ballots.
Jon,?District Attorneys are the most powerful single actors in the criminal justice system and less than 150 days stand between us and the elections that will decide who holds these titles. If you're in a place to give, please support Color Of Change PAC with a donation of any amount today to enable us to:?
Donate $1.50
Donate $15.0
Donate $150
Donate Another Amount
If we win in less than 150 days,? we can elect leaders that are accountable to Black communities and understand that we need change. Now is the time to turn our collective pain from this moment into Black political power.?
Thank you for all of your support.
Until justice is real,
Arisha, Jenni, Drew, Charles, Tammi, Cristel, Alex, Scotty, Daniel, and the Color Of Change PAC team
We need your help fighting back against attempts to discourage Black voters from casting their ballots.?Please help us report and hold accountable those who are trying to keep us from voting.
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ColorOfChange PAC is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Contributions to Color Of Change PAC are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes. This email was sent to yellow71486@. If you''re absolutely sure you don''t want to hear from Color Of Change again, click here to unsubscribe.
Dear?Jon,?
As soon as the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Black women knew our incarcerated loved ones' lives were on the line.?
Our members' stories of having an incarcerated loved one during a pandemic needed to be told. Keshia''s brother has all of the symptoms of COVID-19 but has been refused a test by Arkansas prison officials. Ms. Anita's son was just hospitalized for a heart condition making him more vulnerable to COVID-19 complications while he is held pretrial in a California jail. Char is 8 months pregnant and is now at home with her three children, without access to her husband's support through family visits. As she anxiously waits out the next four months before his release, each day that he remains incarcerated puts his life at greater risk. ?
This is why Color of Change and Essie Justice Group1 have joined forces --? the fight for our loved ones lives inside is urgent.
COVID-19 is rapidly spreading inside prisons, jails, and detention centers across the nation.2 Our loved ones are telling us that there are no sanitation supplies, even in the medical facilities; that they have no soap, no masks, and no ability to socially distance. Despite the imminent danger that our incarcerated loved ones face in getting COVID-19, millions of people remain behind bars across the country. Our loved ones are being left to die.?
These dire conditions did not begin with, nor will they end with COVID-19. This pandemic magnifies the devastation of the carceral system and sheds light on how prisons, jails, and detention centers have never kept our communities safe and well.?
Studies confirm that the virus is disproportionately killing Black people and financially devastating Black women.3,4 But we have almost no reliable source of information about what is happening to Black people held in cages across this country. We know we cannot trust the facilities where our loved ones are held to accurately report on the conditions inside. Prisons, jails, and detention centers are underreporting the number of confirmed cases and have no incentive to test.?
We need to do this together-we are collecting 1000 surveys from people with loved ones behind bars to find out what's really going on inside prisons, jails, and detention centers across the United States.?
We've launched the Lives On The Line Campaign to fight for the lives of our loved ones inside. With the data from the survey, we'll have the power we need to hold our public officials accountable for decisions they are making every day that put our loved ones' lives on the line.
We need you to act now. Here are two ways to join the fight to bring our loved ones home:?
Until justice is real,
Gina Clayton-Johnson, Essie Justice Group and Clarise McCants, Color of Change?
References:
1.?Essie Justice Group is a powerful organization of women with incarcerated loved ones. Visit essiejusticegroup.org for more information.
2. "''A Ticking Time Bomb:'" Advocates Warn COVID-19 is Spreading Rapidly Behind Bars." National Public Radio.?https://act.colorofchange.org/go/245830?t=10&akid=42611%2E5670730%2E8x-M9m
3.??"COVID-19 Has Infected and Killed Black People At Alarming Rates. This Data Proves It." Mother Jones. https://act.colorofchange.org/go/245831?t=12&akid=42611%2E5670730%2E8x-M9m
4.?"The Economic Devastation Of COVID-19 Is Hitting Women Particularly Hard." Huffington Post. https://act.colorofchange.org/go/245832?t=14&akid=42611%2E5670730%2E8x-M9m
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Help keep our movement strong.
If you''re absolutely sure you don''t want to hear from Color Of Change again, click here to unsubscribe.
Jon,
For many of us, the holiday sale season rush begins on Black Friday. But this year is different. Hundreds of thousands of Americans are dealing with the devastation of having a loved one lost to COVID-19. Millions are suffering from unemployment or the stress of having a family member locked in a prison cell with increased exposure to this deadly virus.
This year, it's crucial that we do everything we can to ensure Black families are getting their needs met - not only during this holiday season but also in the weeks and months to come.
That's why you're getting this message, Jon. We know you've supported our work in the past, thank you for everything you''ve done to help us get this far. In our work, it''s not enough to just imagine a world in which Black people are free from exploitation and free to gather safely this year to enjoy the holiday season, we must actually do the work to get us there. But we can''t do it without your help.
Can we count on you? Consider amplifying your support by becoming a monthly donor, it''s an easy process that can be canceled at any time.
Yes, I want to join the fight this Black Friday
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Why are we sending you this message on Black Friday? Well, Jon, I'm going to be honest: Black Friday is traditionally a consumer-holiday in which Black people are the most exploited.
In the past, American shoppers have dropped a staggering $87 billion on Black Friday and Cyber Monday.1 And most of that money goes into the hands of corporations that do more harm than good in Black communities. In 2018, protesters boycotted Target in Chicago's Black communities on Black Friday because the company closed almost all of its stores in predominantly Black neighborhoods, and instead, opened stores in predominantly wealthy, white neighborhoods.2 As a result, Black families were left without access to job opportunities and many of their daily needs. More often than not, these same corporations will take money out of Black communities, all while pandering to us on consumer holidays like Black Friday. That has to stop.
Black Friday has a human cost that disproportionately impacts Black people. While many of us are privileged to sit at home and take advantage of the holiday deals, thousands of retail, warehouse, and delivery workers are literally being exploited and overworked, and an increased risk of contracting COVID-19.
And it's no surprise that the retailers who dominate in sales and profits - stores like Walmart, Target, and Amazon - are the first ones to overwork and underpay their employees. Not only are Black people more likely to be working in these conditions, but we're also more likely to have our communities destroyed and dismantled by the predatory nature of capitalism that Black Friday perpetuates.
Jon, join us to fight back against the exploitation of Black Friday on Black communities. We're working to put an end to a system that oppresses us and instead invest that money into giving our people the tools they need to thrive.
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Until justice is real,
--Scott, Rashad, Arisha, Erika, Malachi, Madison, Ernie, McKayla, Ana, Ariel, Ericka, and the rest of the Color Of Change team
References:
ColorOfChange is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change.
If you''re absolutely sure you don''t want to hear from ColorOfChange again, click here to unsubscribe.Add your name: Demand #JusticeForWalterWallace ???????????? ????????????
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Walter Wallace's family called for an ambulance.
Jon, add your name to tell Philly officials: DEMAND JUSTICE NOW |
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Walter Wallace, Jr. should be alive right now.?
Jon, we're still coming to terms with what happened in Philadelphia on October 26. Last Wednesday, city officials released?bodycam footage worn by the officers who fatally shot Walter Wallace, Jr.1 And once again, we find ourselves heartbroken, outraged and crying out for justice for another Black man murdered by police.?
Here's what we know: Walter Wallace, Jr., a 27-year-old father, was experiencing a mental health crisis. Walter was living with bipolar disorder, and his brother did what most would do if our loved one were in crisis: He called 911 to request an ambulance.?
Unfortunately, two Philadelphia police officers arrived on the scene before medical responders or an ambulance. And tragically, we already know how this story ends.?
Instead of de-escalating the situation or providing Walter with the mental health care he so desperately needed, instead of listening to the heartbreaking pleas of Walter's mother, the responding officers Matarazzo and Munz shouted out demands with guns drawn.2?Walter never got closer than?15 feet from the officers.?They shot at Walter 14 times.3
Jon, we're sick and tired of watching Black people be terrorized and killed by police, and we've seen too many videos depicting Black suffering on our social media feeds.?We don't need a video to know that Walter's murder in broad daylight was unnecessary and nothing short of reprehensible.
We mourn the loss of our slain Black brother. His death has shaken the city of Philadelphia to its core and has re-ignited promises of piecemeal "reform." Philadelphia Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw even requested additional funding!
More money for Philly cops won''t make anyone safer. What we need now is justice for Walter Wallace and structural change that will prevent what happened to him from ever happening again. That''s why Color Of Change is standing with The Amistad Law Project, Reclaim Philadelphia, and Philly We Rise to demand it.
Add your name now to demand Philly city officials terminate the cops who murdered Walter Wallace, refuse to give police additional funds, and implement policies to ensure mental health experts - not cops - respond to mental crisis calls.
DEMAND JUSTICE NOW
Walter Wallace, Jr. was a father, a twin brother, and a son. He was expecting to welcome a baby with his wife, Dominique. But none of that mattered to the cops who killed him. Philadelphia police didn't see an expectant father experiencing a manic episode during a particularly difficult time. They saw a threat to "neutralize" - a man guilty of being Black in America.
Sadly, we have been here before. In September, Color Of Change joined Free The People ROC and local activists to launch a campaign demanding justice for Daniel Prude - an unarmed Black man who was murdered by Rochester police responding to a mental health call.4
Like Daniel Prude, Walter Wallace was in the throes of a mental health crisis and had a history of mental illness. Like Daniel Prude, Walter's family called 911 for help, as a last resort. Instead of receiving the help and care he needed, like Daniel Prude, Walter Wallace was murdered by police in the street.5?
Make no mistake: From Philadelphia to Rochester, Minneapolis to Los Angeles, police are not equipped to respond to mental health crises. Instead of funding programs that actually keep communities safe, cities rely on untrained police officers from overfunded police departments to respond to health emergencies, mental health crises, and people who are unsheltered and simply trying to survive.
Instead of handing police more money and more power to cause harm, the city should invest in unarmed civilian first responders trained in de-escalation. Because underfunded community services put all of us at risk.
But here's the thing, Jon: When more than 100,000 Color Of Change members like you demanded justice for Daniel Prude, something shifted. Rochester's police chief and deputy police chief were fired, and the city established a new "crisis intervention unit" - a non-law enforcement response to calls involving mental health and domestic violence crises.6?It's not perfect, and our fight for justice didn't end there. But it was an important step forward - and Philadelphia must take similar action immediately.
Tell Philadelphia city officials: Fire the cops who murdered Walter Wallace immediately. Change how the city responds to medical and mental health calls, and no extra money for police "reforms" that will never keep Black people safe.?
Jon, we've said it before, and we'll say it until our people are safe: Cops are not equipped to protect Black, Brown, and Indigenous people. But we''ll keep fighting every day to defend Black lives and invest in?true community safety.
With your help, Jon, we''ll keep fighting every day to build a more equitable world for Black people, and a country where all Black lives really do matter - all the time, everywhere.
Sign the petition now: Demand justice for Walter Wallace.
Until justice is real,
-- Scott, Rashad, Arisha, Erika, Malachi, Marybeth, Ernie, Leonard, Madison, McKayla, Ericka, Ariel, Ana, and the rest of the Color Of Change team
References:
1.?Philadelphia Police Release ''Traumatic'' Bodycam Video Of Walter Wallace Jr. Shooting. 04 November 2020, NPR.?
2.?What we know about the Philadelphia Police shooting of Walter Wallace Jr. 28 October 2020, CNN.
3.?Walter Wallace Jr: Philadelphia police confirm that two officers fired 14 shots at Black man killed Monday. 28 October 2020, The Independent.
4. Demand Justice for Daniel Prude. Color Of Change.?
5. "His brother called for help after he was acting strangely. Police knelt on him until he was brain dead." 02 September 2020,?The Appeal.
6.?City establishes new crisis intervention unit following Daniel Prude''s death. 16 September 2020, ABC 13 WHAM.?
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Please help keep our movement strong.
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Are you ready for the future of racial justice?
Hi?Jon,?
We are just a few short days out from one of the most critical primary elections, yet many folks in neighborhoods across Los Angeles are still unaware of the March 3 election.
Our friends, families and neighbors in these conversations sometimes need us to provide important information, help them think through the issues, and get them involved.
When YOU-a trusted friend, coworker, and neighbor-have the conversation or deliver a key message, it becomes even more powerful. I'd like you to try the TEAM App, an app that helps you reach as many friends & family members to take action on important issues, like the LA County race!
Now, you can take action on campaigns whenever you want, get updates on breaking election news, and share customized content with your friends. all through the convenience of the new Team App. Click here to try it out to text voters in LA County!
Download the Team App
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It only takes seconds to download, and all you have to do is send text messages based on the resources we''ve made just for LA County. We've drafted the voting reminders, social media graphics, voter guides, and more. Try it out now!
The future of LA County''s criminal justice system will be determined by your vote. Download the Team app today.
Until justice is real,
Arisha, Jenni, Drew, Charles, Scott, Daniel, Tammi, Cristel, Alex, Destanie, Corina and the Color Of Change PAC team
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Ad paid for by ColorOfChange PAC, colorofchangepac.org. Not authorized by any federal, state, or local candidate or a committee controlled by a candidate. |
ColorOfChange PAC is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Contributions to Color Of Change PAC are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes. This email was sent to yellow71486@. If you''re absolutely sure you don''t want to hear from Color Of Change again, click here to unsubscribe.
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Dear Jon.
The Los Angeles Times is withholding life-saving COVID-19 (also known as Coronavirus) information behind a subscription paywall and this unjust practice must be stopped.?Yesterday, a Los Angeles Times headline read "Gov. Gavin Newsom orders all?Californians to stay at home," yet only paying members can access this article because it is hidden behind a subscription paywall.1?
In the face of this deadly public health threat which the World Health Organization has designated a pandemic,2 major news publications are stepping up to allow full access to critical public health reporting on Coronavirus without paywall blocks, yet The Los Angeles Times is one of the few outlets refusing to drop its paywall. Even after over 40 million people have been ordered to stay home because of this virus.3
Jon, Black people already disproportionately suffer from chronic illnesses,4?making those over the age of 60 even more susceptible to Coronavirus infection.5?The Los Angeles Times is making Black, low-income, and marginalized communities susceptible to misinformation and potential bodily harm, while hindering coordinated efforts to inform, quarantine, and eradicate this virus, by not making valuable public health information accessible.?
SIGN THE PETITION: Demand The Los Angeles Times drops its subscription paywall to allow all readers access to comprehensive Coronavirus news coverage.?
The Los Angeles Times has the fourth-largest circulation among U.S. newspapers, and is the largest U.S. newspaper not headquartered on the East Coast.6?Jon, the state of California has more residents than any other state,7?and as cases of Coronavirus spread, along with misinformation about this virus, access to complete and comprehensive reporting can have critical influence on the health of individuals and communities.?
The Los Angeles Times withholding of vital Coronavirus reporting is a systemic manipulation of information that can do mass harm to the Black community as many of our people are already uninsured. Creatives and hourly wage employees who are now facing job loss, over the age of 60 with chronic illnesses -?compounded with the many ways Black people and communities are already systematically disadvantaged both in quality in life and access to healthcare, without the threat of Coronavirus.
Jon, information is a vital tool for preventing wide-spread infection that can negatively affect, not only our communities but the nation as a whole. News outlets must see the responsibility of being a public service and provide comprehensive public education about the illness, how it spreads, and best safety practices - along with communicating the harms and threats of this virus to the communities they claim to serve.?
SIGN THE PETITION: Demand The Los Angeles Times drops its subscription paywall to allow all readers access to comprehensive Coronavirus news coverage.?
Black people already face extensive barriers in accessing justice, economic, and health related equality in this country. Access to accurate and comprehensive Coronavirus information is critical in countering negative perceptions against vital information provided by non-Black institutions and medical distrust that could lead to the spread of harmful misinformation or lack of treatment, putting many people amongst our family and friends in direct harm of contracting this virus.8,9,10
This unique crisis has illuminated the varying ways in which socio-economic barriers have always affected the health and quality of life of those who are underprivileged, underpaid, and underrepresented. According to a recent NPR/Marist Poll, 18% of households report someone being laid off or having a reduction in hours due to the Coronavirus outbreak.11?Black people, specifically Black women, disproportionately make up the retail market work force that is fighting for continued pay as stores close.12
As cases of Coronavirus continue to spread and Coronavirus layoffs surge, news outlets have a responsibility to be public servants and to communicate harms and threats to the communities they claim to serve, whether or not they can pay.?Jon, potentially life-saving Coronavirus information should be available to everyone.
SIGN THE PETITION: Demand The Los Angeles Times drops its subscription paywall to allow all readers access to comprehensive Coronavirus news coverage.?
Until justice is real,
--Brandi, Rashad, Arisha, Evan, Johnny, Jade, Future, Eesha, Samantha, Marcus, FolaSade, Jennette,?Cierra?and the rest of the Color Of Change team
References:
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Help keep our movement strong.
If you''re absolutely sure you don''t want to hear from Color Of Change again, click here to unsubscribe.
If Facebook won't combat racism on their platform, we're going to come for their profits.
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Amid this global movement to end anti-Blackness, Facebook has chosen to stay silent as they allow hate, bias, and discrimination to grow on their platforms. They've allowed-and profited from-incitement to violence against protesters fighting for racial justice following the police and vigilante killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Tony McDade, Ahmaud Arbery, and Rayshard Brooks.
For five years, Color Of Change has called on Facebook to do the right thing and make their platforms safer for the millions of Black people who use them. Each time we warned them, they treated our concerns like an all sides matter PR crisis. They allowed, and still allow, Black lives to be compromised on their platform every day.
Facebook's leadership has gotten away with racist practices and inaction because corporations continue to feed ad dollars-nearly $70 billion-into the company's coffers. But that's about to change. We've already organized nearly 100 companies to refuse to buy ads on Facebook for the month of July. Since Thursday, Verizon, Unilever, and Coca-Cola, who spend millions of dollars each month on Facebook ads, joined our campaign, which is likely to spur a wave of additional corporate supporters.?Together, we're going to show Facebook that if they won't combat racism on their platform, we're going to come for their profits.1?
Join us in holding Facebook accountable by asking companies to #StopHateforProfit and pause advertisements on Facebook during the month of July.?
Our requests to Facebook are simple; we need them to: invest in a civil rights infrastructure, start prioritizing the safety of Black users, and prioritize the sanctity of our democracy. Making these changes will help with the years-long problems Facebook has not seriously addressed, like the harassment and censorship of Black women on the platform and the proliferation of voter suppression.2 But because Facebook hasn't made these changes, we have to hold them accountable through means they understand best: their money.?
With many releasing poignant statements in the last month about how much they value Black people and decry racism, we have real leverage to demand they go beyond their statements and take a stand against Facebook's dismal civil rights record. #StopHateforProfit is an opportunity for corporations to show that they can offer more than hollow words of support for Black people and racial justice. By pressing the major corporations who have publicly stated they stand for Black lives to withhold their advertising dollars, we can force Facebook to reconsider how it has ignored the demands of Black users and civil rights organizations.3?
Tell companies to stop advertising on Facebook during the month of July and #StopHateforProfit.????
Facebook's failure to protect and support Black users has never been clearer. And so, together with our partners at the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), NAACP, Sleeping Giants, Free Press, and Common Sense Media, we will end the promotion of hate, racism, and violence on the platform-once and for all. Let's send Facebook a powerful message that we won't stand for the rampant civil rights abuses they enable on their platform.?
Tell companies to #StopHateforProfit by pausing advertisements during the month of July.
Until justice is real,?
-Arisha, Rashad, Brandi, Jade, Johnny, Amanda, Marie, Evan, Imani, Eesha, Samantha, Jennette, Ciera, Marcus, FolaSade, and the rest of the Color Of Change team?
References:
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Please help keep our movement strong.
Make a Donation
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Minneapolis PD has not been held accountable for Floyd''s death. ?? #JusticeforFloyd: Demand Mayor Frey defund the MPD!? Take Action!?
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Jon,
You and more than 1.3 million Color Of Change members are standing with us in demanding justice for George Floyd, a Black man who was murdered in broad daylight in Minneapolis on Monday.1
On Tuesday, the four officers, including Derek Chauvin, who executed the killing, and?Tou Thao, were fired from the force.2?This is a major victory because it rarely happens but this is only step one. Local officials must do more to hold the officers accountable for murdering George.
Due to COVID19, Minneapolis is facing a budget shortfall and has to make decisions about how to cut $60 million from the city budget.?Our communities are in need of PPE, affordable housing, jobs, and mental health care, so these vital social services must remain intact.?The MPD is given a budget of $193 million annually, which funds their murderous police force and tear gas on peaceful protestors.
We''re calling for their budgets to be cut because right now there is no system of accountability for their bad actions. They''ve had years of misconduct, citizen killings, racism, and harassment on Black and Brown communities. And rarely, if ever, are their officers held accountable for their misconduct. Overinvestment in police and underinvestment in public services lead to more criminalization of Black and Brown communities, like the killing of George Floyd.
Mayor Jacob Frey must hold them accountable in the only language they speak: money. We''re joining Black Visions Collective3 to demand?Mayor Frey defund the MPD now!
Jon, demand Mayor Frey defund the Minneapolis Police Department Now.
Until justice is real,
--Scott, Rashad, Arisha, Erika, Malachi, Marybeth, Madison, Leonard, and the rest of the Color Of Change team
References:
1. "Video shows Minneapolis cop with knee on neck of motionless, moaning man who later died." CBS News.
2. "4 Minneapolis Police Officers Fired Over George Floyd Death." Huffington Post.
3.?Black Visions Collective (BLVC) believes in a future where all Black people have autonomy, safety is community-led, and we are in right relationship within our ecosystems. Learn more here.
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Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Help keep our movement strong.
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Your support is invaluable to this movement.
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Jon,
For the past few weeks, protesters from all walks of life have taken to the streets of America to demand an end to anti-Black police violence, and their efforts are bringing real change to our communities. But they need your support to keep up the fight. Color of Change's #ProtectTheProtester campaign ensures protesters have the supplies they need to protect themselves from COVID-19 and the repressive tactics of the police.
So far, we''ve been able to:
Will you donate just $5 to our #ProtectTheProtester campaign?
The racist killings of Breonna Taylor and George Floyd are just the latest tragedies in an American tradition of state-sanctioned violence on Black communities that has persisted for centuries. As we speak, scores of people from across the country are being detained by District Attorneys's offices for demanding an end to the murder of Black people by police once and for all. Their efforts have been met with rubber bullets and tear gas-not to mention, the looming threat of COVD-19. Still, they have soldiered on.
Join us in honoring their determination and bravery, and in sustaining their efforts by donating whatever you can to our #ProtectTheProtester fund.
Night after night, protesters are transforming their sorrow and rage into collective action, even in the midst of a pandemic. In response, officers are apprehending and jailing them in overcrowded conditions, without masks or gloves. These conditions violate the basic human rights of the protesters and make social distancing impossible-a cruel and unusual punishment that will result in countless new cases of COVD-19 in our most vulnerable communities. In response, Color of Change is doing what we can to support folks on the ground risking their safety to demand dignity and justice for Black people. This fight is far from over. But as long as our people are taking to the streets to demand justice, Color of Change will be there to support them. Will you stand with us?
Your support is invaluable to this movement. Help us continue to build momentum by donating $5 to the #ProtectTheProtester campaign.
Until justice is real,
-Jade, Brandi, Johnny, Amanda, Evan, Imani, Samantha, Eesha, Marcus, FolaSade, Ciera, Jennette and the rest of the Color Of Change team
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Please help keep our movement strong.
Make a Donation
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Jon,?
After weeks of protests and demands for justice -- still, NO arrests or charges have made against the officers who murdered Elijah McClain.?
To make matters worse, three Aurora County police officers were fired this past Friday after taking selfies that were mocking a memorial established in Elijah''s honor. One of the officers responsible for Elijah''s death, Jason Rosenblatt, even sent a text in support of this cruel joke, responding "haha" to the officers who took the selfies. And even though he was also fired for his participation, it''s not nearly enough.1
The callousness and depravity exhibited by these officers are not unique.?Aurora County police department only fired these officers to save face politically -- they have deliberately delayed holding the officers who murdered Elijah accountable for almost a year now. Simply firing these officers for mocking this young Black man''s death does not get Elijah''s family the justice they deserve. The type of dehumanizing behavior displayed is eerily similar to that of a lynching and in no way should it be tolerated in today''s police force. Nevertheless, all across the country, we continue to see police departments and police unions fight against any form of accountability or reform.?
But?Jon, over 100,000 people have already signed the petition demanding justice for Elijah -- we are not going to stop fighting. Time is of the essence. Elijah''s family shouldn''t be forced to mourn the loss of their loved one while these officers sit at home and relax with their families.?Our communities will no longer tolerate this level of depravity shown by police officers -- we must make our demands clear.
Tell AG Phil Weiser: A whole year is too long to wait for justice. Charge the officers who murdered Elijah NOW.
Until Justice is Real,?
Scott and the rest of the Color of Change Team?
P.S. Read our original email below.?
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Dear?Jon,?
Elijah McClain, a 23-year-old Black man in Aurora, Colorado, was murdered at the hands of police almost a year ago and still no justice.
On August 24, 2019, three white police officers stopped Elijah while he was walking home from a convenience store -- after a 911 caller reportedly described Elijah as a "suspicious person."?2 The details that led to Elijah's death are horrific. The officers can be heard on bodycam video threatening to bring their dog to bite Elijah and even accusing Elijah of provoking arrest. Minutes later, officers then put Elijah in a deadly chokehold, causing him to go unconscious.3 Paramedics rushed to the scene only for Elijah to later suffer from a heart attack; he was declared brain dead three days later.4
That's why we must call on Attorney General Phil Weiser to stand up for what is right and file criminal charges against the officers who murdered Elijah McClain. He has the power to ensure these officers are not free to roam the streets while Elijah''s family is forced to mourn the loss of their loved one.?
Elijah Mcclain should still be alive today. Sign the petition to demand AG Phil Weiser charge the officers who murdered Elijah.
Here''s the truth: Officer Nathan Woodyard, Jason Rosenblatt, and Randy Roedema are responsible for Elijah''s death.?But the police-led autopsy report suggests the cause of Elijah''s death was unclear even though the coroner listed intense physical exertion as one of the contributing factors that sent Elijah into heart failure.5 To make matters worse, the police review board defended the police officers saying, " the force applied during the altercation. was within policy and consistent with training."?6 The officers were placed on administrative leave but later put back on the force because prosecutors declined to file charges.?There''s no denying the Aurora County police officers and District Attorney Dave Young have delayed justice for Elijah at every turn.?As we''ve seen in the countless number of police-involved shootings that have resulted in Black people being killed, police are rarely held accountable for the violence and harm they inflict on Black people.
If the police had simply allowed Elijah to walk home, he would still be alive today.?Elijah''s murder is yet another example of what we already know -- the police do not keep our communities safe. Just yesterday, members of Elijah''s community held a peaceful vigil, march, and rally where they honored Elijah''s life by observing a few violinists perform and holding hands. But in a widely circulated video, police disrupted the event wearing riot gear -- they deployed pepper spray and were physically violent toward attendees. Our communities aren''t even safe to mourn and honor the lives lost to police violence.7 We can''t sit by while Black people are being killed needlessly in the street by these violent police officers -- now more than ever they must know that enough is enough.??
Jon, we know that when we continually call out these atrocities against our communities, it becomes impossible to ignore. We''ve seen this happen after more than 43,000 Color Of Change members called for #JusticeforBre and more than 300,000 members #RanwithAhmaud. As a result, charges against Bre's boyfriend were dropped, and the three men who murdered Ahmaud have been charged. And we know the same thing can happen for Elijah McClain.?
Enough is enough. Demand the cops who murdered Elijah are charged NOW.?
Until justice is real,?
--Scott, Rashad, Arisha, Erika, Malachi, Marybeth, Madison, Leonard, Ernie and the rest of the Color Of Change team
?References:
ColorOfChange is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change.
If you''re absolutely sure you don''t want to hear from ColorOfChange again, click here to unsubscribe.Your support is invaluable to this movement.
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Jon,
For the past few weeks, protesters from all walks of life have taken to the streets of America to demand an end to anti-Black police violence, and their efforts are bringing real change to our communities. But they need your support to keep up the fight. Color of Change's #ProtectTheProtester campaign ensures protesters have the supplies they need to protect themselves from COVID-19 and the repressive tactics of the police.
So far, we''ve been able to:
Will you donate just $5 to our #ProtectTheProtester campaign?
The racist killings of Breonna Taylor and George Floyd are just the latest tragedies in an American tradition of state-sanctioned violence on Black communities that has persisted for centuries. As we speak, scores of people from across the country are being detained by District Attorneys's offices for demanding an end to the murder of Black people by police once and for all. Their efforts have been met with rubber bullets and tear gas-not to mention, the looming threat of COVD-19. Still, they have soldiered on.
Join us in honoring their determination and bravery, and in sustaining their efforts by donating whatever you can to our #ProtectTheProtester fund.
Night after night, protesters are transforming their sorrow and rage into collective action, even in the midst of a pandemic. In response, officers are apprehending and jailing them in overcrowded conditions, without masks or gloves. These conditions violate the basic human rights of the protesters and make social distancing impossible-a cruel and unusual punishment that will result in countless new cases of COVD-19 in our most vulnerable communities. In response, Color of Change is doing what we can to support folks on the ground risking their safety to demand dignity and justice for Black people. This fight is far from over. But as long as our people are taking to the streets to demand justice, Color of Change will be there to support them. Will you stand with us?
Your support is invaluable to this movement. Help us continue to build momentum by donating $5 to the #ProtectTheProtester campaign.
Until justice is real,
-Jade, Brandi, Johnny, Amanda, Evan, Imani, Samantha, Eesha, Marcus, FolaSade, Ciera, Jennette and the rest of the Color Of Change team
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Please help keep our movement strong.
Make a Donation
?
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Dear?Jon,?
There are now 8,600 new COVID-19 cases in state and federal prisons?1 -- we must act NOW to save as many lives as possible.
In places like Chicago, jails went from two diagnosed cases to 101 incarcerated people and a dozen employees have tested positive for the virus in just one week.2?In Louisiana, Black people account for 70 percent of all the state''s coronavirus deaths even though they only make up 32 percent of the state''s population.3 And Black people make up more than half of the prison population where at least 28 incarcerated people and 22 correctional staff have tested positive for COVID-19.4 If we leave it up to the local government, more Black people will be neglected. This is already happening in Louisiana, where COVID-19 positive incarcerated people including those being held pre-trial are being transferred to Angola, a former plantation -- leaving people with no medical care, no hospitals, and no access to lawyers.5
And Black women are particularly vulnerable.?The COVID-19 outbreak is exacerbating a pre-existing healthcare crisis in this country that has always carelessly or intentionally excluded Black women. Health conditions such as heart disease, hypertension, high blood pressure, or cancer, which we know affect Black women at disproportionate rates.6?Public health officials have repeatedly warned that the only way to flatten the curve and to save countless lives is to immediately release incarcerated people especially those with underlying health conditions. The time for action is now.?
Governors in every single state have the power to grant mass release to thousands by using their executive clemency powers--yet hundreds of applications are piling up on governors'' desks, sitting ignored. That must end. That''s why?in partnership with the National Council for Incarcerated and Formerly Incarcerated Women and Girls, we are calling on governors to exercise their clemency power during the COVID-19 outbreak and release as many people as possible.
Tell your governor: Immediately release as many people as possible from prisons during the COVID-19 outbreak.
Prison is the worst place a person could be during the COVID-19 outbreak. And conditions in prison and jails across the country are growing worse each day. People trapped in these facilities are subject to overcrowding and poor sanitation -- making social distancing practically impossible.?Many incarcerated people are already elderly, and suffering from underlying health conditions which makes them especially vulnerable to contracting this deadly virus. Worst of all, most jails are not equipped to make the changes needed to keep people safe. Cleaning supplies are classified as contraband and hand sanitizer is widely banned.?Incarcerated people are being served food on dirty trays by people who are not wearing masks, increasing the risk of contamination.?More importantly, people who work in these facilities cycle in and out of jails and prisons and go home to their families increasing the potential spread of the virus.??
Governors could prevent thousands of incarcerated people from being exposed to this deadly virus by exercising their clemency power. There are nearly 2.3 million people incarcerated in federal, state and local prisons and correctional facilities across the country, and the Federal Bureau of Prisons only houses 175,000 people.7 This leaves governors with an enormous power to reduce the overall risk of those exposed to COVID-19 by granting clemency.
Yet, both Democratic and Republican governors alike have been slow to utilize their clemency powers in this crisis. Clemency is a power so few governors actually use; many go decades in office and only commute the sentences of a handful of incarcerated people at best.?Jon, now is our chance to push governors to understand the thousands of lives that could be saved if they respond to this emergency with urgency by exercising their clemency power. ?
Sign the petition. We need your help to keep up the pressure on governors across the country to do their part in stopping the spread of coronavirus.?
Mass incarceration is the pandemic. The criminalization of Black and brown communities?and the detrimental economic impact it has had an undeniable impact.?Now more than ever should be the time we push towards a future where all of our people are free.?No one should be subject to fighting this unprecedented public health risk from inside a cage. The people trapped in these jails and prisons are members of our community. We?deserve to live our lives free of perpetual punishment. We deserve to be treated with dignity and to have access to the care we need during this unprecedented public health crisis.
If governors do nothing, our communities are at escalated risk of contracting COVID-19.?And not releasing people inside prisons will have a detrimental impact on people outside of prisons. Our communities are most at risk and yet there has been no statement outlining the direct actions and protections being provided for the people who are incarcerated. We can't afford to lose some of the most vulnerable members of our communities to this deadly disease because governors are failing to act on their clemency power.?
Your governor has the power to save lives by granting clemency. Will you send a letter demanding mass clemency?
Until justice is real,?
--Clarise, Rashad, Arisha, Scott, Erika, Malachi, Marybeth, Madison, Leonard, and the rest of the Color of Change team.?
?References:
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Once again, huge tech corporations have chosen to silence Black voices while amplifying white nationalists.
Hey?Jon,
This week, Google, Verizon, and Hulu refused to run our video ad?with Priorities USA calling out Trump for sanctioning police and military violence against protestors.
Trump used similar imagery in a similar ad demonizing protestors and has not been censored.?
Once again, huge tech corporations have chosen to silence Black voices while amplifying white nationalists. This is exactly why Black-led digital ads programs like ours are needed to combat this hateful messaging and make sure voters hear the truth.
Jon, we're not going to let big tech corporations silence us, but we need people like you to stand with us. Here's how you can take action:
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Let's be honest: many Americans are disillusioned with our political system right now.
We're in the midst of a pandemic that has disproportionately killed Black and brown people due to the government's failure to provide adequate medical care. Minimal government financial support has pressured low-income people to risk their lives to return to work despite the ongoing pandemic. And police violence against Black people and protestors continues, egged on by our president.
This is exactly why we need to reach Black voters as soon as possible.
We need to show people that we understand their struggles, and help them see why even if we are disillusioned, we must vote to get rid of politicians that intensify the harms of white supremacy, and elect leaders that will work to ensure our safety and protect our rights. Voting is not the only tactic we need, but it is one way to build the power we need to move towards liberation.
Big tech companies are attempting to silence us, but we won't back down. We're going to run ads inspiring Black voters and exposing the truth about Trump all the way through November 4th.?Join us and donate in these last 100 days until Election Day!
Until justice is real,
Arisha, Jenni, Drew, Charles, Tammi, Cristel, Daniel, Alex, Scotty and the Color Of Change PAC team
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Paid Pol. Adv. paid for by ColorOfChange PAC, 1714 Franklin St., Oakland, CA 94612, independently of and not authorized or approved by any federal, state, or local candidate or candidate's committee.
ColorOfChange PAC is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Contributions to Color Of Change PAC are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes. This email was sent to @. If you''re absolutely sure you don''t want to hear from Color Of Change again, click here to unsubscribe.
Jon,
COVID-19 (also known as coronavirus) is impacting the entire world, but it's having an even greater impact on our most vulnerable communities. Black families, low-income families, the elderly, and those who are disabled or ill have the most potential to be impacted by coronavirus. They also have limited resources to avoid getting sick. Visits to a doctor's office or hospital are unaffordable for those without insurance. Supplies like hand sanitizer and soap have run out at neighborhood stores across the country, making supplies impossible for people without cars to obtain. And, those who work as cashiers, nurses, bus drivers, train operators, and other crucial jobs have the highest chance for exposure to the virus with the least flexibility to work from home or take sick leave.
At Color Of Change, we fight to protect Black communities and our country's most vulnerable communities. So, we created 5 ways you can take action, all in one place, so that you can stand up for the communities who don't have the ability to avoid coronavirus.
Tell major publications that everyone should be able to access information about coronavirus. In the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, news outlets like The Washington Post and the Los Angeles Times are keeping crucial updates about coronavirus behind costly paywalls and subscriptions. This is an unjust act: these news outlets and academic outlets are limiting information to increase their profits.1 We must stop publications from withholding critical information from those who can't afford to pay these costly fees.
Demand billionaire company owners cover the cost of coronavirus tests for all.
It is not a coincidence that Mark Zuckerberg, Bill Gates, and Jeff Bezos are some of the wealthiest people on the planet. Companies like Amazon, Microsoft, and Facebook, have relied on major tax breaks, subsidies and city infrastructure paid for by taxpayer dollars to make billions of dollars in profit. Those same companies have created housing crises in every city they are based in, making countless Americans more vulnerable to the devastating impacts of coronavirus. Billionaires like Jeff Bezos, Bill Gates, and Mark Zuckerberg have the means to pay for coronavirus testing for the entire country several times over. And with health officials recommending as many people as possible are tested as soon as possible, it is essential that these billionaires step up and pay their debt to society. That's why we're calling on Zuckerberg, Gates, and Bezos to pay for coronavirus testing for all.?
Demand states institute emergency paid sick leave for part-time and hourly workers. At a time when people are being quarantined left and right, and coronavirus is spreading at speeds faster than hospital staff can treat, it is necessary for people to stay home if they're feeling sick. But, many stores, restaurants, and companies who hire part-time and hourly workers - workers who are disproportionately Black and low-income - do not provide paid sick leave for staff who aren't full-time, forcing many people to show up to work despite the current health crisis, which can increase their chances of becoming ill or spreading an illness to someone else.2 Join us in demanding states provide paid sick leave for part-time and hourly workers so that our people can protect themselves and others from spreading illnesses.
Demand your Governor distribute meals to children and families who receive subsidized school lunch or SNAP benefits. Millions of Black children from low-income households rely on breakfast and lunch from their schools. But, as coronavirus spreads, more and more children are not going to be allowed in school. This is a huge problem for the many Black families who receive subsidized school lunch; their children may go hungry without access to school-provided meals. Tell your state to institute a plan to distribute meals to the families who receive subsidized school lunch.
Demand states put a moratorium into place that stops evictions, water shut-offs, and layoffs during the coronavirus outbreak. Every day, people face devastating challenges like eviction, water shut-offs, and layoffs. And this is no different during the coronavirus outbreak: thousands of Black people work low-wage jobs, and already have difficulty paying their bills and their rent, with Coronavirus making these tasks that much more difficult. But, company owners, landlords, and utility companies do not seem to care. During this health crisis, they continue to lay people off, shut off families' water, and evict people from their homes. Join us in demanding that governors across the country implement a moratorium on layoffs, evictions, and water shut-offs.
No matter how dire the situation, we will never stop fighting to protect our people, even if it means we must fight in the face of international crisis. Thank you, Jon, for fighting with us.
Until justice is real,?
-Brandi, Rashad, Arisha, Jade, Johnny, Amanda, Evan, Imani, Samantha, Jennette, Ciera, Eesha, Marcus, FolaSade, and the rest of the Color Of Change team
References:?
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With the outbreak of coronavirus, we've had to make all of our final efforts virtual for the safety of our members.
Jon,
We have just 2 days left until voters decide whether to re-elect Kim Foxx and continue transforming criminal justice in Chicago and Cook County.
Unfortunately, with the outbreak of coronavirus, we've had to make all of our final efforts virtual for the safety of our members.
This means that our digital ads are more important than ever-- they're one of the most direct ways we're able to reach people to get them information about ways to safely vote.
Can you make an urgent $3 donation (or whatever you can) now to our final digital ads push to make sure no one''s vote is suppressed by the coronavirus outbreak?
Your donation will help us run ads that:
To be honest with you,?Jon,?these last 2 days before Election Day could be more important than the entire last 2 months.
We need to make sure that people know how to vote by mail or other means. We need to make sure that everyone knows where to vote, has a ride, and knows the poll hours. And we need to make sure that anyone who's still on the fence hears from us one last time, and has Kim Foxx's name in their mind when they cast their ballot.?
Jon, can you rush a $3 donation to expand our digital ads in the wake of these last-minute obstacles to voters?
Thank you for everything you've done to support Kim Foxx and real justice in Cook County. Wish us luck!
Until justice is real,
Jenni, Arisha, Drew, Charles, Calyssa, Audrey, Tammi, Daniel, Cristel, Alex, Scotty and the Color Of Change PAC team
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Paid for by ColorOfChange PAC, colorofchangepac.org, not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee, and no candidate is responsible for the activities of the committee.
A copy of our report filed with the State Board of Elections is (or will be) available on the Board''s official website, elections.il.gov, or for purchase from the State Board of Elections, Springfield, Illinois.
ColorOfChange PAC is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Contributions to Color Of Change PAC are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes. This email was sent to yellow71486@. If you''re absolutely sure you don''t want to hear from Color Of Change again, click here to unsubscribe.
Demand corporations go #BeyondTheStatement and correct their harms against Black people.
Jon,
Last month, we launched BeyondTheStatement.org?- our campaign hub centered on holding corporations accountable for their "Black Lives Matter" statements with tangible policy changes. In the wake of the police killings of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, companies like Nike and McDonald''s were quick to release poignant commercials and thoughtful written statements, but are slow to show their low wage workers, who are disproportionately Black, that their lives matter by paying them a living wage.1?How can Black lives matter to these companies when employees don''t earn enough to pay their rent or feed their families? Something isn''t adding up.?
The truth is that justice is not a trend and corporate statements and murals are not enough. Layoffs and unemployment continue to surge as corporations and their billionaire executives take in record profits, while coronavirus and police violence ravage our communities. We cannot allow corporations to escape with a quick PR statement and continue to hurt our communities as they solely seek to better their bottom lines.
Jon,?we have created a set of crucial campaigns demanding that corporations go beyond their statements--and we need your help to hold them accountable:
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Tell fast-food companies: If Black Lives Matter, pay your Black employees. Black workers are more likely to have front-line jobs that have been deemed essential-putting their families and their own lives at risk just to make ends meet.2 Too often Black people are expected to choose between their health and livelihoods because of inadequate workplace policies that do not protect them, all while their wages fall short of the current cost of living. Demand fast-food companies pay their employees a living wage. 
Nike: It's time to move #BeyondTheStatement. Nike released the most poignant statement in solidarity with Black lives and brands itself as an ally in the fight against social inequality. The marriage between Nike and Black culture has evolved into many highly lucrative endorsement deals with Black public figures, including Michael Jordan, Serena Williams, and Colin Kaepernick.3,4?As an industry titan and multimillion-dollar company, it''s time Nike put power behind their stated values and pays their employees a living wage. 
Caterpillar, Levi Strauss, Stanley Black & Decker, and Steelcase should pay reparations, not shareholders. Corporations say they are in solidarity with Black people, yet the current economic downturn seems to only serve the rich. While thousands of workers are filing for unemployment, these corporations have paid over $700 million in shareholder dividends to their CEO''s.5?Instead of fattening corporate CEO wallets, demand these companies donate to organizations that are supporting on-the-ground protestors.
Tell all NBA team owners to pay all laid-off arena workers! Over forty percent of hourly workers, which includes the vast majority of game-day employees, lack any savings and over 75% of them have less than $500 saved for emergencies. The current economic uncertainty will likely wipe out any savings these employees have and force them to take on toxic debt or make difficult choices around food and medical care.?Demand all NBA team owners pay all laid-off area workers.?
Chevron, ExxonMobil, and other energy companies must stop polluting the very air Black people breathe. Protests in support of Black lives are taking place in the backyards of plants and refineries that refuse to acknowledge their roles in environmental racism. Seventy-one percent of Black people live in counties that violate federal air pollution standards, as compared to 58% of the white population-along with nearly 51% of Black people residing in cities and metropolitan areas that struggle to have clean air.6,7,8,9?The long-term effects of air pollutants on Black health have contributed to the stark disparity in coronavirus deaths.10?Demand energy companies take responsibility for Black coronavirus deaths.
Banks must stop underwriting racism.?JP Morgan CEO Jamie Dimon took a knee in solidarity with Black lives. Bank of America is providing $1 billion to support racial equality. Yet, banking while Black often leads to racial profiling, denial of mortgage loans, and higher loan interest rates.11?These dehumanizing acts are rooted in age-old racist practices that have perpetuated the generational wealth gap that has many trying to make ends meet in the face of the current economic downturn. If banks are serious about supporting Black lives, demand these institutions address the lack of Black staff representation and the practices that underwrite racism.
Corporations bear responsibility for the violence, harm, and discrimination Black people face, whether they carry it out, enable it, or profit from it. The racism they engender and enable impacts every aspect of our lives, from record unemployment to massive consumption and corporate greed.12?We will not allow the near-largest civil rights movement in history to be downplayed by hollow corporate statements.13??Jon, join us as we demand corporations go #BeyondTheStatement in correcting the harm their policies and business models cause Black employees, families, and communities.
Until justice is real,?
-Jade, Rashad, Arisha, Johnny, Amanda, Evan, Imani, Marie, Samantha, Eesha, Marcus, FolaSade, Eesha,?Jennette, Ciera,?Gabrielle and the rest of the Color Of Change team
References:?
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Please help keep our movement strong.
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Sign the petition to stop the police chief's terror.
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Jon,
Just days after the Kenosha police department shot Jake Blake seven times in the back, a white supremacist vigilante came into town to murder two anti-racist protesters. The officer still has his job and police let the racist murderer walk away. Kenosha police chief Daniel Miskinis has blood on his hands. He must be fired ASAP. Sign the petition.
Kyle Rittenhouse, a vocal white supremacist and Trump supporter, who was obsessed with guns and dreamed of being a cop, traveled across state lines with an AR-15 style rifle strapped across his body. For hours, he stalked and harrassed anti-racist protesters while "protecting"? property that wasn't even his. His hate-filled night ended by him murdering two protesters and leaving one badly injured. His last victim will likely lose his arm.?
And how did Kenosha police officers and the national guard respond to him? They let him walk away. And just before the shooting as he harassed protesters, they gave him water, and thanked him for protecting them.
The police chief Daniel Miskinis even blamed the protesters for being murdered by a vigilante. When a reporter asked him about the murders of two protesters, Miskinis' vile words speak for themselves: "Had persons not been out involved in violation of [the curfew], perhaps the situation that unfolded would not have happened."
Chief Miskinis words are disgusting and indicative of the department he runs. Not only does he oversee the department that attempted to murder Jake Blake, but he's ordered his officers to teargas protesters and let a racist murderer walk free.
Mayor John Antaramian and the Kenosha City Council must fire him immediately.?
Demand police chief Daniel Miskinis be fired now!
After Jake Blake was shot seven times in the back in front of his three small children, Chief Miskinis went on record blaming Jake for getting shot. The police even handcuffed Jake to his hospital bed as he fought for his life -- disgrace!3
Miskinis repeatedly attempts to smear victims of his police department and the white vigilantes who carry out their anti-Black agenda. We know what this game play is and we've seen it before. A police officer brutalizes or murders someone, so the police department goes on a smear campaign against the victim to clear any wrongdoing. But we won't stand for it.?
Sign the petition: Tell Kenosha to fire police chief Daniel Maskinis for blaming Jake Blake for getting shot.
These violent acts of racism are emboldened by people in positions of power like Chief Maskinis. By excusing Kyle's behavior, Miskinis is opening the door for this very act to happen once again. And Black people, and those fighting for justice, will once again be the victims.
We don't look to police chiefs to be beacons of justice, because they represent an inherently unjust institution. We must hold them accountable for the danger they put our communities in. And as long as Chief Miskinis continues to allow blatant white supremacy to take Black lives and our anti-racist allies, Black Kenoshans are not safe while he's in a position of power.
Fight with us.?
Until justice is real,
--Scott, Rashad, Arisha, Erika, Malachi, Marybeth, Madison, Leonard, Ernie, McKayla, and the rest of the Color Of Change team
References:
1. "Teenager Kyle Rittenhouse arrested, charged for Kenosha shootings" Aljazeer.
2. "Kenosha Police Chief Blames Protesters for Their Own Deaths, Defends Vigilante Groups" Slate.
3. "Jacob Blake handcuffed to hospital bed, father says" Chicago Sun-Times.?
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Please help keep our movement strong.
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Jon, these cops must be held accountable.
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Jon,
For most kids, Saturday mornings are spent watching cartoons, sleeping in, or playing outside - not being shot at by the police. But that's exactly what happened to a group of Black children in Waycross, Georgia on Saturday.?
Here's what we know: A Black 16-year-old was driving his younger siblings home before heading to a football game. Waycross Police Officer Jesse Shook began following the car after the driver allegedly ran a stop sign, but Officer Shook never turned on his sirens or flashed his lights to tell the young driver to pull over. Instead, the cop followed the kids home. Scared and confused, the 16-year-old stopped the car at an intersection near their home and told the younger kids in the back seat - his 9-year-old brother, 12-year-old sister, and a 14-year-old friend - to run home to get their father.?
That's when a second officer, Lt. Scott Rowell, arrived at the scene and opened fire on the car and the children.1 The youngest child said at least seven shots were fired and that one bullet nearly struck him as he ran.2?Thankfully, neither the children nor anyone in the Waycross neighborhood was hit by the bullets - but according to a witness, one of the children was pistol-whipped by the police.3
Officer Shook and Lt. Rowell's reckless and racist decision to target, tailgate, and open fire on a group of Black kids is reprehensible. Both officers are now on paid administrative leave, and an investigation is ongoing.?But it doesn't take an investigation to know this: Both police officers must be held accountable for their actions.?
Tell Waycross Mayor Michael-Angelo James: Cops who shoot at Black children and terrorize Black neighborhoods must be removed from the force. Fire these officers immediately.
ADD YOUR NAME NOW
Jon, this isn't the first time Lt. Scott Rowell was a part of an officer-involved shooting. In 2013, Alicia Herron called 911 for medical assistance when she noticed that her fiance, Jack Lamar Roberson, was acting erratically after taking his blood sugar medication. Instead of paramedics, Rowell and two other police officers showed up. The officers did nothing to de-escalate the situation or provide the medical assistance Roberson clearly needed.?
Unfortunately - as is often the case when cops are dispatched to handle medical and mental health emergencies, particularly involving Black people - the police officers only made matters worse. Minutes after they arrived on the scene, Lt. Rowell and his partners shot and killed Roberson in front of his mother and his fiance?.4 Both women confirmed he was unarmed, yet the Georgia Bureau of Investigation cleared the officers of any criminal wrongdoing - allowing Rowell to return to the force and continue terrorizing Black people.5
Last Saturday, 7 years after the murder of Jack Lamar Roberson, Lt. Rowell responded to another non-violent situation with unnecessary use of force. He fired a gun at a group of Black children, in their neighborhood, in front of their father. This time, Rowell will be held accountable for his actions.
Jon, we're calling on Mayor James to break this dangerous cycle and fire the officers who shot at Black children in South Georgia last week. Add your name now to demand accountability.
In an interview, the children's father expressed a fear Black parents know all too well: That their child could be the next victim of police brutality - their life cut short, reduced to a Twitter hashtag. "Officer Rowell was shooting at our babies...How are they going to protect us when they're shooting at us?" Dominique Goodman Sr. asked. "They are babies. What was the purpose of shooting?"6
What happened in Waycross on Saturday - which could have ended in tragedy - never should have happened in the first place. And sadly, the incident only highlights a sad, dangerous truth in America: Black people are living in terror.?
Young Black children are afraid of the police because they know that one altercation with a cop could kill them. They've seen it happen before. Officers Shook and Rowell made that nightmare real by opening fire on the children as they literally ran for their lives.?
Black children in Waycross - and everywhere - deserve to feel safe. And it's up to us to hold reckless and racist cops accountable.?
Tell Mayor James: Fire Officers Shook and Rowell now.
Until justice is real,
-- Scott, Rashad, Arisha, Erika, Malachi, Marybeth, Leonard, Madison, Ernie, McKayla and the rest of the Color Of Change team
?
References:
1.?Two police officers in Georgia put on leave after shooting at minors. 9 August 2020, CNN.
2.?Waycross police shoot at teens following traffic stop, GBI says. 8 August 2020, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (AJC).?
3.?Georgia cops open fire on kids running home to get father after traffic stop.?8 August 2020, Pinac News.
4.?Police Fatally Shoot Man After Family Calls For Medical Assistance. 8 October 2013, Huffington Post.
5.?GBI report clears Waycross police officers in October shooting death, DA says. 25 February 2014, The Florida Times-Union.?
6.?Georgia family says cops shot at a car full of unarmed children, report says. 8 August 2020, New York Post.?
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Please help keep our movement strong.
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Black businesses are being locked out of COVID-19 relief. Call Congress and tell them to create protections for Black-owned businesses.? CALL NOW?
Jon,
Congress' coronavirus economic relief legislation, the CARES Act, is still leaving Black businesses out. Despite the many provisions and accommodations the CARES Act provides for corporations, it fails to create meaningful protections to ensure that small, Black-owned businesses survive the crisis, and reports show that 90% of Black businesses will be left out of the package as it stands.1 This is unacceptable; Black-owned businesses contribute billions of dollars to our country's economy, and we can't allow Congress to leave us out.2?
CALL your Congress member NOW and tell them to implement protections for Black-owned businesses during the coronavirus pandemic.?
Black-owned businesses are cornerstones in our communities. We don't just purchase from them, we rely on them for kinship, joy and laughter, support, community service, and to provide us with the supplies we need. But the CARES Act's lack of legislation to protect Black businesses during this difficult time suggests they don't care about the various ways our communities benefit from our businesses. But we know how crucial Black-owned businesses are, and we must fight for them to make it through this crisis.?
Join me in demanding that Congress create protections for small, Black-owned businesses.
Please see our previous email below for more information on this issue.?
I was raised in a home that was fueled by a Black-owned business. My father, Everett Robinson, has been a self-employed contractor in East Long Island for over 45 years.?Everyday, I witnessed the long and?non-traditional hours to "land the plane" on the commitments to clients. Working with him during our summers as kids meant my brother and I got the chance to see first-hand all the unseen, extra work it takes to make ends meet as a Black business owner. We saw all the jobs given to other people not as qualified, all the slights he was asked to accept, and all the extra hoops he was asked to jump through in order to turn his vision for his business into a reality. But we also witnessed the pride and dignity that comes with the ability to work for yourself, and to be your own boss. We saw all the opportunities -- from making sure our family had our basic needs met, to putting us through school -- that his sacrifices made possible for us.
Call on Congress to protect Black-owned businesses. We need a REAL paycheck guarantee today.
The truth is that Black businesses are not just the places we go to buy things we need. They are often pillars of the community that create pathways to independence for our people that would not otherwise exist. That's why it's so crucial that we step up in this moment and fight for Black entrepreneurs and employees, who are getting the short end of the stick as they struggle to survive the COVID-19 outbreak. The small business protections Congress has passed in its CARES Act are not sufficient. States are already overwhelmed with an unprecedented number of unemployment benefit applications. The emergency relief package has significant implementation issues, is being tied up with unnecessary red tape, and is not getting to Black-owned businesses fast enough to prevent the massive layoffs and shut downs our communities are facing. Without legislation from Congress that specifically creates protections for small Black-owned businesses, there is no telling how many of our people will continue to lose their livelihoods, their jobs, and their healthcare during this pandemic.
That's why we''re calling on Congress for a small business emergency relief plan that:
The time to protect our communities is now. Join us in calling on Congress to create small business protections for Black-owned businesses immediately.
In the best of times, Black people have had to overcome this country's persistent underinvestment in Black business. According to a 2016 study by the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy and Research, only 1% of Black-owned businesses received a bank loan in their first year of operation, compared to 7% of white businesses. And twice the number of white business owners use a credit card during their first year of operation at 30%, as do Black business owners at 15%.3?Congress's current small business relief program assumes that all business owners have equal access to credit and to banking services. But we know that has never been the case. From redlining to the refusal to provide loans, Black people in this country have historically been locked out of entrepreneurship, with devastating consequences for our communities, both then and now. Today, Black-owned firms with paid employees generate over $103 billion annually.4?By providing a paycheck guarantee to businesses directly, Congress has the chance to invest in essential industries, to prevent countless layoffs, to preserve our communities' access to healthcare, and to ensure that the places that have served our communities for years are able to survive this crisis. Join us in calling on Congress to provide legislation that protects Black businesses today.
Black businesses and their employees are being locked out of the emergency federal coronavirus relief fund. Tell Congress we need a real paycheck guarantee today.
There is no community that will be harder hit by the current lack of protections for small businesses during COVID-19 than the Black business community. Congress's current small business relief package prioritizes corporations, not the people that need relief the most. Unless we see legislation like Representative Pramila Jayapal's that provides direct relief and specific protections for our business community, Black business owners will continue to disproportionately carry the financial burden of this crisis. Black entrepreneurs deserve the same kind of access to coronavirus relief packages that will keep other businesses in this nation afloat during this crisis and beyond. It's time for a direct legislation that protects Black businesses during the COVID-19 outbreak from Congress now.
When you protect Black businesses, you protect Black communities. Join us in demanding protections for the small Black business community from Congress now.
Until justice is real,?
- Rashad and the rest of the Color Of Change team
References:
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Help keep our movement strong.
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Dear?Jon,
It's time for Netflix to remove all cop shows from the streaming platform. Back in January, we questioned Netflix about having the law enforcement show "Border Security: America''s Front Line" on their platform, a reality show that glorifies border patrol agents. Now that the world is protesting against police and the atrocities they commit, it is important that media leader Netflix take a strong stand against police violence.?
Tell Netflix to remove all cop shows from its platform.?
Shows about police have been an ongoing problem in the television and entertainment landscape. Whether it is reality shows like "Live PD" or "Cops," or fictional television shows like "Law & Order: SVU," cop shows heroize police.1 But we know from what's going on in our country that police are not heroes. They are out in the streets of cities and towns across America right now, tear-gassing Black people and beating protestors until they bleed.2 They habitually demonize Black people, harass and kill us regularly, and make us feel unsafe and unwelcome in this country.3?
SIGN THE PETITION: Netflix has a responsibility to remove harmful cop shows from its platform.?
Police are harmful, not heroic. With every cop show that remains streaming, police officers' violent behavior is glorified and legitimized in real life. Police officers' stories are frequently centered and they are always the main characters. While storytelling through TV and film can create larger than life characters, it can also change the way audiences understand the world. By demanding Netflix remove all cop shows from their platform, we will take steps toward ending the false, stereotypical narrative that police are heroes and improve people's understanding of how police officers cause harm in the real-world.???
The stakes are just too high. We cannot allow cop shows to continue to stream. Tell Netflix to dump its cop shows.
Until justice is real,?
-Brandi, Rashad, Arisha, Jade, Johnny, Amanda, Marie, Evan, Imani, Eesha, Samantha, Jennette, Ciera, Marcus, FolaSade, and the rest of the Color Of Change team
References:?
Photo: Institute for Policy Studies.
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I'm writing to invite you to our California Relationship Building Trainings next week!
Jon,
?OR
Friday, August 28, 4:30-6:00pm PDT
RSVP Here
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Wednesday, August 26, 5:00-6:30pm PDT
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This year we're working to protect our community from the coronavirus, standing up to decision-makers that enable police brutality, and creating campaigns to make sure our community is not left behind in this "new normal". Black people have fundamentally changed the political landscape and no matter who is in office, we know that we are the answer for our families, our communities, and the nation.
This will be a space to celebrate our unique power and have meaningful discussions--but also a call to action.
It''s time to build our political power and organize our communities around the issues that matter most to Black folks. Can''t wait to have you join us!
Until justice is real,
Shannon, Kwesi, Corina, Destanie, Kaya, Bill, Charles, Scotty and the rest of the Color Of Change PAC team
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Paid Pol. Adv. paid for by ColorOfChange PAC, 1714 Franklin St., Oakland, CA 94612, independently of and not authorized or approved by any federal, state, or local candidate or candidate's committee.
ColorOfChange PAC is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Contributions to Color Of Change PAC are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes. This email was sent to @. If you''re absolutely sure you don''t want to hear from Color Of Change again, click here to unsubscribe.
Demand Attorney General Karl Racine take immediate action in stopping the spread of coronavirus in the local jail.
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April Goggans just started a petition?demanding the immediate release of the hundreds of people in DC Jail, Hope Village and Fairview Halfway Houses.
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Dear?Jon,? 230 and growing. That is the number of people currently quarantined inside D.C. jail after coming into contact with a correctional staff member who tested positive for COVID-19.? Public health officials have repeatedly warned that the only way to flatten the curve and to save countless lives is to immediately release incarcerated people. The D.C. Jail is no different. Most of the roughly 1,600 people trapped inside are awaiting trial and presumed innocent. Several are serving sentences for petty and other low-level offenses. Many have pre-existing medical conditions that make them particularly vulnerable to the virus, while others are elderly and frail. Today, each of them is facing the possibility of a death sentence.?? We don''t have much time left. The virus is spreading rapidly and could infect hundreds of people within days. Jon, will you sign this petition demanding D.C. officials to protect incarcerated people and the larger public from COVID-19? From the moment Mayor Bowser declared a public health emergency, defense lawyers have filed hundreds of motions in D.C. Superior Court demanding the release of their clients. Despite the flood of motions, D.C. Superior Court judges continue to operate business as usual. Rather than acknowledge the life or death circumstances at the D.C. Jail, judges are callously denying bond review motions and continuing to detain countless individuals. While the judges quickly shut down courtrooms to protect their own health and well-being, they have refused to show this same level of concern to the people whose lives hang in the balance inside of the D.C. Jail. With each ruling, the D.C. Superior Court judges are reinforcing a clear reality that Black and Brown people have long known: courthouses are a place where the lives of some are valued and the lives of others are not. But it is not only judges whose inaction risks the lives of everyone at the D.C. Jail. Attorney General Karl Racine has also made clear where he stands on the issue. Despite his claims of being a "progressive" prosecutor, Racine's actions show that he is nothing more than a politician who says one thing but does another. Attorney General Karl Racine proclaimed to the nation that "in [these] ever-challenging times, prosecutors must stand up for the human dignity and constitutional rights of those in custody who are too easily forgotten." Yet, for the roughly 1,600 people at the D.C. Jail where the virus has been spreading rapidly, Racine has done absolutely nothing. Racine''s clear inaction puts all of us in harm's way.?Why? Because jails are not closed environments. Hundreds of thousands of people, mostly correctional staff, cycle in and out of these places every day, guaranteeing the spread of COVID-19 beyond the facility to the larger public.? That is why we are calling on D.C. Attorney General Karl Racine, D.C. Superior Court Chief Judge Robert Morin, Presiding Judge of the Criminal Division Juliet McKenna & Deputy Presiding Judge of the Criminal Division Danya Dayson to IMMEDIATELY do the following in order to save lives:
Time is of the essence. And we must move quickly.?Tell D.C. officials to immediately release as many people as possible from incarceration to save lives and prevent the spread of this deadly virus. The people inside D.C. Jail are being held captive in conditions that amount to torture. Despite the spread of this highly contagious and deadly virus, the DOC is not providing proper medical care and ignoring the desperate cries for help from the sick.?The DOC has even gone as far as locking everyone in their cells, often with two people in the same cell, for 23 ? hours a day, in a misguided attempt to contain the virus. As if this was not horrific enough, the DOC has refused to provide hand sanitizer, basic cleaning products, or even adequate amounts of soap, so people can try their best to protect themselves from a virus that may kill them.? Conditions in the jail are so brutal that the union representing the correctional officers who work there are supporting the ACLU's lawsuit against their own employer, the DOC. According to the union's attorney, "The DOC management has created an unconscionable public health crisis, and almost certainly guaranteed and accelerated the rampant spread of COVID-19 within the DOC facilities and the communities in which the staff live." The people trapped at the D.C. Jail are watching and waiting helplessly for the day when their own bodies are ravaged by its symptoms. As the Attorney General for the District of Columbia, Racine's office represents the Department of Corrections in this suit. Right now, Racine has the opportunity to rise to the challenge and ensure that the DOC complies with his own public proclamations. Instead, Racine is exposing himself as an opportunistic and hypocritical politician.
The cowardice of D.C. Superior Court judges and the hypocrisy of Attorney General Karl Racine are no longer just ugly character flaws, they are obstacles endangering the lives of everyone held at the D.C. Jail. We will not forgive and history will not forget. Join us in demanding the immediate release of the hundreds of people trapped inside D.C jail. Yours in freedom,? -- April Goggans, Black Lives Matter DC |
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Join us and start your own petition on OrganizeFor today!
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Help keep our movement strong.
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Jon,
Last night, officials from Georgia Bureau of Investigation arrested Gregory and Travis McMichael for the cold-blooded murder of Ahmuad Arbery.1
In just one week, state officials did what local prosecutors failed to do for two months. Since February,?Ahmaud''s case was tossed from one DA''s office to the next in an attempt to hide the truth. In fact, according to the Glynn County Commissioner, District Attorney Jackie Johnson actually?stopped police officers from arresting the McMichaels.2?Because of this clear obstruction of justice?the McMichaels freely roamed the streets without any sort of repercussions while Ahmaud's family and community mourned the loss of their loved one.
The district attorneys who enabled, justified, and exonerated these killers must be held accountable. Both DA George Barnhill and Jackie Johnson?fundamentally violated the code of ethics that shape their profession. Black people in Georgia will never be safe as long as these prosecutors remain in office. It''s time for them to go.
Nearly 300,000 members have signed our petition calling for the immediate removal of DAs Barnhill and Johnson. Will you join our call for justice?
Until justice is real,
-- Scott and the rest of the Color of Change team
P.S. Read our original email below.
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Dear?Jon,?
Ahmaud Arbery, a 25-year-old Black man, was jogging near his neighborhood in Brunswick, GA when he was chased down, shot, and killed in cold blood.1?
His executioners were a father & son, Gregory and Travis McMichael, two white men, who told police they believed Ahmaud fit the profile of a suspect in a series of break-ins in the area.2?The entire thing was filmed by a third person, Bryan Williams.?But the truth is: Ahmaud's murder was an act of hatred and white supremacy.
Worst of all, the two DAs who''ve recused themselves, District Attorney Jackie Johnson and District Attorney George Barnhill, played a key role in a blatant cover-up and delays in justice for Ahmaud and his family.?DA Barnhill even defended Ahmaud's murderers by making the outrageous claim that Travis McMichael acted in self-defense and his actions fell within Georgia's citizen arrest laws.3
Instead of seeking justice, DA Johnson refused to bring charges against Ahmaud''s killers and DA Barnhill abused his authority to exonerate the McMichaels in the media.4 Police are quick to arrest and throw our people in cages, but when we are killed, it''s crickets for months from the legal system. For their complicity, both?District Attorney Gregory Barnhill and District Attorney Jackie Johnson must immediately resign.?
Sign the petition. Demand DA George Barnhill & DA Jackie Johnson resign immediately.
Glynn County law enforcement is doing everything it can to ensure the McMichaels get away with Ahmaud''s murder. Gregory McMichael is a retired police officer who worked with DA Barnhill''s son in District Attorney Jackie Johnson''s office.5?In the moments leading up to Ahmaud''s death,?the McMichaels stated they saw him stop by a house that was under construction and look through the window.6?But?you actually have to be observing a crime or be in the immediate knowledge of a crime for self-defense or citizen laws to be applicable.7?Ahmaud was not committing a crime, he was jogging. Any effort to use citizen's arrest or self-defense as an excuse for Ahmaud's murder is a weak attempt to cover-up this injustice.
What's clear is Gregory McMichael's former affiliation with the local DAs office is allowing him to escape accountability.?The McMichaels grabbed their shotgun and a pistol, chased Ahmaud in their truck, and when Ahmaud attempted to defend himself he was shot twice and killed. Nevertheless,?Ahmaud''s case has been tossed from one DA''s office to the next. Every step along the way the police have been quick to shift the blame away from the McMichaels.?Police even told Ahmaud's mother that her son was involved in a burglary and there was a confrontation between Ahmaud and the homeowner and a struggle over a gun.8?THESE ARE LIES.?Glynn County law enforcement has been quick to do nothing but ensure the McMichael's are not held for this atrocity.
White supremacy and corruption are running rampant in Glynn County-- and both DA Barnhill and DA Johnson are perpetuating it.?In his letter to the Glynn County police, Barnhill stated, "it appears {Travis and Gregory McMichael''s} intent was to stop and hold this criminal suspect until law enforcement arrived. Under Georgia law, it is perfectly legal."9?Barnhill also went on to falsely claim that Ahmaud was prone to violence and that there was no need for arrest.10?It is because of Barnhill''s suggestions to police that two months have gone by without an arrest or any form of accountability.?Now, Tom Durden of Liberty County has finally decided to bring the case to a grand jury -- which doesn''t convene until after June 2.11?And even he is doing his part to delay justice.?Durden could issue an arrest warrant right now on a complementary charge if he wanted to, he doesn''t need an indictment.12?Instead, he continues to protect the vigilantes'' rights to utilize their weapons and their power to end Black lives.?
DA Jackie Johnson is known for letting corrupt officers off the hook. During her first six years in office, she had at least 16 cases where she''s recused herself because of conflict of interest.13?In 2010 she protected an officer who later went on to murder his ex-wife and then himself.14?And earlier this year three former top officers and the police chief were indicted for ignoring evidence that an officer was working with drug dealers --? one was having sex with two confidential informants.15?The lack of police accountability in Glynn County has reached a fever pitch. Voters are even considering getting rid of the police department for good.16?And?this year Johnson is vulnerable because she is up for re-election.17?Elected leaders must take the necessary steps to ensure our people are protected and free to live without fear of violence and destruction.?That''s why now more than ever, both DA Barnhill and Johnson must feel the pressure from us to resign. They need to know we are on to them -- we won''t allow this corruption to continue in Glynn County.?
DA Barnhill and DA Johnson have got to go. Sign the petition.?
Every second Ahmaud's executioners evade accountability shows just how little Glynn County law enforcement cares about Black lives. Under no circumstance should it be acceptable for these men to roam the streets and relax in their homes while Ahmaud's family and community continue to mourn the premature loss of their son and loved one. Black communities?deserve protection -- not to be preyed upon and hunted down in the street.
The most painful part of this injustice has been the fact that Ahmaud''s murder took place almost eight years to the day after Trayvon Martin was slain by a racist vigilante. Time and time again, our communities face the highest rates of state-sanctioned violence -- whether it's mass incarceration, police killings, 'stop and frisk,' or the all too familiar rhetoric of broken windows policing. Ahmaud''s death is just another disturbing example of a violent society that marks Blackness as inherently dangerous -- where Black people are more likely to be seen as instigators rather than people in need of help in times of danger.
Demanding DA Barnhill and Johnson to resign is crucial to getting the justice Ahmaud deserves. Our leaders must stop treating Black lives as if we are disposable. We must stand up to this racist terror and that starts with holding local prosecutors accountable. Enough is enough. We are demanding justice for Ahmaud -- we refuse to lose any more of our loved ones to these reckless acts of violence.
Ahmaud deserves justice. Demand DA Barnhill & DA Johnson resign NOW.?
Until justice is real,?
--Scott, Rashad, Arisha, Clarise, Erika, Malachi, Marybeth, Madison, Leonard, Cheryl, and the rest of the Color of Change team
?References:
1. 2 Suspects charged with murder in Ahmaud Arbery shooting. New York Times. https://act.colorofchange.org/go/246407?t=8&akid=42347%2E4887299%2ED3sAWb?
2. County Commissioner claimed DA Johnson blocked arrest of McMichaels. Brunswick News.?https://act.colorofchange.org/go/246416?t=10&akid=42347%2E4887299%2ED3sAWb
3. "A Georgia man was chased and killed while jogging, his mother says." CNN. https://act.colorofchange.org/go/245948?t=12&akid=42347%2E4887299%2ED3sAWb
4. Ibid.
5. George E. Barnhill Letter to Glynn County Police Department. NYT.?https://act.colorofchange.org/go/245949?t=14&akid=42347%2E4887299%2ED3sAWb
6. #iRunwithMaud. Our Prism. https://act.colorofchange.org/go/245950?t=16&akid=42347%2E4887299%2ED3sAWb
7.?George E. Barnhill Letter to Glynn County Police Department. NYT.?https://act.colorofchange.org/go/245949?t=18&akid=42347%2E4887299%2ED3sAWb
8. "A Georgia man was chased and killed while jogging, his mother says." CNN. https://act.colorofchange.org/go/245948?t=20&akid=42347%2E4887299%2ED3sAWb
9. Ibid.
10. Ibid.
11.?George E. Barnhill Letter to Glynn County Police Department. NYT.?https://act.colorofchange.org/go/245949?t=22&akid=42347%2E4887299%2ED3sAWb
12. Ibid.
13. "Status of Liberty County Jury Trials." Liberty County Office of the Clerk of Courts. https://act.colorofchange.org/go/245954?t=24&akid=42347%2E4887299%2ED3sAWb
14.#iRunwithMaud. Our Prism. https://act.colorofchange.org/go/245950?t=26&akid=42347%2E4887299%2ED3sAWb
15. Ibid.
16. Ibid.
17. "Glynn County police chief, 3 ex-officers booked into jail." News 4 Jax.?https://act.colorofchange.org/go/245952?t=28&akid=42347%2E4887299%2ED3sAWb
18. "Legislation first step to abolishing county police department." The Brunswick News. https://act.colorofchange.org/go/245953?t=30&akid=42347%2E4887299%2ED3sAWb
19. #iRunwithMaud. Our Prism. https://act.colorofchange.org/go/245950?t=32&akid=42347%2E4887299%2ED3sAWb
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Help keep our movement strong.
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Support our critical work to limit the political power of police unions.
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Hey Jon,
We are in a critical point in our movement to reform policing across the country.
Millions of people are taking action to demand police accountability. Members like you,?Jon, are signing petitions, making phone calls, calling out public officials on social media and even risking your life in an unprecedented public health crisis by taking it to the streets and demanding justice. The public pressure is working. Yet, police unions continue to be a roadblock to reform.
In New York, elected officials passed legislation that would ban the use of chokeholds and make disciplinary records for police officers public information. Within days, local police unions filed multiple lawsuits, making the absurd argument that these reforms go too far.1 In the District of Columbia, the city council passed historic legislation that changes the disciplinary process for dangerous cops.?Weeks later, the local FOP announced a federal lawsuit,?challenging the constitutionality of the law and claiming that the statue unfairly targets police officers.2
At this point, we should not be surprised. These ridiculous lawsuits are nothing more than political stunts and a weak attempt to delegitimize our movement. Police unions are desperately trying to hold onto their power because we are in a unique position to actually?dismantle?the status quo.?Our work could drastically change the criminal justice system. Police unions feel their unchecked power slipping away, which is why they are launching these baseless attacks on reform.
And this is where you come in, Jon. Many people are unfamiliar with the role police unions play in blocking accountability and reform. For instance, police unions consistently advocate for bloated police budgets, fail to hold their officers accountable, push for militarized weapons in our communities, and aggressively push back against any mechanisms of accountability.
If we do not make an intervention then their political power will continue to grow unchecked. We have to limit the influence of police unions in our communities. And that starts with making sure our elected leaders reject political contributions from police unions and work to bring their influence to an end.
Here is how you can help.
Donate $5 a month
Donate $10 a month
Donate $15 a month
Donate $20 a month
Donate $50 a month
Police resistance to our work is a sign that we are winning-- and we cannot let police unions slow us down.?We must move full speed ahead.?
Become a monthly sustainer with Color Of Change PAC.
Until justice is real,
--Scott, Marybeth, Malachi and the rest of the Color of Change Pac Team
References:
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Ad paid for by ColorOfChange PAC, colorofchangepac.org. Not authorized by any federal, state, or local candidate or a committee controlled by a candidate. |
ColorOfChange PAC is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Contributions to Color Of Change PAC are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes. This email was sent to @. If you''re absolutely sure you don''t want to hear from Color Of Change again, click here to unsubscribe.
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Happy Juneteenth,?Jon! I'd like to share why it's vitally important to honor our ancestral fight for Black freedom.?
In your grade school classes, you were likely taught that enslaved Black people were granted freedom when President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863.1 Unfortunately, we were spoonfed an oversimplified revisionist history.
The truth is, President Lincoln intended to preserve the Union rather than abolish slavery in its entirety.2 The Emancipation Proclamation states "that all persons held as slaves" within the rebellious states "are, and henceforward shall be free."3 What this truly means is that slavery was fully intact among southern states and the promise of slavery abolition was dependent on a Civil War victory, which occurred in April 1865.?
Time and time again, the promise of our ancestors' freedom has been delayed, contingent, and deprioritized. It wasn't until June 19, 1865, when 2,000 Union troops arrived in Galveston Bay, Texas that emancipation became a truer reality. There, the army announced that over 250,000 Black enslaved people were granted freedom via executive decree.4?
Juneteenth commemorates the day when the last enslaved Black people in Texas were finally granted freedom according to law. Although slavery legally ended, uninhibited freedom still has not become a reality for all Black people in the United States. Our ancestors were taunted and lynched profusely by white supremacist individuals and organizations like the KKK during the Reconstruction era. Then Jim Crow laws turned Black people into second-class citizens through enforced racial segregation until 1965 with the passing of the Voting Rights Act. And today, we are experiencing police brutality, redlining, voter suppression, and mass incarceration simultaneously.
Our history is rife with injustice and we''ve got a ways to go before all Black people are free from systemic racism. But now more than ever, I encourage you to honor and celebrate the legacy of Black resilience and freedom by making sure you and your community members are registered to vote.
I cannot promise that voting will immediately solve inequities Black people experience every day in this country. But it is one of the best ways we can use our voices to elect leaders that are accountable to Black communities and understand that we need change now.
We are our ancestors' wildest dreams. Let's take that dream even further and envision a world where all Black lives not only matter, but are cherished and protected equally.??
CONFIRM YOUR VOTER REGISTRATION
REGISTER 5 OF YOUR FRIENDS NOW
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Until justice is real,?
Jenni, Drew, Charles, Cristel, Tammi, Alex, Scotty, Daniel and the Color Of Change PAC team
References:? 1. https://act.colorofchange.org/go/252605?t=9&akid=43657%2E4887299%2EoGDdG1)%20passed%20Congress. 2.?https://act.colorofchange.org/go/252606?t=11&akid=43657%2E4887299%2EoGDdG1 3.?https://act.colorofchange.org/go/252607?t=13&akid=43657%2E4887299%2EoGDdG1 4.?https://act.colorofchange.org/go/252608?t=15&akid=43657%2E4887299%2EoGDdG1
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Paid Pol. Adv. paid for by ColorOfChange PAC, 1714 Franklin St., Oakland, CA 94612, independently of and not authorized or approved by any federal, state, or local candidate or candidate's committee.
ColorOfChange PAC is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Contributions to Color Of Change PAC are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes. This email was sent to yellow71486@. If you''re absolutely sure you don''t want to hear from Color Of Change again, click here to unsubscribe.
The Post Office is going bankrupt because the government refuses to fund it
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The government continues to cut funding to the Post Office,?which may cause it to disappear.? ?
Write to your Congress member demanding they protect the Post Office.?? TAKE ACTION |
The post office may disappear in the coming months. The United States Postal Service (USPS) may not be here when we need them most. From ordering essential supplies during this pandemic, to getting counted in the 2020 census, to casting our votes by mail in the upcoming election, we need the Post Office more than over. But because of a Republican, Congressional mandate that the postal service fund itself off revenue - a stipulation of no other government agency - the postal service is running at a deficit and is desperately in need of funding. In the middle of an election and census year, as people struggle to find work, and obtain basic supplies, not having the Post Office could cause devastating impacts. But Congress has the power to step in and save it.?
WRITE A LETTER to Congress and tell them to save the United States Postal Service.
The Post Office's history is an activist one: not only did it employ Black workers throughout the 20th Century, it empowered Black workers to organize, supported Black and small-owned businesses, fought for civil rights, and began to establish a Black middle class.1 It was the country's first savings bank and an early response to food insecurity.2 In fact, the Post Office has been a crucial step towards the financial stability and upward mobility of Black people for more than a century. This is particularly true for Black women, for whom employment in post office positions provided "refuge from the highly unfavorable conditions that confronted them in the private sector."3 To this day, more than 20% of Post Office workers are Black, and the Post Office continues to provide stable employment and a decent standard of living for Black people.?
Despite the positive impacts the Post Office has on the Black community, some in the government do not want to fund this essential service, despite it being a self-funded entity. The post office is not in trouble due to increasing forms of other communication, such as texting and email; but because a Repbulican-led Congress mandated that the post office set aside $5 billion a year over ten years. The effect was almost immediate as the post office went from recording a net income of $900 million to a loss of $3.8 billion. Not nearly enough sold stamps could match that, now leaving thousands of jobs, families into a state of struggle, while throwing safety and election security into jeopardy. We cannot let this happen - during the coronavirus pandemic or otherwise.
WRITE A LETTER to your Congress member and tell them why they must protect the Post Office.?
In addition to the ways the Post Office has empowered Black people, it has provided reliable and affordable shipping methods. If we lose the Post Office, people all across the country will lose a necessary, budget-friendly means of transporting essential goods. We will also lose out on all the services the Post Office could provide: secure, vote-by-mail services for the upcoming election; food delivery services for those who need meals; and financial services that could replace payday loan centers in low-income communities. For these reasons, it is imperative that Congress protect the Post Office. WRITE A LETTER to your Congress member NOW demanding they save the United States Postal Service.
Until justice is real,?
-Brandi, Rashad, Arisha, Jade, Johnny, Amanda, Marie, Evan, Imani, Eesha, Samantha, Jennette, Ciera, Marcus, FolaSade, and the rest of the Color Of Change team
?References:
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Please help keep our movement strong.
Make a Donation
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Hey?Jon,
It's Arisha, President of Color Of Change PAC. My thoughts are with you and your loved ones as we live through this very difficult time.?
I'm going to be transparent here: the coronavirus pandemic has made it far more difficult to mobilize Black folks to vote in crucial elections this year. Dozens of our on-the-ground voter engagement events have been completely canceled to keep our field organizers and members safe. We no longer can knock on our neighbors' doors, host block parties, host Black joy brunches, and keep our local offices open.
On top of all of this, Black folks are experiencing the brunt of coronavirus. We are dying at disproportionate rates in this country. Tens of millions of us are now unemployed and at risk of not being able to pay for basic necessities. We are experiencing harassment for wearing face masks in public. And we are being disproportionately arrested for violating police-enforced social distancing orders. I am tired of elected officials across the country continuing to fail Black folks without accountability. Enough is enough.
It's time we take our power back and elect officials who are committed to protecting Black people during this pandemic. Since we cannot mobilize for Black political power outside, we are now ramping up our efforts online. Doing so takes a lot of time, effort, and most importantly -- money. We are going to be hiring staff to work from home, hosting fun virtual events with Black folks across the country, and educating them about what is at stake.?
It is very difficult for us to ask you for money right now,?Jon. We at Color Of Change PAC know that many people need to prioritize feeding and housing not only themselves but their families.
If you are financially able, please donate whatever you can to our brand new Covid-19 Black voter outreach program. With your generous donation, we will have the resources necessary to virtually reach as many Black voters as possible online before November.
Thank you for reading this email,?Jon. We appreciate your membership and commitment to making this country a better place for Black people. Choose which donation amount feels right for you:?
Donate $5
Donate $10
Donate $25
Donate $50
Donate $100
Until justice is real,
Arisha, Jenni, Drew, Charles, Tammi, Cristel, Alex, Scotty,?Daniel, and the Color Of Change PAC team
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Paid Pol. Adv. paid for by ColorOfChange PAC, 1714 Franklin St., Oakland, CA 94612, independently of and not authorized or approved by any federal, state, or local candidate or candidate's committee.
ColorOfChange PAC is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Contributions to Color Of Change PAC are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes. This email was sent to @. If you''re absolutely sure you don''t want to hear from Color Of Change again, click here to unsubscribe.
While local elected officials must approve public police budgets, police foundations exist as a backchannel to funnel private money and resources toward law enforcement.
Police foundations give cops surveillance tech, SWAT team equipment, and military weapons that are used to terrorize Black people. ?? Tell Coca-Cola, Starbucks, Target, and Wells Fargo: Divest from police foundations now. Stand with us?
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"Defund the police." It's become a trending hashtag, a protest sign, a political talking point, and a call to action. Jon, we want to take a moment to break "defund" down - and address the many ways police receive funding.
Defunding the police means investing in communities. It means shifting funds away from systems that disproportionately harm Black people and instead investing in what keeps us safe, healthy, and housed.?
To make those investments happen, activists across the country have called on local elected officials to cut police departments' massive public budgets. But police departments have a secret weapon to secure extra funding outside of bloated budgets and public oversight: police foundations.?
Police foundations are private, non-profit organizations that funnel dark money - from some of the wealthiest people and largest corporations - toward law enforcement.?
Police foundations use that cash to help cops acquire surveillance tech, military weapons, SWAT team equipment, and other tools that are used to terrorize Black people. And these foundations are funded by some of the largest, most well-known corporations in the world.1?
If we want to hold police departments accountable, we have to hold their corporate sponsors accountable, too. Join us to demand corporations like Coca-Cola, Wells Fargo, Starbucks, and Target divest from police foundations immediately.
Here's why holding these corporations accountable is so critical, Jon: While police budgets are public documents that must be approved by local elected officials, police foundations exist as a backchannel to enable the militarization and expansion of policing.
From coast to coast, police foundations are often the testing ground for controversial software and equipment before a city makes a formal purchase:
And police foundations aren't just in major cities, Jon. They're everywhere. More than 200 police foundations across the U.S. allow corporations - including Verizon, Walmart, Starbucks, Amazon, Bank of America, Target, Coca-Cola, Delta Airlines, Chevron, Wells Fargo, Waffle House, and many more7 - to contribute to police departments outside of public funds.
Color Of Change is committed to holding these corporations accountable. We demand that they immediately divest from the police foundations that have helped militarize the police and put our communities in danger.
No corporation should be in the business of policing, and not one dime of private money should be used to prop up police departments that endanger Black lives. Jon, add your name now: Call on corporations to immediately divest from police foundations.?
We can't defund overmilitarized police departments if they are being propped up by corporations. Now more than ever, we need to invest in our communities, not policing.?
We have the power to hold police foundations and their corporate donors accountable to make that vision real. And together, with your help, we will.?
Demand corporations divest from police foundations now.
Until justice is real,
Scott, Rashad, Arisha, Erika, Malachi, Leonard, Marybeth, Ernie, Madison, McKayla and the rest of the Color Of Change team
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References:
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Please help keep our movement strong.
Make a Donation
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Dear?Jon,?
WRITE A LETTER to ventilator manufacturers to demand they allow hospitals to fix broken ventilators!
Ventilator manufacturers Vyaire Medical, GE Healthcare, Medtronic, Hamilton Medical, and the group that lobbies for them, AdvaMed, still haven't taken responsibility for their role in hospitals'' inability to fix broken ventilators.1 Meanwhile, the COVID-19 (coronavirus) health pandemic has only become more deadly for Black people.?
Our communities are dying from complications due to coronavirus at disproportionately high rates.2 Ventilators are a key medical intervention that can help keep Black people breathing long enough to fight the virus. Without increased access to ventilators, our friends, grandparents, children, and spouses will continue to suffer.?
It's time for ventilator companies to step in to help Black, disabled, and low-income communities get the medical care they need to survive.?WRITE A LETTER to ventilator manufacturers and tell them to let hospitals fix ventilators.??
But the problem isn't just that ventilators are in short supply. The current ventilator shortage, and its impacts on Black communities, replicates and magnifies long-existing racial disparities in medical care.3 4 We are routinely denied access to healthcare, no matter how deadly our symptoms or how severe our pain.5 6 Those of us who are Black and disabled are so thoroughly ignored that we face constant challenges while trying to receive the healthcare we need to live.7 The coronavirus is no exception. Michigan mother Deborah Gatewood, for example, passed away in April after seeking treatment for coronavirus symptoms at the hospital where she worked for 31 years. She visited that same hospital four times before she died and was denied care each time. When her daughter took her to a different hospital, it was too late. She was unresponsive, she had developed bilateral pneumonia, and her kidneys failed shortly after.8?
Deborah's story is not an unfortunate mistake; it reflects a pattern of racism in medical care that plays into who will and will not receive a ventilator when needed. Due to the persistent shortage, ventilators are being rationed in large part by patients' likelihood of survival.9 10 This means that our family and friends being treated for coronavirus may not receive a ventilator, or may be forced to share a ventilator, because our "chances of survival" are diminished by disabilities or pre-existing conditions like asthma, heart disease, and diabetes.11 12 In this world, a world in which we cannot count on our federal government to purchase additional life-saving ventilators, and Black people will keep dying daily because of this, we need companies-like ventilator manufacturers-to step in.13?
WRITE A LETTER to ventilator manufacturers to demand they step up and help save as many lives as possible.
Until justice is real,?
-Brandi, Rashad, Arisha, Jade, Johnny, Amanda, Evan, Imani, Eesha, Samantha, Jennette, Ciera, Marcus, FolaSade, and the rest of the Color Of Change team
References:?
Image: Karen Moskowitz, Getty Images via The New York Times
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Jon -- Following weeks of national protests calling for police reform, political leaders in Washington are finally taking steps to address the crisis of policing. Last week, Trump signed an executive order that he claims addresses the problem of police violence.1 However, the executive order does not do much to actually hold police accountable. Instead, the President has given us disingenuous band-aid solutions that do not even address his own administration''s moves to undermine police accountability.?
Senate Republicans also announced a legislative package called the "Justice Act on Policing" that would do nothing but maintain the status quo -- they are determined to make police reform almost meaningless as they do the bidding of police officers. To make matters worse, Senate Majority leader Mitch McConnell has been pressuring Senate Democrats to team up with Republicans and approve this watered-down and piecemeal police reform.2
This is why I need your help, Jon.?Senate Democrats must oppose this bill and commit to ending the transfer of federal money as well as military equipment to local police completely. Our communities need resources, not more police.?
For years, public officials have been significantly underfunding the social safety net in Black and brown communities resulting in mass unemployment, homelessness, and mental health crises as well as poor quality education for our children. Yet, police budgets have only ballooned over the years. More importantly, police are not trained to deal with these societal issues with compassion or care but rather encouraged to use lethal force. Overinvestment in police and underinvestment in public services lead to more criminalization of Black and Brown communities.?
Simply put, we cannot keep doing this. Police do not keep our communities safe, they are dangerous and have demonstrated over and over again an unwillingness to be held accountable. We have to try new strategies that will cultivate stability and foster trust in our communities. And it starts with reducing federal funding to police. Our lives literally depend on it.??
Sign the petition: Demand Congress invests in our communities instead of policing.?
The federal government provides hundreds of millions of dollars in grants and military-style equipment to local police every year. We''ve just seen police all over the country responding to peaceful protests with violent military equipment and tactics. Anything short of ending the militarization of police completely is not good enough.
The federal government has also given billions of dollars to police around the country. This year alone, the Department of Justice awarded over $400 million dollars to local police departments for hiring, and training purposes. DOJ also administers federal grants through the Edward Byrne Memorial Assistance program, totaling $264 million for the 2019 fiscal year. And the Department of Homeland Security doles out $1.8 billion to cities for emergency preparedness but requires 25 percent of that funding to go to law enforcement. Quite literally, we have a system that uses billions of public dollars to pay police officers to target, harass, arrest, and kill Black people and brown people with impunity.?
Thankfully, cities across the country, are beginning to see the contradiction of investing millions of dollars into violent policing while also slashing funding for resources that actually keep our communities stable and safe like affordable housing, jobs, accessible healthcare, and quality education. In Los Angeles, Mayor Eric Garcetti publicly committed to moving $150 million from the LAPD budget and to jobs for young people, health initiatives, and community centers dedicated to healing emotional and mental trauma. In Portland, city officials are planning to cut $15 million from the police budget. Most notably, in New York, city officials announced a plan that would cut New York police''s budget by $1 billion dollars, effectively shrinking the NYPD budget by nearly 20 percent. It''s time for Congress to follow suit and do their part on a national level.
But Jon, we don''t'' have much time left. The Senate votes on this bill on Wednesday. We must act quickly.
Tell Congress: We must full speed ahead on TRUE reform. Black and brown communities cannot afford to go back to ineffective and old methods.
Five years ago, at the height of the Black Lives Matter movement, our communities were desperate for change and politicians offered minor changes that we supposed to keep us safe -- from body cameras to implicit bias training. Now our movement is much smarter and much more politically mature. We understand that in order to really create change, we must get at the root of a problem. And we must be courageous. To be quite frank, there is absolutely nothing courageous about giving more money to the police -- the very opposite is needed.
Jon, we have to be honest. For decades, our communities have tried all types of reform with the promise of finally ending police violence but none of them have worked.?The mandate is clear: we must reduce the size and scope of policing in this country and reinvest in our communities.?
Demand Congress to completely overhaul policing in this country.
Until justice is real,?
-- Scott, Rashad, Arisha, Erika, Malachi, Marybeth, Leonard, Madison, Ernie, McKayla and the rest of the Color Of Change team
References:
ColorOfChange is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Help keep our movement strong.
If you''re absolutely sure you don''t want to hear from ColorOfChange again, click here to unsubscribe.Join our call for free prison and jail phone calls.
Families are struggling to connect with their incarcerated loved ones.?? Demand Congress lower the rate of jail and prison calls. Take Action?
Jon,
The coronavirus pandemic has revealed just how fragile and inequitable our systems are, from our healthcare system to the economy, and even our sworn elected leaders. Now more than ever, people are recognizing the critical need for strong communities and staying in touch with their loved ones.
But unfortunately, not everyone has the ability to even pick up the phone to call or text to check-in on their parents or grandparents during this trying time. And for incarcerated people, the barriers to remaining connected are even worse. Every prison and jail has suspended in-person visits, and are forcing families to pay exorbitant rates for phone and video calls to ensure their incarcerated loved ones are safe.
Prison telecom corporations charge families as much as $25 for a 15-minute phone call. That's out of reach for many families under normal circumstances, but nearly impossible during today's pandemic, especially for Black families who've been particularly hit hard. Black people are disproportionately affected by the mass layoffs and because of systemic health inequities, are at a higher risk of contracting and dying from the virus. Our communities should not have the added stress of trying to make ends meet to afford to connect with a loved one behind bars.?
Passed by the House of Representatives, the Senate is now considering?a provision that would set interim rate caps at 4 and 5 cents per minute, bar government agencies from profiting off phone calls, and restore the Federal Communications Commission's authority to regulate all prison and jail calls. Families need to remain connected and this bill would help get us there, but we need to push Congress to act now!
Sign the petition calling on the Senate to pass The Martha Wright Reed Bill to lower the rate of jail and prison phone calls.
The $1.2 billion prison telecom industry exploits vulnerable populations who are simply trying to connect with their loved ones. At a time when families need it the most, corporations like Securus, have done little if anything to keep families connected. And our elected leaders are failing to step in. In some jails and prisons, they don''t even have access to a phone to make a call. And though federally incarcerated people received free phone calls1 for the duration of the pandemic, this is far from enough for the millions of other incarcerated people at local and state facilities.
COVID-19 is deadly and is changing by the minute and for incarcerated people, many who are immuno-compromised and high risk, a missed call can mean that they'll never speak to their loved ones again.
We need your help to demand that our elected officials lower the rate of jail and prison calls, now and forever.
Families and children of incarcerated people have taken to social media over the past few days to demand access to free prison and jail communication. And the public response has been overwhelmingly positive. We need to keep up the pressure on our elected leaders to guarantee our incarcerated loved ones remain connected.
Your action today can stop the cruel separation of families and instead connect them. Everyone deserves to know their loved ones are safe.
Until justice is real,
Scott, Rashad, Arisha, Erika, Malachi, Leonard, Marybeth, Madison, Ernie, McKayla and the rest of the Color Of Change team?
References:
1. "Federal prisons make inmate calling, video visits free during pandemic." Politico.?https://act.colorofchange.org/go/255764?t=8&akid=44138%2E5670730%2E9i5WF3
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Please help keep our movement strong.
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Once again, huge tech corporations have chosen to silence Black voices while amplifying white nationalists.
Hey?Jon,
This week, Google, Verizon, and Hulu refused to run our video ad?with Priorities USA calling out Trump for sanctioning police and military violence against protestors.
Trump used similar imagery in a similar ad demonizing protestors and has not been censored.?
Once again, huge tech corporations have chosen to silence Black voices while amplifying white nationalists. This is exactly why Black-led digital ads programs like ours are needed to combat this hateful messaging and make sure voters hear the truth.
Jon, we're not going to let big tech corporations silence us, but we need people like you to stand with us. Here's how you can take action:
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Let's be honest: many Americans are disillusioned with our political system right now.
We're in the midst of a pandemic that has disproportionately killed Black and brown people due to the government's failure to provide adequate medical care. Minimal government financial support has pressured low-income people to risk their lives to return to work despite the ongoing pandemic. And police violence against Black people and protestors continues, egged on by our president.
This is exactly why we need to reach Black voters as soon as possible.
We need to show people that we understand their struggles, and help them see why even if we are disillusioned, we must vote to get rid of politicians that intensify the harms of white supremacy, and elect leaders that will work to ensure our safety and protect our rights. Voting is not the only tactic we need, but it is one way to build the power we need to move towards liberation.
Big tech companies are attempting to silence us, but we won't back down. We're going to run ads inspiring Black voters and exposing the truth about Trump all the way through November 4th.?Join us and donate in these last 100 days until Election Day!
Until justice is real,
Arisha, Jenni, Drew, Charles, Tammi, Cristel, Daniel, Alex, Scotty and the Color Of Change PAC team
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Paid Pol. Adv. paid for by ColorOfChange PAC, 1714 Franklin St., Oakland, CA 94612, independently of and not authorized or approved by any federal, state, or local candidate or candidate's committee.
ColorOfChange PAC is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Contributions to Color Of Change PAC are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes. This email was sent to yellow71486@. If you''re absolutely sure you don''t want to hear from Color Of Change again, click here to unsubscribe.
In the LAPD's Metropolitan Division, police officers falsified records, misidentified Los Angelenos as gang members and presented false evidence to prosecutors. Over 750 people will have the once-in-a-lifetime chance to clear their names.
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Jon,
The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) has been caught lying AGAIN.
In the LAPD's Metropolitan Division, police officers falsified records, misidentified Los Angelenos as gang members and presented false evidence to prosecutors --- all of which may have resulted in the wrongful arrest, conviction, and incarceration of hundreds of Black and brown people in the County.1
Despite this new development, District Attorney Jackie Lacey refuses to reopen every single case handled by LAPD's Metropolitan Division. At a recent press conference, DA Lacey announced that her office would do an initial review and would intervene if the officer's statement was the sole piece of evidence.2 She goes on to express her disappointment with the officers'' actions as well as her concern that the public will view the criminal justice system in a negative light.
Don''t be fooled, Jon. DA Lacey is just shifting blame and refusing to acknowledge the significant role her office played in upending the lives of hundreds of Black and brown people. DA Lacey holds the primary responsibility of checking the veracity of criminal allegations. Yet, she failed to do so. Instead, she treated the words of cops as the infallible truth.
DA Lacey's lack of oversight placed Black and brown people in cages and ruined their chance at a normal life. Hundreds of Black and brown people have been convicted, locked up in cages, and are suffering the collateral consequences of having a criminal record. Many who were coerced to take a bad plea deal in the first place, now have restricted access to jobs, housing, proper childcare, and no hope of upward mobility. Quite frankly, reopening all of these cases is the very least her office can do.
DA Lacey has an ethical obligation to address this police misconduct and blatant abuse of power. Yet, she continues to drag her feet, proving once again she lacks the moral clarity needed to hold corrupt police officers accountable.
Here is where you come in, Jon. DA Lacey needs to hear directly from you. She needs to know that the community members are closely watching her office and will not tolerate any attempt to protect police officers who knowingly inflict harm on our communities.
Sign the petition: Demand DA Jackie Lacey reopens ALL cases handled by LAPD's Metropolitan division.
The Metropolitan Division is a police unit tasked with surveillance of crime "hotspots" in the community. LAPD officials claim the division is needed in order to monitor spikes in crime and keep community members safe from violent activity. But here is the truth: LAPD police officers repeatedly lied to justify their racial intimidation, profiling, and harassment of Black and brown people on an everyday basis. Several of the individuals falsely accused by the LAPD are sitting in a cage at this very moment.
This is not the first time that DA Lacey has chosen the police over the people of Los Angeles. In her seven years as lead prosecutor for LA County, DA Lacey has not prosecuted a single officer for a fatal shooting.3 Worst of all, DA Lacey places the final responsibility of correcting this most recent injustice on defense attorneys including public defenders who are already overworked, underpaid, and lack the resources to properly represent their clients. The District Attorney's office already receives SIX times the amount of money the Office of the Public Defender receives on a yearly basis. Now she wants to make some of our least supported community advocates work to reverse past convictions. It is outrageous and unconscionable.
Over 750 people will have the once-in-a-lifetime chance to clear their names of any wrongdoing. Therefore, it is absolutely critical for district attorneys like Jackie Lacey to intervene in this clear case of police misconduct.
The people of Los Angeles deserve better. Sign this petition demanding DA Lacey throw out ALL cases recommended by the LAPD's corrupt police unit.
It is no secret that law enforcement will go to extraordinary lengths to harm Black people. Police officers have a sworn duty to protect and serve, but time and time again, police will violate people's rights, tamper with evidence or testimony, take part in corruption or commit violence and harassment against Black communities. Simply put, the police cannot police themselves.
That is why prosecutors all across the country are starting conviction review units. In Cook County, State's Attorney's Kim Foxx investigated hundreds of cases of misconduct, resulting in nearly 40 incarcerated people reuniting with their families. State's Attorney Marilyn Mosby created a list of untrustworthy Baltimore police officers and worked extensively to wipe out 790 convictions. It''s time for District Attorney Jackie Lacey to follow the lead of reform-minded prosecutors.
Tell District Attorney Jackie Lacey: Do the right thing. Reopen LAPD's cases NOW.
Until justice is real,
--Scott, Rashad, Arisha, Erika, Malachi, Marybeth, Ernie, Leonard, Madison, McKayla and the rest of the Color Of Change team
References:
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Please help keep our movement strong.
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White nationalist groups are using Facebook to mobilize.?
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White nationalist groups are using Facebook to mobilize.? ??
Tell Facebook to ban white nationalist hate groups and stop fueling white nationalism.? TAKE ACTION |
A white nationalist just murdered two protesters demanding justice for Jacob Blake in Kenosha.
While demanding justice for Jacob Blake, the 29-year-old Black man who police recently shot in the back 7 times, paralyzing him from the waist down, an emboldened white nationalist militia member opened fire on protestors, shooting and killing two of them, and wounding a third.1 This white nationalist man was encouraged and emboldened to carry out such violence through a network of Facebook groups in which white nationalists openly discussed how they planned to violently harm protesters, with no intervention from Facebook until after the protesters were killed.2?Even worse, Facebook knew about the group and their calls to violence before the shooting happened and chose not to act.3
Sadly, this isn't the first time white nationalist groups have mobilized on the platform to carry out real-world violence. Facebook promised to ban hate groups after it was used to organize 2018's deadly "Unite the Right" riot. And just last week, they promised to ban far-right militias as threats increased, but white nationalists were still able to use Facebook to organize to harm protesters last night.?
We cannot allow this to continue. Tell Facebook to stop fueling white nationalist hate groups.?
Color Of Change has spent five years now trying to get Facebook to combat hate on the platform, and while we've won important changes to limit the impact of online hate, Facebook still refuses to fully reckon with the ways their company elevates white nationalists and other hate groups. Facebook, for example, automatically recommends hate group pages and content to those who use the platform, indoctrinating people in white nationalist ideologies. In some cases, Facebook will even automatically create pages for new hate groups.4?
Facebook must IMMEDIATELY ban white nationalist hate groups from organizing on their platform.?
Black people are facing undue suppression, harassment, and hate on Facebook. We can't afford for Facebook to keep radicalizing white nationalists, who, through their interactions on Facebook, are driving real-world violence against protesters. White nationalist violence against us must end, and it's Facebook's job to step in and stop it.?
Tell Facebook to stop fueling white nationalist organizing, once and for all.
Until justice is real,?
-Jade, Arisha, Rashad, Johnny, Amanda, Marie, Evan, Imani, Eesha, Gabrielle, Samantha, Jennette, Ciera, Marcus, FolaSade, and the rest of the Color Of Change team
References:
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Please help keep our movement strong.
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A quick review of what we will accomplish together ahead of Nov. 3
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Hey?Jon,
In the past 2 weeks we've seen all 50 U.S. states plus 18 countries participate in protests against police brutality after the murder of George Floyd. Time and time again we've watched people channel their outrage of the senseless killings of unarmed Black folks to the streets. And time and time again, the outrage is followed by disappointment in a racist, broken criminal system led by prosecutors that place no accountability on the killers.
At Color Of Change PAC we realized one solution to the unjust criminal system was voting out these district attorneys and other elected officials who continue to fail us.? These elected officials hold so much power yet their elections often go unnoticed.?
District Attorneys have the power to decide who gets charged with crimes and who doesn''t, whether police are held accountable for harming and killing people, whether cash bail keeps poor people locked up, and so much more.
Since 2016, Color Of Change PAC has worked to educate and engage hundreds of thousands of Black voters in dozens of races through digital ads, direct mail, radio ads and in-person events. Most recently, my team has been tracking voter disinformation ahead of the primaries like today''s in Georgia and West Virginia--to make sure Black folks are not being discouraged from casting their ballots.
Jon,?District Attorneys are the most powerful single actors in the criminal justice system and less than 150 days stand between us and the elections that will decide who holds these titles. If you're in a place to give, please support Color Of Change PAC with a donation of any amount today to enable us to:?
Donate $1.50
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Donate $150
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If we win in less than 150 days,? we can elect leaders that are accountable to Black communities and understand that we need change. Now is the time to turn our collective pain from this moment into Black political power.?
Thank you for all of your support.
Until justice is real,
Arisha, Jenni, Drew, Charles, Tammi, Cristel, Alex, Scotty, Daniel, and the Color Of Change PAC team
We need your help fighting back against attempts to discourage Black voters from casting their ballots.?Please help us report and hold accountable those who are trying to keep us from voting.
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Paid Pol. Adv. paid for by ColorOfChange PAC, 1714 Franklin St., Oakland, CA 94612, independently of and not authorized or approved by any federal, state, or local candidate or candidate's committee.
ColorOfChange PAC is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Contributions to Color Of Change PAC are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes. This email was sent to @. If you''re absolutely sure you don''t want to hear from Color Of Change again, click here to unsubscribe.
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Jon,
Mass incarceration is now more than ever a massive public health crisis--and officials must act NOW to save lives.1 Coronavirus has already started to make its way into jails, prisons, and immigrant detention centers. The first incarcerated person to test positive for Coronavirus is in Long Island's county jail and hasn't been released to medical care. And now a second incarcerated person has contracted the virus on Rikers Island.2,3
Here's why that's terrifying: jails, prisons, and immigrant detention centers are sites of overcrowding, poor sanitation, and pest infestations, all of which make these cages incubators for disease. Incarcerated people are packed into close quarters and forced to share spaces such as bathrooms and showers. And worst of all, our folks are not given the basic necessities like soap, hand sanitizer, and other medical supplies.?So how could we expect these places to care for them during a global pandemic? Not to mention, hundreds of thousands of people, mostly correctional staff, cycle in and out of these places every day, guaranteeing the spread of COVID-19 beyond the facility to the larger public. With 2.3 million people in the United States in prison or jail on any given day, an outbreak in these facilities poses a threat to the entire country.
Public officials have DAYS, not weeks, to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Releasing as many people as possible from cages and stopping the flow of people into them is the best way to do it. That is why Color Of Change came together with over 60 organizations representing directly impacted people, advocates, and legal experts to develop a platform that outlines several ways public and private actors can save lives before it's too late. We need your help to apply pressure and force officials to take a proactive approach. Jon, will you sign onto the platform?
The worst place for anyone to be during a global pandemic is inside of a jail, prison, or detention center. Before an outbreak occurs, as many people as possible need to be released from prisons, jails, and detention centers. People who test positive for COVID-19 should be immediately released to a medical care facility, away from the rest of the incarcerated population--not held within the prison, jail, or detention center. The people who remain confined need access to adequate medical care and prevention supplies free of charge, to be able to contact their loved ones.
Disregard for the humanity of incarcerated people, not common sense, is driving officials to prioritize punishment over the country's well being. In response to this crisis, many officials are putting facilities on lockdown, sending sick individuals to solitary confinement and trying to quarantine folks inside jails.
It does not have to be this way. Some officials are starting to respond to the demands of the people and are taking action to not only protect our public health but to protect the fundamental rights of those incarcerated as well. Los Angeles' Sheriff announced they have already released 600 people from the county jail and officials in Cleveland plan to release hundreds of people awaiting trial as a way to combat the virus. In Philadelphia, the police department has been instructed to stop arrests of low-level offenses to slow the flow of people into jails. These are all small steps in the right direction.6,7 Right now, we have the opportunity to come together and force public officials from local municipalities all the way to the federal government to understand the urgency of the moment and make immediate changes to better respond to this emergency.
It is in these moments that we clearly see why we must keep working towards a future without mass incarceration. Incarcerated people deserve our care, dignity, and respect. They are our sisters, brothers, mothers, and fathers. And we reject any hard line that separates us from our loved ones inside cages. We are one community. We will push and work hard every single day towards a world where our collective impulse is not to punish but to support and protect each other. No human being should be condemned to preventable illness and possible death. If there was ever a time that clearly makes plain the injustice of putting humans in cages, it is now.
Take action: I will not leave any of my people behind. My community needs a just and humane response to the coronavirus outbreak NOW.
Until justice is real,
--Clarise, Rashad, Arisha, Scott, Erika, Malachi, Marybeth, Leonard, Madison, and the rest of the Color Of Change team
References:
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Help keep our movement strong.
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Dear?Jon,?
Rayshard Brooks, a 27-year-old Black man, was murdered by Atlanta police this past Friday.?
Rayshard was unarmed and asleep in his own car in a Wendy's drive-thru when police arrived to interrogate him. After insisting Rayshard take a breathalyzer exam, police attempted to arrest him and say that because he struggled during the arrest and attempted to take possession of the taser he was shot twice in the back. Those gunshot wounds killed Rayshard after surgery.1?
Rayshard would still be alive today?if a tow truck had been called instead of the police, if family members were called to pick him up, or even if he was simply allowed to walk home. There are a number of non-police alternatives that could have been used at that moment. Yet,?Rayshard is another young Black man whose life has been stolen at the hands of police violence.?
Shortly after news of Rayshard's murder broke, Atlanta Police Chief Erika Shields stepped down and the two officers responsible for Rayshard''s murder have been fired and place on administrative leave subsequently.2 It is not enough. Public officials have an ethical obligation to reign in killer cops and make substantive changes that will deter an inherently dangerous police force from killing Black people. We must demand more.
That's why we are calling on Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard to immediately file charges against the two officers who murdered Rayshard Brooks. Officer Garrett Role and Devin Brosnan must be held accountable to the communities from which Rayshard's life was taken-- a simple slap on the wrist is not going to cut it. These officers should not be free to roam the streets while Rayshard''s family and community are left to mourn without justice.?
Sign the petition. Tell DA Paul Howard to file charges against the officers who murdered Rayshard Brooks.
Policing is a violent institution that will never keep us safe.?Time and time again we've seen the inability of the police to intervene in Black communities without engaging in lethal or excessive force. As of this moment, Officer Devin Brosnan has been placed on administrative leave, which means he hasn't even been fired for taking Rayshard's life.3 Earlier this week, DA Paul Howard released a statement saying, "[Rayshard] did not seem to present any threat to anyone. The fact that it would escalate to his death seems unreasonable."?4 But the truth is this: we are not even shocked or surprised by the violent action that was taken by the officers at the scene. Police officers seldom face criminal charges or accountability for their criminal behavior.?
Our people need investment in things that keep us safe. That starts with envisioning a society that functions for all of us. We must take real steps toward the dismantling of systems that unjustly harm Black people. And this is not an issue we can afford for our elected officials to continue ignoring.?With your help, we can demand justice for Rayshard and change the status quo where Black people are protected.
Tell DA Paul Howard: Rayshard Brooks died at the hands of police and he deserves justice.?
Until justice is real,?
--Scott, Rashad, Arisha, Erika, Malachi, Marybeth, Madison, Leonard, Cheryl, and the rest of the Color Of Change team
?References:
ColorOfChange is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change.
If you''re absolutely sure you don''t want to hear from ColorOfChange again, click here to unsubscribe.Black businesses are being locked out of COVID-19 relief. Call Congress and tell them to create protections for Black-owned businesses.? CALL NOW?
Jon,
Congress' coronavirus economic relief legislation, the CARES Act, is still leaving Black businesses out. Despite the many provisions and accommodations the CARES Act provides for corporations, it fails to create meaningful protections to ensure that small, Black-owned businesses survive the crisis, and reports show that 90% of Black businesses will be left out of the package as it stands.1 This is unacceptable; Black-owned businesses contribute billions of dollars to our country's economy, and we can't allow Congress to leave us out.2?
CALL your Congress member NOW and tell them to implement protections for Black-owned businesses during the coronavirus pandemic.?
Black-owned businesses are cornerstones in our communities. We don't just purchase from them, we rely on them for kinship, joy and laughter, support, community service, and to provide us with the supplies we need. But the CARES Act's lack of legislation to protect Black businesses during this difficult time suggests they don't care about the various ways our communities benefit from our businesses. But we know how crucial Black-owned businesses are, and we must fight for them to make it through this crisis.?
Join me in demanding that Congress create protections for small, Black-owned businesses.
Please see our previous email below for more information on this issue.?
I was raised in a home that was fueled by a Black-owned business. My father, Everett Robinson, has been a self-employed contractor in East Long Island for over 45 years.?Everyday, I witnessed the long and?non-traditional hours to "land the plane" on the commitments to clients. Working with him during our summers as kids meant my brother and I got the chance to see first-hand all the unseen, extra work it takes to make ends meet as a Black business owner. We saw all the jobs given to other people not as qualified, all the slights he was asked to accept, and all the extra hoops he was asked to jump through in order to turn his vision for his business into a reality. But we also witnessed the pride and dignity that comes with the ability to work for yourself, and to be your own boss. We saw all the opportunities -- from making sure our family had our basic needs met, to putting us through school -- that his sacrifices made possible for us.
Call on Congress to protect Black-owned businesses. We need a REAL paycheck guarantee today.
The truth is that Black businesses are not just the places we go to buy things we need. They are often pillars of the community that create pathways to independence for our people that would not otherwise exist. That's why it's so crucial that we step up in this moment and fight for Black entrepreneurs and employees, who are getting the short end of the stick as they struggle to survive the COVID-19 outbreak. The small business protections Congress has passed in its CARES Act are not sufficient. States are already overwhelmed with an unprecedented number of unemployment benefit applications. The emergency relief package has significant implementation issues, is being tied up with unnecessary red tape, and is not getting to Black-owned businesses fast enough to prevent the massive layoffs and shut downs our communities are facing. Without legislation from Congress that specifically creates protections for small Black-owned businesses, there is no telling how many of our people will continue to lose their livelihoods, their jobs, and their healthcare during this pandemic.
That's why we''re calling on Congress for a small business emergency relief plan that:
The time to protect our communities is now. Join us in calling on Congress to create small business protections for Black-owned businesses immediately.
In the best of times, Black people have had to overcome this country's persistent underinvestment in Black business. According to a 2016 study by the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy and Research, only 1% of Black-owned businesses received a bank loan in their first year of operation, compared to 7% of white businesses. And twice the number of white business owners use a credit card during their first year of operation at 30%, as do Black business owners at 15%.3?Congress's current small business relief program assumes that all business owners have equal access to credit and to banking services. But we know that has never been the case. From redlining to the refusal to provide loans, Black people in this country have historically been locked out of entrepreneurship, with devastating consequences for our communities, both then and now. Today, Black-owned firms with paid employees generate over $103 billion annually.4?By providing a paycheck guarantee to businesses directly, Congress has the chance to invest in essential industries, to prevent countless layoffs, to preserve our communities' access to healthcare, and to ensure that the places that have served our communities for years are able to survive this crisis. Join us in calling on Congress to provide legislation that protects Black businesses today.
Black businesses and their employees are being locked out of the emergency federal coronavirus relief fund. Tell Congress we need a real paycheck guarantee today.
There is no community that will be harder hit by the current lack of protections for small businesses during COVID-19 than the Black business community. Congress's current small business relief package prioritizes corporations, not the people that need relief the most. Unless we see legislation like Representative Pramila Jayapal's that provides direct relief and specific protections for our business community, Black business owners will continue to disproportionately carry the financial burden of this crisis. Black entrepreneurs deserve the same kind of access to coronavirus relief packages that will keep other businesses in this nation afloat during this crisis and beyond. It's time for a direct legislation that protects Black businesses during the COVID-19 outbreak from Congress now.
When you protect Black businesses, you protect Black communities. Join us in demanding protections for the small Black business community from Congress now.
Until justice is real,?
- Rashad and the rest of the Color Of Change team
References:
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Help keep our movement strong.
If you''re absolutely sure you don''t want to hear from Color Of Change again, click here to unsubscribe.
Demand corporations go #BeyondTheStatement and correct their harms against Black people.
Jon,
Last month, we launched BeyondTheStatement.org?- our campaign hub centered on holding corporations accountable for their "Black Lives Matter" statements with tangible policy changes. In the wake of the police killings of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, companies like Nike and McDonald''s were quick to release poignant commercials and thoughtful written statements, but are slow to show their low wage workers, who are disproportionately Black, that their lives matter by paying them a living wage.1?How can Black lives matter to these companies when employees don''t earn enough to pay their rent or feed their families? Something isn''t adding up.?
The truth is that justice is not a trend and corporate statements and murals are not enough. Layoffs and unemployment continue to surge as corporations and their billionaire executives take in record profits, while coronavirus and police violence ravage our communities. We cannot allow corporations to escape with a quick PR statement and continue to hurt our communities as they solely seek to better their bottom lines.
Jon,?we have created a set of crucial campaigns demanding that corporations go beyond their statements--and we need your help to hold them accountable:
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Tell fast-food companies: If Black Lives Matter, pay your Black employees. Black workers are more likely to have front-line jobs that have been deemed essential-putting their families and their own lives at risk just to make ends meet.2 Too often Black people are expected to choose between their health and livelihoods because of inadequate workplace policies that do not protect them, all while their wages fall short of the current cost of living. Demand fast-food companies pay their employees a living wage. 
Nike: It's time to move #BeyondTheStatement. Nike released the most poignant statement in solidarity with Black lives and brands itself as an ally in the fight against social inequality. The marriage between Nike and Black culture has evolved into many highly lucrative endorsement deals with Black public figures, including Michael Jordan, Serena Williams, and Colin Kaepernick.3,4?As an industry titan and multimillion-dollar company, it''s time Nike put power behind their stated values and pays their employees a living wage. 
Caterpillar, Levi Strauss, Stanley Black & Decker, and Steelcase should pay reparations, not shareholders. Corporations say they are in solidarity with Black people, yet the current economic downturn seems to only serve the rich. While thousands of workers are filing for unemployment, these corporations have paid over $700 million in shareholder dividends to their CEO''s.5?Instead of fattening corporate CEO wallets, demand these companies donate to organizations that are supporting on-the-ground protestors.
Tell all NBA team owners to pay all laid-off arena workers! Over forty percent of hourly workers, which includes the vast majority of game-day employees, lack any savings and over 75% of them have less than $500 saved for emergencies. The current economic uncertainty will likely wipe out any savings these employees have and force them to take on toxic debt or make difficult choices around food and medical care.?Demand all NBA team owners pay all laid-off area workers.?
Chevron, ExxonMobil, and other energy companies must stop polluting the very air Black people breathe. Protests in support of Black lives are taking place in the backyards of plants and refineries that refuse to acknowledge their roles in environmental racism. Seventy-one percent of Black people live in counties that violate federal air pollution standards, as compared to 58% of the white population-along with nearly 51% of Black people residing in cities and metropolitan areas that struggle to have clean air.6,7,8,9?The long-term effects of air pollutants on Black health have contributed to the stark disparity in coronavirus deaths.10?Demand energy companies take responsibility for Black coronavirus deaths.
Banks must stop underwriting racism.?JP Morgan CEO Jamie Dimon took a knee in solidarity with Black lives. Bank of America is providing $1 billion to support racial equality. Yet, banking while Black often leads to racial profiling, denial of mortgage loans, and higher loan interest rates.11?These dehumanizing acts are rooted in age-old racist practices that have perpetuated the generational wealth gap that has many trying to make ends meet in the face of the current economic downturn. If banks are serious about supporting Black lives, demand these institutions address the lack of Black staff representation and the practices that underwrite racism.
Corporations bear responsibility for the violence, harm, and discrimination Black people face, whether they carry it out, enable it, or profit from it. The racism they engender and enable impacts every aspect of our lives, from record unemployment to massive consumption and corporate greed.12?We will not allow the near-largest civil rights movement in history to be downplayed by hollow corporate statements.13??Jon, join us as we demand corporations go #BeyondTheStatement in correcting the harm their policies and business models cause Black employees, families, and communities.
Until justice is real,?
-Jade, Rashad, Arisha, Johnny, Amanda, Evan, Imani, Marie, Samantha, Eesha, Marcus, FolaSade, Eesha,?Jennette, Ciera,?Gabrielle and the rest of the Color Of Change team
References:?
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Please help keep our movement strong.
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To win justice for Black people, we have to keep fighting. Can we count on you to become a sustaining supporter of Color Of Change today? YES, COUNT ME IN!?
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Jon --
In just a few short months, the world as we know it has changed. People are stepping off the sidelines and taking to the streets to defend Black lives.1 "Defund the police" has sparked a national conversation on what real community safety could look like. And leaders of the movement for Black lives are running for elected office - and winning.2?
At the same time, we know that so much has stayed the same. These positive changes were born out of outrage over the continued murder of Black people at the hands of emboldened vigilantes and racist cops. And so many years later, in response to so much tragedy, we still must adamantly affirm until it is true in our streets, in our schools, in our courthouses, everywhere: Black Lives Matter.?
Will you stand with us to continue the fight for Black lives, Jon? Become a sustaining supporter of Color Of Change today, and help power the movement for justice.?
This summer, that movement for justice looked like protests in response to police brutality. Police brutality hasn't gone away - neither can we. To win justice for Black people, we have to keep fighting. Here are just a few fights Color Of Change is leading right now:?
We'll be blunt: All of this critical work takes resources, and we're relying on supporters like you to help power the fight for Black lives.
It's time to take our fight to the next level. Can we count on you to become a sustaining supporter of Color Of Change today? Just $3 a month makes a huge difference, Jon - and gets us one step closer to building a more equitable world for Black people.
BECOME A SUSTAINING SUPPORTER NOW
Right now, we're at an inflection point. What we choose to do at this moment will not only define who we are but also who we can be. Color Of Change is choosing to stay the course, to fight harder than ever to confront and dismantle the systems that disproportionately harm Black people.?
History teaches us that people-powered movements are critical to transforming our communities, Jon. Without sustaining supporters -?people like you chipping in what they can every month to support our ongoing fight for change - it becomes almost impossible to push for the progressive solutions that will make a difference.
You've taken action with us before -?thank you! - and we know we can count on you to stay in the fight with us.?
Chip in $3 a month to power our movement to end police violence, hold corporations accountable, and defend Black lives.
Our fight is more than a moment, a trending topic, or a black square on Instagram. Painting "Black Lives Matter" on our streets won't mean much until all of us are safe on every street. And together, we'll turn our momentum into real victories for Black people.?
Until justice is real,
-- Scott, Rashad, Arisha, Erika, Malachi, Marybeth, Madison, Leonard, Ernie, McKayla, and the rest of the Color Of Change team
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References:
1.?"Black Lives Matter may be the largest movement in U.S. history." The New York Times, 3 July 2020.
2. "Black Lives Matter Activist Cori Bush Upsets 10-Term Democratic Congressman in Primary." Slate, 5 August 2020.
3.?Say No to Money From Police. Color Of Change.?
4.?Police Foundations: Policing's Corporate-Sponsored Secret Weapon. Color Of Change.
5. "ACLU and Color Of Change Statement on Endeavour Capital''s Divestment from Predatory, For-Profit Bail Industry."?ACLU and Color Of Change.? 21 February 2020.?
6. "Selling Off Our Freedom: How Insurance Corporations Have Taken Over the Bail System." ACLU and Color Of Change.?
7. Help families stay connected with loved ones behind bars during COVID-19, and beyond. Color Of Change.?
8.?Demand Congress Pass The Martha Wright Act. Color Of Change.?
9. "How Color Of Change applies pressure to fight racial inequality." CNBC, 19 July 2020.?
10. Winning Justice - Prosecutor Directory. Color Of Change.?
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Jon -- Following weeks of national protests calling for police reform, political leaders in Washington are finally taking steps to address the crisis of policing. Last week, Trump signed an executive order that he claims addresses the problem of police violence.1 However, the executive order does not do much to actually hold police accountable. Instead, the President has given us disingenuous band-aid solutions that do not even address his own administration''s moves to undermine police accountability.?
Senate Republicans also announced a legislative package called the "Justice Act on Policing" that would do nothing but maintain the status quo -- they are determined to make police reform almost meaningless as they do the bidding of police officers. To make matters worse, Senate Majority leader Mitch McConnell has been pressuring Senate Democrats to team up with Republicans and approve this watered-down and piecemeal police reform.2
This is why I need your help, Jon.?Senate Democrats must oppose this bill and commit to ending the transfer of federal money as well as military equipment to local police completely. Our communities need resources, not more police.?
For years, public officials have been significantly underfunding the social safety net in Black and brown communities resulting in mass unemployment, homelessness, and mental health crises as well as poor quality education for our children. Yet, police budgets have only ballooned over the years. More importantly, police are not trained to deal with these societal issues with compassion or care but rather encouraged to use lethal force. Overinvestment in police and underinvestment in public services lead to more criminalization of Black and Brown communities.?
Simply put, we cannot keep doing this. Police do not keep our communities safe, they are dangerous and have demonstrated over and over again an unwillingness to be held accountable. We have to try new strategies that will cultivate stability and foster trust in our communities. And it starts with reducing federal funding to police. Our lives literally depend on it.??
Sign the petition: Demand Congress invests in our communities instead of policing.?
The federal government provides hundreds of millions of dollars in grants and military-style equipment to local police every year. We''ve just seen police all over the country responding to peaceful protests with violent military equipment and tactics. Anything short of ending the militarization of police completely is not good enough.
The federal government has also given billions of dollars to police around the country. This year alone, the Department of Justice awarded over $400 million dollars to local police departments for hiring, and training purposes. DOJ also administers federal grants through the Edward Byrne Memorial Assistance program, totaling $264 million for the 2019 fiscal year. And the Department of Homeland Security doles out $1.8 billion to cities for emergency preparedness but requires 25 percent of that funding to go to law enforcement. Quite literally, we have a system that uses billions of public dollars to pay police officers to target, harass, arrest, and kill Black people and brown people with impunity.?
Thankfully, cities across the country, are beginning to see the contradiction of investing millions of dollars into violent policing while also slashing funding for resources that actually keep our communities stable and safe like affordable housing, jobs, accessible healthcare, and quality education. In Los Angeles, Mayor Eric Garcetti publicly committed to moving $150 million from the LAPD budget and to jobs for young people, health initiatives, and community centers dedicated to healing emotional and mental trauma. In Portland, city officials are planning to cut $15 million from the police budget. Most notably, in New York, city officials announced a plan that would cut New York police''s budget by $1 billion dollars, effectively shrinking the NYPD budget by nearly 20 percent. It''s time for Congress to follow suit and do their part on a national level.
But Jon, we don''t'' have much time left. The Senate votes on this bill on Wednesday. We must act quickly.
Tell Congress: We must full speed ahead on TRUE reform. Black and brown communities cannot afford to go back to ineffective and old methods.
Five years ago, at the height of the Black Lives Matter movement, our communities were desperate for change and politicians offered minor changes that we supposed to keep us safe -- from body cameras to implicit bias training. Now our movement is much smarter and much more politically mature. We understand that in order to really create change, we must get at the root of a problem. And we must be courageous. To be quite frank, there is absolutely nothing courageous about giving more money to the police -- the very opposite is needed.
Jon, we have to be honest. For decades, our communities have tried all types of reform with the promise of finally ending police violence but none of them have worked.?The mandate is clear: we must reduce the size and scope of policing in this country and reinvest in our communities.?
Demand Congress to completely overhaul policing in this country.
Until justice is real,?
-- Scott, Rashad, Arisha, Erika, Malachi, Marybeth, Leonard, Madison, Ernie, McKayla and the rest of the Color Of Change team
References:
ColorOfChange is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Help keep our movement strong.
If you''re absolutely sure you don''t want to hear from ColorOfChange again, click here to unsubscribe.We must demand accountability for the murder of Hakim Littleton at the hands of police violence.
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Jon,
It has happened again.?
This time, in Detroit. A Black man was ruthlessly murdered by rogue cops. And the officers are still employed two weeks later.?
On July 10, Hakim Littleton's friend was being arrested by a swarm of cops -- and in the process, Hakim drew a gun, shot at an officer, and ultimately missed.1 After Hakim was tackled, disarmed, and lay face down on the ground, he was repeatedly shot, and one officer even shot him in the back of the head at point-blank range.
We'll never know why Hakim drew the gun. He will never be able to tell what was going through his mind as officers swarmed them that day.?But we do know that Hakim should still be alive. He did not deserve to be executed at point-blank range by the very people who "swear to protect" us.
Hakim's murder was a public execution. We demand accountability for the officers, the police chief, and the entire Detroit Police Department for our Black brother.?
Add your name to the petition to demand #JusticeforHakim.
Despite how carelessly the cops sprayed bullets at Hakim, Detroit police chief James Craig has spewed lies to the media, misrepresented what happened the day Hakim was murdered, and continues to conspire against Hakim by referring to the officers as "heroes." The department even tried to hide the additional video footage that clearly shows Hakim was shot multiple times from behind as he lay face down on the ground. The video wasn't released until local activists and community members demanded the footage more than a week later.?
This callous behavior is nothing new for the Detroit Police Department.?
The Detroit police were once the most deadly and notorious police department in the country.2 They lead the nation''s largest cities in the rate of fatal shootings by police -- in just a five-year span from 1995-2000, they murdered 40 people. While that number has decreased, it was only due in part to the federal oversight they were placed under due to the overwhelming amount of police violence. And more recently, the city of Detroit has had to pay out tens of millions of dollars in police misconduct lawsuits, as a result of persistent police brutality.?
#JusticeforHakim: Sign the petition to hold the entire Detroit Police Department accountable for murdering Hakim Littleton.
At Color Of Change, we have run far too many campaigns against the Detroit police department -- and that's a testament to how violent their police force is. Just a few weeks ago while protestors rallied to put an end to police violence, Detroit police drove their SUVs into the crowd of protestors, showing a blatant disregard for their lives.3?
Even against the backdrop of a global uprising against police violence, Detroit officers won't stop abusing and murdering people.?
We deserve to breathe and live free of persistent police violence. We deserve to have our loved ones come home at the end of the day. We are tired. Black Detroiters are tired. We demand accountability and we're demanding it at every level.?
That's why we're calling on Mayor Mike Duggan, Prosecutor Kym Worthy, and Attorney General Dana Nessel to 1)? release the officers' names, 2) fire them, 3) launch an independent investigation, and 4) Mayor Duggan to fire Chief James for his handling of the case.
Add your name now to demand justice.
Until justice is real,
Scott, Rashad, Arisha, Erika, Malachi, Marybeth, Madison, Leonard, Ernie, McKayla and the rest of the Color Of Change team
References:
1. "Protesters gather in Detroit after police shoot and kill man who officers say shot at them first." The Washington Post.?https://act.colorofchange.org/go/257704?t=9&akid=44314%2E4887299%2EIXySjS
2. "How the roots of Detroit''s police department helped spawn 1967 rebellion." NPR.?https://act.colorofchange.org/go/257705?t=11&akid=44314%2E4887299%2EIXySjS
3. "Detroit police SUV drives through crowd after protesters climb on hood." Detroit Free Press.?https://act.colorofchange.org/go/257706?t=13&akid=44314%2E4887299%2EIXySjS
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Please help keep our movement strong.
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Derek Chauvin has been charged! Three other officers must be arrested as well? ? #JusticeforFloyd: Demand the officers are charged now!? Take Action!?
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Jon,
This just in -- Hennepin County Attorney Michael Freeman just announced that Officer Derek Chauvin has been arrested and charged for the murder of George Floyd.1 This is why folks protest. Because even when a violent murder of a Black person is captured on video by an officer with a long history of misconduct, public officials drag their feet in securing justice for our communities.?
Without the brave people of Minneapolis putting their lives on the line by hitting the pavement and protesting every single night, Derek Chauvin may have NEVER been arrested. Still, this announcement hardly goes far enough. The other three officers involved in the murder need to be held accountable as well.
This is why we are calling on County Attorney Freeman to hold ALL four officers, Derek Chauvin, Thomas Lane, Tou Thao, and J. Alexander Kueng accountable for the murder of George Floyd. They ALL have a hand in George's tragic death.?
Our communities are tired, outraged, and fatigued over police officers murdering Black people with impunity. This is why?over 2 MILLION people have signed our petition demanding justice for George Floyd.?The protesting and anger you see on TV is a direct response to the systemic failures that have plagued Black communities for decades. We did not create this problem. The police officers who abuse our communities and prosecutors who fail to hold them accountable created this problem. Time and again, justice is denied when killer cops are not charged, or even arrested for their misconduct.
It''s time for a change. We can''t give up. Let's keep fighting.
Jon, sign the petition demanding County Attorney Freeman to do more than just the bare minimum. All four officers must be charged NOW.
Until justice is real,?
-- Scott, Rashad, Arisha, Erika, Malachi, Marybeth, Leonard, Madison, Cheryl and the rest of the Color Of Change team
Reference:
1. "Former MPD Officer Derek Chauvin In Custody, Charged With Murder In George Floyd's Death."?CBS Minnesota News.
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Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Help keep our movement strong.
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Derek Chauvin has been charged! Three other officers must be arrested as well? ? #JusticeforFloyd: Demand the officers are charged now!? Take Action!?
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Jon,
This just in -- Hennepin County Attorney Michael Freeman just announced that Officer Derek Chauvin has been arrested and charged for the murder of George Floyd.1 This is why folks protest. Because even when a violent murder of a Black person is captured on video by an officer with a long history of misconduct, public officials drag their feet in securing justice for our communities.?
Without the brave people of Minneapolis putting their lives on the line by hitting the pavement and protesting every single night, Derek Chauvin may have NEVER been arrested. Still, this announcement hardly goes far enough. The other three officers involved in the murder need to be held accountable as well.
This is why we are calling on County Attorney Freeman to hold ALL four officers, Derek Chauvin, Thomas Lane, Tou Thao, and J. Alexander Kueng accountable for the murder of George Floyd. They ALL have a hand in George's tragic death.?
Our communities are tired, outraged, and fatigued over police officers murdering Black people with impunity. This is why?over 2 MILLION people have signed our petition demanding justice for George Floyd.?The protesting and anger you see on TV is a direct response to the systemic failures that have plagued Black communities for decades. We did not create this problem. The police officers who abuse our communities and prosecutors who fail to hold them accountable created this problem. Time and again, justice is denied when killer cops are not charged, or even arrested for their misconduct.
It''s time for a change. We can''t give up. Let's keep fighting.
Jon, sign the petition demanding County Attorney Freeman to do more than just the bare minimum. All four officers must be charged NOW.
Until justice is real,?
-- Scott, Rashad, Arisha, Erika, Malachi, Marybeth, Leonard, Madison, Cheryl and the rest of the Color Of Change team
Reference:
1. "Former MPD Officer Derek Chauvin In Custody, Charged With Murder In George Floyd's Death."?CBS Minnesota News.
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Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Help keep our movement strong.
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Dear Jon,
We write this email with a heavy heart because once again we are asking you to join us to demand justice for another slain Black person. Last week it was Breonna Taylor, the week before it was Ahmuad Arbery, and this week it's George Floyd.?
On Monday, May 25th, a grocery clerk thought George was writing a fake check and then called the police. Shortly after the police arrived, officers choked George as he and a crowd of people pleaded with them to stop. The entire murder was captured on camera and shared widely across social media.1 The following day, after a national outcry erupted, the police chief announced that all four officers who were on the scene were fired from the force.2?
And while this is a step in the right direction, it does not absolve the officers of their blatant crime and we're demanding Mayor Jacob Frey and District Attorney Michael Freeman take further action to secure justice for George Floyd.?
Mayor Frey must:?
#JusticeforFloyd: Demand Mayor Frey and DA Freeman take action now to hold the officers accountable for murdering George.
George's death at the hands of the MPD is eerily similar to Eric Garner's. Both Black men uttered the same words as cops took their lives. Police violence, harassment, and assaults on Black people happen far too often. Just two months ago, officers in Louisville stormed Breonna Taylor's home and murdered her in a botched investigation. And the names of Black people murdered for simply existing goes on and on.?
But when we fight and hold powerful people to account, we win. After more than 43,000 Color Of Change members called for #JusticeforBre and more than 300,000 members #RanwithAhmaud, charges filed against Bre's boyfriend were dropped and Ahmaud's killers were charged with murder. And we can win justice for George, as well, if we keep up sustained pressure on Mayor Frey and DA Freeman to take action.?
Stand with George's family and demand that the officers are charged with murder.?
Officers rarely, if ever, are held accountable for inflicting harm on Black people. Even after viral videos are released, they continue to earn paychecks, collect pensions, and walk free as the Black bodies they took from us are gone. This must end. They should not be rewarded for egregious misconduct. Derek Chauvin, George's killer, and the Minneapolis Police Department have an ugly history of misconduct. Chauvin has been involved in at least three other incidents where he shot someone and has never been held accountable for any of them. And the MPD kills Black people at a rate 13x higher than white people - a larger racial disparity than almost anywhere else in the nation. It's imperative we fight to hold these officers accountable and push this department to reform their practices. Will you stand with us in our fight for justice?
Until justice is real,
--Scott, Rashad, Arisha, Erika, Malachi, Marybeth, Madison, Leonard, and the rest of the Color Of Change team
References:
1. "Video shows Minneapolis cop with knee on neck of motionless, moaning man who later died." CBS News.
2. "4 Minneapolis Police Officers Fired Over George Floyd Death." Huffington Post.
3. "Police Accountability Tool." Mapping Police Violence.
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Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Help keep our movement strong.
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Last year, Color Of Change members like you helped National Bail Out?raise over $1 million dollars for their Black Mamas Bail Out. Black Mamas Bail Out is a coordinated effort by community organizations, advocates, and families to reunite Black mothers and caregivers with their families.? That's why I'm asking you to become a sustaining supporter of Black Mamas and Caregivers, this season and beyond.? Here's why we're working to end the racist cash bail system:
NO contribution is too small, Jon?- this is the most important gift you can give this season. Until Justice is Real,? Erika, Scott, Malachi, Ariel, Madison, Ernie, Megan, Ana, McKayla, Trevor, and the rest of the COC team? ? References:? 1. "The National Bail Out Collective"? 2. "How the Cash Bail System Endangers the Health of Black Americans", Arnav Shah & Shanoor Seervai, June 17, 2020? 
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Putting abusive police officers on desk duty doesn't count as accountability
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Tell Mayor Lightfoot: Fire the officers who abused Anjanette Young Take Action |
Dear Jon,?
It's been nearly two years since Chicago Police carried out a baseless warrant on Anjanette Young, and Mayor Lori Lightfoot is just now pushing for entirely hollow accountability measures for the officers involved in the botched raid. Police officers who terrorize Black people should not be placed on paid desk duty. Demand that Mayor Lightfoot fire the people responsible for this unconscionable invasion and launch an investigation into the city's use of no-knock warrants.
Armed with a warrant granted on faulty information, at least nine Chicago police officers barged into the apartment of social worker Anjanette Young on February 21, 2019. Within seconds of busting open her door, officers handcuffed her, undressed, and did not allow her to put on clothes for nearly half an hour. Ms. Young told the officers 43 times that they were in the wrong place.1?Jon, 43 times.
Instead of pushing for transparency and accountability, Mayor Lightfoot is overseeing what can only be called a coverup. First, Mayor Lightfoot's administration fought to hide video of Ms. Young's abuse.2 Then, we found out that she lied about when she first learned about the raid of Ms. Young's home.3 Now that she's been caught in a lie, Mayor Lightfoot is passing the buck to the city's Civilian Office of Police Accountability (COPA)?-?who admitted in a Chicago City Council meeting yesterday that it takes more than 20 months to carry out an investigation into cases of police misconduct. It shouldn't take that long for police officers to face consequences for their wrongdoing.
Mayor Lightfoot has a responsibility to Anjanette Young, and all Chicago residents, to fire those responsible for what happened to Ms. Young on February 21, 2019. Instead of holding the police responsible, the officers who harmed Anjanette Young were put on desk duty.4 Police officers who clearly abuse their powers should not receive their full salary while they ride out a yearlong investigation. Tell Mayor Lightfoot that she should fire the people responsible for carrying out the warrant on Anjanette Young and launch an investigation into Chicago's use of no-knock warrants.
Until justice is real,
Scott, Rashad, Arisha, Erika, Malachi, Megan, Ernie, Madison, Ariel, Ana, Trevor and the rest of the Color Of Change team
Sources:
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Please help keep our movement strong.
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For those of us committed to building a world that values redemption more than retribution; collective care is our most valuable currency. This email isn't a fundraiser. This is?an invitation to show up for Black families in ways that our elected leaders and government simply refuses to. ? Until Justice is Real,? Erika, Scott, Malachi, Ariel, Madison, Ernie, Megan, Ana, McKayla, Trevor, and the rest of the COC team? ? References:? 1. "The National Bail Out Collective"? 2. "How the Cash Bail System Endangers the Health of Black Americans", Arnav Shah & Shanoor Seervai, June 17, 2020? 
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The US Olympic & Paralympic Committee won't punish athletes for protesting.
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Athlete-activists should not be punished for protesting.? ? ?
Tell companies to sponsor me and support the fight against Rule 50.? TAKE ACTION |
My name is Gwen Berry. I'm a Black woman athlete, Olympian, record-holder in hammer-throwing, Pan-American gold medalist, and award-winning social justice activist.1 But when I raised my fist last year at the Pan-American games to protest racial injustice, the U.S. Olympic Committee punished me.2?
Their decision to punish athletes who protest has had a lasting impact on my life. My corporate sponsors dropped me. I haven't received an athletic grant since my protest on the podium, even though protesting is our constitutional right. I put my career-my livelihood-on the line to fight for what's right.?
But this week, the US Olympic & Paralympic Committee announced that they will no longer punish athletes for protesting and will push the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to end their ban on racial justice protests. This is a big deal. Athletes have been fighting tirelessly to eliminate Rule 50, the Olympic Charter rule that prohibits us from protesting inside the lines at the games.3 And finally, our fights are paying off.?
Despite this victory, there is still work to do. The U.S. Olympic Committee may have changed their outlook, but many corporate sponsors haven't. Many of the companies who made BLM statements in response to George Floyd's murder and are sponsoring the Tokyo Olympics have remained silent-refusing to sponsor me, or call out the injustice of Rule 50. For too long, these companies have profited from the labor of Black athletes like me, only to drop us when we speak out to send other Black athletes a message to get in line or lose their income as well. There are billions of dollars at stake in the Olympics for these companies. If we act together and show them that there are real costs to ignoring us, we still have the chance to hold these companies to their statements of support for our movement.?
A company can't just say they care about Black lives; they must show it. Join me and Color Of Change in calling on companies sponsoring the Tokyo Olympics to step in as my corporate sponsors and support the fight against Rule 50.
Sincerely,?
Gwen Berry?
USA Track & Field
References:?
(Image: Andrej Isakovic/AFP/Getty Images)
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Please help keep our movement strong.
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She said they had the wrong place 43 times. They searched her apartment anyways.
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Tell Mayor Lightfoot: Fire the officers who abused Anjanette Young Take Action |
Dear Jon,?
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot ran on the promise that she would reform the city's notoriously racist Police Department1, but this past Monday, her lawyers were in court trying to cover for police officers who used an incorrect no-knock search warrant to brutalize an innocent woman.2?Demand that Mayor Lightfoot fire the people responsible for this unconscionable invasion and launch an investigation into the city's use of no-knock warrants.
Armed with a warrant granted on faulty information, at least nine Chicago police officers barged into the apartment of social worker Anjanette Young on February 21, 2019. Within seconds of busting open her door, officers handcuffed her, undressed, and did not allow her to put on clothes for nearly half an hour. Ms. Young told the officers 43 times that they were in the wrong place.3 Jon, 43 times.
By fighting to keep the video hidden from the public, Mayor Lightfoot's administration has clearly taken a page from her predecessor, Rahm Emanuel, who went to extraordinary lengths to bury the video of police murdering 17-year old Laquan McDonald.4 Instead of pushing for transparency and accountability, Mayor Lightfoot's legal team even asked for a judge to punish Ms. Young - accusing her of leaking the video of the search.5?
Just yesterday we learned that Mayor Lightfoot lied about when she learned about what happened to Ms. Young, admitting that she found out about the raid more than a year ago.6 Mayor Lightfoot seems to care more about keeping information hidden than she does about disciplining the people responsible for Ms. Young's abuse.
Nearly two years after, the Police Department still won't say if the officer who requested this unfounded warrant has faced consequences for their actions. Furthermore, the Chicago Police Department will not share if the people responsible for the assault on Ms. Young have been held accountable.7?Mayor Lightfoot has a responsibility to Anjanette Young, and all Chicago residents, to fire those responsible for what happened on February 21, 2019. We must make sure that this never happens again. Tell Mayor Lightfoot that she should fire the people responsible for carrying out the warrant on Anjanette Young and launch an investigation into Chicago's use of no-knock warrants.
Until justice is real,
Scott, Rashad, Arisha, Erika, Malachi, Megan, Ernie, Madison, Ariel, Ana, Trevor and the rest of the Color Of Change team
Sources:
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Please help keep our movement strong.
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Every member of Congress who has supported Trump's dangerous coup attempts must be held accountable.
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Jon,
On Wednesday, just hours after news of a Democratic flip in Georgia, and in an attempt to halt Congress's certification of president-elect Biden, armed Trump supporters rioted and stormed the U.S. Capitol building.1 Make no mistake: Representative Ted Cruz's leading role in blocking president-elect Biden's certification empowered these extremists.2 Representative Josh Hawley's raised "power fist" to Trump supporters outside of the Capitol building empowered these extremists.3 Representative Mary Miller's invocation of Adolph Hitler in her speech on the Capitol lawn empowered these extremists.4 Jon, this was not just a coup attempt. It was a clear message from a white nationalist base that is not going anywhere any time soon, and that has been enabled by sitting members of Congress - members who have betrayed their oath to uphold this country's constitution. History tells us that when we ignore an attempt like this, and when we do not seek to hold those responsible to account, it only encourages that base to organize larger, more effective attacks in the future. That's why we cannot afford to talk about this attack on democracy without talking about the members of Congress who have enabled it.
Will you ask your Representative to support Rep. Cori Bush's resolution to investigate and remove the members of Congress who encouraged this attack on democracy?
We have their names - the Republican Representatives who have openly supported the undermining of a peaceful transition to a new, democratically-elected, presidential administration. Every single Representative who has fanned the flames on baseless conspiracy theories about election fraud, every member of Congress who has worked to invalidate the votes of their Black constituents, every member of Congress who has launched frivolous lawsuits in an attempt to overturn the election, has actively and intentionally put Black people's lives in danger. They must be investigated and removed from office. Representative Cori Bush has introduced a resolution into Congress that seeks to do exactly that.5 Will you ask your Representatives to support Rep. Bush's bill to investigate and expel the members of Congress who have enabled the latest coup attempts, from office?
Until justice is real,?
Jade, Johnny, Amanda, Erica, Evan, Eesha, Marie, Gabrielle, FolaSade, Imani, Sam, Stasia, Taurjhai, Jennette, and the rest of the team
References:
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Please help keep our movement strong.
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Any corporation that finances violent white nationalists should be held responsible for endangering the lives of Black people!
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Dear Jon,
SIGN THE PETITION: Demand that JP Morgan Chase and Stripe SHUT DOWN cash flow to Proud Boys leader, Enrique Tarrio! #BloodMoney
YESTERDAY AFTERNOON, the Proud Boys stormed the United States Capitol building with clear intentions of intimidating D.C. residents, starting conflict to advance their racist agenda, and lethally?threatening anyone that stood in their way.1?Once?again, JP Morgan Chase and Stripe have?financed, mobilized, and even?profited from these violent acts of white domestic terrorism.
Earlier this week, Enrique Tarrio was arrested and charged with property destruction and possession of two high-capacity firearms.2?On December 12th, the Proud Boys leader torched a Black Lives Matter banner belonging to Asbury United Methodist Church-a historic Black church in Washington, D.C.-and on January 4th returned "armed and ready" to intimidate Black people and incite racial violence at yesterday's "Overturn the Election" rally.3?
Within hours of Enrique Tarrio's arrest, GiveSendGo-the same crowdfunding site that raised nearly $1 million for Kyle Rittenhouse-translated their deep hatred for Black protestors into fundraising.4?Jon, GiveSendGo is actively using JP Morgan Chase (through WePay) and Stripe to process donations for Enrique Tarrio's legal defense and related white nationalist causes, including but not limited to:?
In the past 48 hours alone, GiveSendGo has raised nearly $300,000 for the Proud Boys. So while GiveSendGo is branded as a "Christian Crowdfunding Site" that prohibits "the promotion of hate, violence, or other forms of intolerance," JP Morgan Chase and Stripe must acknowledge GiveSendGo's true motives: to advance their white supremacist agenda and engage white nationalist violence.7?
SIGN THE PETITION: Demand that JP Morgan Chase and Stripe CEASE processing donations for the Proud Boys and DESIST servicing white nationalist hate sites like GiveSendGo! #BloodMoney
Jon, JP Morgan Chase and Stripe have an ethical duty and moral responsibility to shut down cash flow to white supremacists. According to Stripe's Terms and Conditions any organization that "engages in, encourages, promotes, or celebrates unlawful violence to any group based on race." must be restricted from using the platform.8 And JP Morgan Chase lists "hate, violence, racial intolerance, and terrorism" as prohibited merchant activities.9?The Proud Boys are a known white supremacist hate group and GiveSendGo is a known white nationalist hate site.?So,?JP Morgan Chase and Stripe are?consciously prioritizing profit over Black lives and public safety.?
But it must end here; these corporations cannot continue to build wealth using Blood Money. Color Of Change is calling on JP Morgan Chase and Stripe to immediately cease payment processing for Enrique Tarrio on the crowdfunding site GiveSendGo, ban accounts associated with the Proud Boys or any white nationalist hate group, and desist from further servicing GiveSendGo and other white nationalist hate sites. Black lives depend on it, and their stated commitments to stop profiting from white nationalist hatred and violence command it.?
SIGN THE PETITION: Demand that JP Morgan Chase and Stripe STOP profiting from white nationalist hatred and STAND AGAINST white domestic terrorism! #BloodMoney?
Until justice is real,?
-Jade, Rashad, Arisha, Johnny, Erica, Evan, Amanda, Imani, Eesha, Marie, Gabrielle, Sam, FolaSade, Jennette, Ciera, Taurjhai, Stasia, and the rest of the Color Of Change team
References
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Please help keep our movement strong.
Make a Donation
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Twitter's CEO must PERMANENTLY BAN Trump from the platform!
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Dear?Jon,?
Yesterday afternoon, thousands of violent insurrectionists stormed the Senate building and interrupted the procedural certification of the 2020 U.S. Presidential Election.1 Shots were fired into the Senate chamber, leaving one woman dead. Senators, staffers, and building employees feared for their lives as Trump-crazed gunmen took over the offices.2 All because Twitter has allowed Donald Trump to use their platform to organize and facilitate yesterday's chaos.?What will it take?
We first demanded that Twitter ban Trump in 2017 when he used the platform to escalate nuclear war. Since then, he's used Twitter to target private citizens, lie about the coronavirus pandemic, threaten peaceful protesters with violence, and falsely accuse states of illegal voter fraud.?Twitter has provided Trump with a megaphone to manipulate and misinform millions, inspire hate crimes, and embolden violent white supremacist terrorism.?For weeks, white supremacists and hate groups have openly schemed in preparation for yesterday, planning for violent confrontations and threatening elected officials that stood in their way. Now, we've reached a pitch-level of chaos and violence. Enough is enough. #KickTrumpOffTwitter
Jon, join us in demanding that Twitter PERMANENTLY suspend Trump''s account!?
Until justice is real,
Jade Magnus Ogunnaike and the rest of the Color Of Change team?
References:
1. Washington Post Staff, "How pro-Trump insurrectionists broke into the U.S. Capitol," The Washington Post (January 06, 2021),?https://act.colorofchange.org/go/289048?t=7&akid=48817%2E5670730%2E8LH2tB?
2. Benjamin Swasey, Alana Wise, and Elena Moore, "Congress Reconvenes After Pro-Trump Mob Brings Chaos to the Capitol," National Public Radio (January 06, 2021),?https://act.colorofchange.org/go/289049?t=9&akid=48817%2E5670730%2E8LH2tB?
Please see our previous email below for more information on this issue.??
Dear?Jon,
Trump is adamantly opposed to mail-in elections because it would increase voter participation,1 and he's being powered by Twitter to spread mass voter misinformation. Trump has always used his Twitter page to spread lies to his 80 million followers, and during the global crisis his tweets can reach an increased audience.2 Last week, he falsely accused the state of Michigan of illegal voter fraud, calling the Secretary of State rogue and threatening to withhold funding to the state.3?Trump's outlandish tweets are bound to further endanger the state government which recently faced armed protesters taking over the state capitol.
It's time for Twitter to finally kick Trump off Twitter. It was bad enough when he instigated a nuclear war against North Korea, bullied politicians, and lied about the impact of coronavirus. Spreading misinformation clearly violates Twitter's policies. By allowing him unlimited access to its platform, Twitter is essentially telling Trump he does not have to follow any of their rules and he thrives on that. To make matters worse, elections in many states will rely on the very mail-in ballots that Trump is falsely tweeting about. His ability to spread mass voter misinformation on Twitter will only aid his plans of being re-elected. Americans have suffered enough under the Trump Administration. The global crisis has exposed more than ever how Trump's lies throughout the pandemic have led to countless preventable deaths of Americans, most notably Black people. It's time for Twitter to take a real stand for the well-being of the people that power its platform.
Demand that Twitter's CEO Jack Dorsey finally ban Donald Trump from its platform!
Until justice is real,
Jade Magnus Ogunnaike and the rest of the Color Of Change team?
References
1.?"Trump misstates Michigan mail-in ballot policy, threatens federal funding,"?Politico (May 20, 2020), https://act.colorofchange.org/go/247941?t=12&akid=48817%2E5670730%2E8LH2tB
2.?"Twitter sees record number of users during pandemic, but advertising sales slow,"?The Washington Post (April 30, 2020), https://act.colorofchange.org/go/247942?t=14&akid=48817%2E5670730%2E8LH2tB
3.?"Heavily Armed Protesters Gather Again At Michigan Capitol To Decry Stay-At-Home Order,"?NPR (May 14, 2020),?
https://act.colorofchange.org/go/247943?t=16&akid=48817%2E5670730%2E8LH2tB
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Please help keep our movement strong.
Make a Donation
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