4BlackLives

Articles, updates about the movement for Black lives unfolding, uplifting the intersections of struggles for Black liberation and police abolition with migrant struggles, border abolition and the dismantling of settler colonialism.

Joyous Black and Indigenous Rally Against Racist Columbus Statue Attacked by CPD- Causing Injury, Trauma, and more Fervor to Abolish the Police State
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Joyous Black and Indigenous Rally Against Racist Columbus Statue Attacked by CPD- Causing Injury, Trauma, and more Fervor to Abolish the Police State

#DecolonizeZhigaagoong, #DefundCPD, #BlackLivesMatter

Chicago, IL

“After a powerful Black and Indigenous Solidarity Rally and March, the biggest gang in Chi Town shows who they serve, and what they’re here to protect. Lightfoot can say what she wants to #45’s people, but don’t lie and tell us you care about Black and Brown people in Chicago” -Black Lives Matter Chicago ( https://twitter.com/BLMChi )

On July 17th, 2020 at the Black and Indigenous Solidarity Rally in Chicago, more than 1000 people gathered. They were Black, Native and Brown folks, white allies, immigrants and more. The crowd consisted of youth, workers, artists, teachers, lawyers, femmes, mothers, families. Many community members from all over Chicago came together in solidarity with one another against Racism, Police Brutality, and Colonization. It was a beautiful collaboration between more than 15 grassroots organizations and autonomous groups, concerned individuals, groups of friends and families. Everyone met in downtown Chicago at the Buckingham Fountain followed by a march to a symbol of genocide, slavery and colonialism, the Christopher Columbus Statue.

An invitation to the event read, ” Chi-Nations Youth Council, Black Lives Matter Chicago, and BYP100 ( https://twitter.com/byp100 ) —among others— call for the abolishment of police and the redistribution of funds to the people of Chicago.
In 1830, during the Indian Removal act, the Chicago Police Department was founded—three years before Chicago was official. These overlaps are often seen as coincidental, but the history of police in the United States shows a clear mission to remove Native peoples from our land and enslave our Black relatives. All land East of Michigan Avenue is unceded Niswi-mishkodewinan territory. The city of Chicago has no rights to this land—through treaty or sale. It is occupied only by white supremacist entitlement and a collective delusion of ownership.
We are gathering and celebrating ourselves as Black and Indigenous peoples. We are tired of having to say “we are people.” We are tired of having to say “we matter.” We built this country as Black and Indigenous peoples. Our knowledge and labor has been exploited for too long.
Let’s dance, sing, party, and celebrate ourselves.
Bring drums, flags, music, and food. Wear a mask”

During the solidarity rally black brown and indigenous people took the stage and spoke to the crowd, songs were sung, and performers energized.  Most present there was Love. People chimed in with the speakers, hollered in agreement, laughed with one another, cheered, danced, and prayed. The smell of sage whirled around the gathering. A vocal Dakota activist spoke (https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=3146155698774324 )” I’ve come from the Dakota homelands and I greet each one of you with a good heart. I’ve dedicated my entire life to indigenous rights, for the land to get back… to see the liberation of indigenous peoples on turtle island, for the dismantling of white supremacy. And I know that my fight is not whole unless I’m also advocating for the liberation of black people. If I don’t understand that my struggle is connected to the struggle of my relatives, then we are gonna fail. So that’s why we are here to connect our struggles. I wanna recognize the land we are on. The original territories of the three fires confederacy Oglala, Anishinaabe, Potawatomi, Miami, Meskwaki and more all gathered here to trade…  We are collectively casting our voice out to each of the 4 directions and asking the ancestors to be with us here.” A member of the Chi Nations Youth Council ( https://twitter.com/chi_nations ) shared a song, accompanied by his drum, for “all those brothers and sisters protesting who have lost their lives. For all the rights we deserve. ”

The energy was high and uplifting at this beautiful solidarity rally. A BLM Chicago (https://www.blacklivesmatterchicago.com/) member spoke, “We’re here to remind this city that we are not separating. That we are not backing down. Not giving up since may 30th when they beat us up with batons. We will continue to be out here. Today we are demanding not only that they defund cpd. We are also demanding that they decolonize Zhigagagong (Chicago).” The crowd of more than 1000 people roared in applause. A person from Brave Space Alliance (https://twitter.com/bsalliancechi ) shared, “First and foremost, to all the black and brown people here today I want you to know that we have been involved in a lot of protests, a lot of demonstrations. But this right here is the best, most intentional, most beautiful display of black and brown joy that I have seen in a long time!” -They’re words were met by cheers..“if you’re here right now you are hyper aware of the times we are living in right now…. and this is not the time for your respectability politics.”

The solidarity march proceeded to the statue of the murderer Columbus and was very well organized. At their arrival, Police had already surrounded the statue and were guarding it, forming a barricade with their bikes. About a dozen cops in riot gear were on standby at the other side of the hill. Several police SUV’s had already lined up along the lawn west of the statue in Grant park. Streets had begun to be blocked off by cops. Before the people even reached the Columbus statue, the CPD had already demonstrated their power and authority to protect this symbol of racism and genocide. 

A local community member shared, “1492 Columbus sailed the ocean blue – that’s what I was taught in school when I was a kid. And what we have been taught is wrong. Columbus didn’t discover anything. He wasn’t looking for spices or India. He came to a land that he had heard about from African and Arab sailors. To look for a new place to throw the Portuguese flag up, as Europe was in the dark ages while the rest of the world flourished. He came and brutalized the Native people of what we call South, Central, and North America. A “discovery” to Europe that this land existed and that the earth was round. A discovery only to them. But people already lived here. And what followed is the history we all know. Not what they teach in school but what we hear from our Indigenous sisters and brothers. The genocide, theft of land, rape, murder. Columbus the carrier of plagues and pandemics, does not deserve a statue, or any status as an explorer or anything at all. He deserves to be condemned!”

The people marched towards the Columbus Statue, and upon seeing the cops surrounding it, started collectively chanting,  “Who do you serve? Who do you protect?”, as they made their way forward.  At which point fireworks were heard in and around Grant Park all the while the people kept chanting. The people would not be deterred. The mere act of protecting this symbol of hate and oppression by the CPD was an act of violence against the indigenous, black, and brown community. 

Police vehicles immediately mobilized from all directions, riot cops were on the scene within seconds and numerous cops on foot ran to protect the statue. Cops alleged water cans were being flung at them and started using tear gas against the demonstrators. Fireworks were being lit while onlookers watched and filmed from the sidelines. An indigenous femme wearing a ribbon skirt holding feathers awaited her chance at a round dance while CPD cowered right beside her.

The area around the statue was cleared of the police and artists came out and redecorated the base around the statue with phrases such as “Defund CPD”, “For Fred Hampton”, “Fuck Columbus”, “ACAB”, “Killer”, “Enough is enough” “The Cops are losing”, and more. Someone climbed on the already draped statue of Columbus, wrapped a rope around it and the crowd began to pull. Well organized and determined the people chanted, “Pull, Pull, Pull!”. Anticipation was high. Everyone wanted that statue down. It is shameful that Chicago, a city with a huge population of black, brown, indigenous, and immigrant peoples, has yet to take any racist statues down.

Unfortunately, the statue did not come down, and was interrupted by the police brutally attacking the crowd. An eloquent speaker from Good Kids Mad City (https://twitter.com/GKMC18 ) spoke at a press conference, “This past Friday, peacefully protesting downtown at the racist Columbus statue, showing our rights as citizens to protest against the injustices that have been placed in society. While the action continued, police officers were brought in to circle a group of young unarmed innocent group of people. They brought out tear gas, pepper spray, and mace. They were beating people. There were multiple instances of police brutality. People with their heads busted open, people who couldn’t breathe throughout the rest of the night, people whose skin was burning from pepper spray and one of our own members, an 18 year old girl who had her teeth knocked out.”

Police viciously and indiscriminately attacked anyone within their reach. Beating and arresting, their batons wacked hands, faces, bodies, pushed and punched women, youth, non binary folks, NLG lawyers, elders just anyone they could reach with their batons. They tried stealing peoples bikes and if the owner didn’t let go they beat their hands with batons and hit and push them until they let the bike go. The whiffs of healing sage were replaced by mace and pepper spray as frantic police sprayed unarmed people. Cries for medics and folks running to help one another was heard. Even though there was a fire truck and ambulance there, none of the people were treated in the ambulance for the burns and blood that ensued. Instead, the ambulance comforted the cops hit by a water bottle. There are various videos online showing the seriously violent and sociopathic behavior of the Chicago Police Department that have been, for many years now, training in military tactics and upping their supply of brutal weapons to use against Chicagoans.

A local Native activist shared some photos of frightened police on FB and wrote, “These pictures were taken at the same time, that’s me calmly standing there with my feathers and ribbon skirt waiting to round dance, while the cops were crying and ‘running for their life’ she went on, “When folks weren’t scared of their bullshit they decided to target less defensive people away from the folks defending themselves- the children, medics, photographers, disabled, and the elderly. We said people are more important than property, their response was ‘people’?”.

A Southwest Sider of Zhigaagong expressed, “It was very important and a delight to see CPD’s usual smugness exchanged for shock as protestors launched projectiles and fireworks at them in the initial attempt to clear the statue’s immediate space. The pigs’ faces showed a cognitive dissonance as the protestors’ offense intensified. It seems it was very hard for them to believe violence was being directed to THEM and not just to property, which is an important development in the uprising here in Zhigaagong. Let it be known: this was a multiracial action, contrary to the white supremacist media narrative that warriors in the uprising are foreign white agitators. We all have legitimate reasons to want to eliminate by any means necessary unelected, unaccountable marauders and assaulters who have the Authority of the State power but not our consent whatsoever. CPD and all other occupying forces are not chosen by us directly, therefore, they have no legitimacy and constitute invading and occupying forces. Invaders and occupiers have no rights, period. They do not even have the right to defend themselves from injury or death from those who violently oppose their illegitimate and violent presence. Adelante! “

After the Black and Indigenous Solidarity Rally, a lot of people were hurt, scared and confused. Some, mostly corporate media, blamed the few protesters who lit fireworks or threw water for the escalation of a mostly ‘peaceful’ protest, promoting a dialogue of ‘good’ protester, ‘bad’ protester.  One local Chicago compañerx wrote, “On Friday even before we arrived at Grant Park all the weapons were there, and so were the pumped up cops thirsty for blood. This is not a figure of speech. They surrounded us. We went to Grant Park that day in defense of Black and Indigenous lives. It is a peaceful act to tear down monuments to genocide and enslavement… The pigs repress, sabotage, beat, threaten and intimidate all those who stand against them no matter the tactics, no matter how calm, restrained or how chill we behave. Whenever we question the status quo and exercise forms of association they cannot control, whenever we make another world not just necessary, but actual, they undermine and repress us. On Friday people stood together and defended each other. Young Black organizers reminded us relentlessly to not panic, to not run away, to stick together, to form defensive lines, to take care of each other, to protect each other, to stay together. Do not panic, they are dividing the group, isolating this or that portion, separating and then attacking. People showed remarkable calm and restraint, and this was good not because it was “peaceful” to place your body and your bike between the pigs and other protesters but because it allowed us to protect instead of trample each other, which is clearly what the police wanted us to do. They ambushed and chased and threw people downhill hoping for a panicked stampede. They deliberately divided the group so they could more easily beat us up. And this is continuing even now, after the protest. They are hunting us down and tearing us apart. They are manufacturing the “provocation” that makes their position legitimate, and they are prying open divisions between protesters in order to do so. ”

However, some folks felt the organizers should have been more clear about the march and direct action that was to follow the rally. A Little Village resident expressed, “I’m feeling weird about that rally on Friday turning from a rally to a march & statue take over. I’m still not clear on how or why that happened. For safety reasons, I feel like people should be informed and be given the opportunity to consent to participate in putting their bodies at risk like that. There were children, differently abled bodies and undocumented folks in the crowd. People got hurt” She also had some suggestions we could all listen to, “I’d love to see that statue come down and I support the groups who want to do that. This is the part that concerns me, I don’t feel right about putting peoples lives at stake for an agenda that only some knew about and agreed to… I’ve been studying revolution, liberation and creating autonomous communities for some time. Transparency in mission is still key at every step of the way. We can build our own militia. Its not illegal to do so. But using people as pawns is a very, and i hate to put it this way, but white, patriarchal and colonial practice. So is only a few people making decisions for everyone. The revolution will be a slow, intentional & transparent one. I think we’ve all got some reading to do.”

The days following the Black and Indigenous Solidarity Rally saw more protests and many press conferences. On July 18, a march to the mayor of Chicago, Lori Lightfoot’s house was interrupted by Police blocking the road and continuing the brutality. (https://www.facebook.com/humboldtparkinchicago/videos/309669607079480/ ) A local Chicago compx wrote, “On Saturday evening at a Logan Square protest lead by Good Kids Mad City, people practiced incredible restraint in the face of massive police presence surrounding them, outnumbering them, provoking them, kettling them, threatening them for hours; the psychological assault was so intense a young woman near me passed out. But no one left, no one bailed, everyone stayed together. And still that evening a police car drove into protesters. It was intentional. They are now “investigating”, which means they will manufacture some kind of provocation. They brutalize us to justify their gear, their arsenal, their power and the necessity of their institution. Whether we stand in silence in a line as we did Saturday, or throw firecrackers and water bottles as some did Friday, the police brutalize us. These are merely different tactics, and we cannot afford to take any tactics off the table. They are all necessary. We are all necessary. “

At a press conference on July 20th by GoodKids MadCity, (https://www.facebook.com/Fox32Chicago/videos/729166491216253/ ) an organization of Black and Brown young people fighting to end violence and calling for more resources to under-served communities, a youth activist spoke, “This is a continuous thing that has been happening within these last few months of actions happening downtown of unarmed youth coming peacefully protesting, and we have more tactics and scare tactics and tanks coming in…[Lightfoot] She brings out thousands of cop cars, tanks with weapons with guns and tasers for unarmed youth. She invests 1.8 billion dollars into the Chicago Police Department. She has a 33 million dollar contract with CPD to be in CPS schools to brutalize young students. To brutalize young black and brown students CPD gets five million dollars a day.” She also went on to explain about food deserts and lack of mental health facilities. On how folks have to drive 30 minutes to get groceries, but the north side and downtown has ample resources. And black and brown south and west sides struggle for food and basic necessities. “Lori Lightfoot would rather protect statues than the citizens who live in the city. Come on. Objects instead of living bodies in the city of Chicago. As somebody who is black. Somebody who has the same skin as us and she’s not protecting those who look like us. If she didn’t have that title she would be in the same predicament as us. She’s not funding us. No she’s not taking care of us. She’s not making sure that young black women are safe that young black women are being protected. She sent those officers out .. [who] were brutalizing young black women, black girls, people not over the age of 18, beaten pepper sprayed. This is what has been happening in this city every single day for the past month for the past year past decade…   But we are here to let Lori and the CPD know that we aint taking this no more. We’re not taking this. No more funding that’s going to people that brutalize us, murder us, sexually assault us. We’re not gonna take it anymore…Funding needs to go to black and brown communities not to send cops into schools. ”

Miracle Boyd, an 18 year old recent graduate of Chicago Public Schools and also a part of GoodKids BadCity, was the young woman who got her teeth knocked out by a Chicago Police Officer. She also spoke at the press conference on Monday and expressed, ” I fight every day in my community to end gun violence… I was attacked by CPD who valued a supremacist statue over my life, safety, and well being.  Christopher Columbus did not discover America. He was a rapist, murderer, thief and colonizer who layed the groundwork for indigenous genocide and the trans atlantic slave trade of Africans. Yet the police are defending the statue of a man who died more than 500 years ago. The police are not serving and protecting us. There is now way I should have left a protest bruised and battered for exercising my freedom of speech…since then, my life has been threatened. I’ve received several hate messages” She began to tear up and fellow organizers surrounded her hugging and giving support. She continued sternly, “I will not be defamed by the media… I am not a criminal. I am not a  menace. I am not a rebel. I am a dedicated freedom fighter who will always stand up for black and brown people across America!”

    The bronze statue on a cement slab, covered with a white drape resembling the kkk, was rapidly cleaned of the art, surrounded by new fences, patrolled by security vehicles, and now cameras are also facing it. A group of protesters gathered close by on the night of July 20 to show their continuing disgust for it.  Police are still protecting this non-living object, instead of protecting people. Clearly this is their only goal, to protect Racism and serve Colonialism.  The Chicago Police Department was built for oppression and has shown time and again that it can only do that. We need to be freed from these oppressors. CPD needs to be abolished. Resources need to be re-allocated to communities of color; to schools, hospitals, social services, to people directly, and not the Police State. Land must be given back to Native peoples so they can teach us all how to care for and flourish with the Earth. The Black, Indigenous, and Brown people of Chicago want freedom, and we are not going to back down!

#Defund CPD! #Decolonize Zhigaagong!

https://twitter.com/hashtag/decolonizezhigaagoong

https://twitter.com/hashtag/defundcpd

Other articles to check out:

https://thetriibe.com/2020/07/gkmc-organizer-miracle-boyd-and-other-organizers-stand-firm-in-their-demands-to-defund-police-after-decolonize-zhigaagoong-protest/

https://www.injusticewatch.org/news/2020/youth-leader-miracle-boyd-attacked-by-chicago-police-at-black-indigenous-solidarity-rally/

https://crimethinc.com/2020/07/21/accounts-from-the-battle-of-grant-park-how-chicago-demonstrators-pushed-back-the-police-and-nearly-toppled-a-statue

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A Defender las Vidas Negras – Una cronica sobre solidaridad con BLM y contra la Anti-Negritude

In Defense of Black life – Brown People for Black Power! |

A Defender las Vidas Negras – Brown Gente por Black Poder!

Chicago, Illinois

No es suficiente afirmar que apoyamos el movimiento Black Lives Matter; También debemos defender activamente las vidas negras.

La gente Brown (osea ‘gente de color’ osea personas de piel cafe y moreno que nos son identificados como negro, ‘black’) está saliendo en solidaridad con Black Lives Matter, Las Vidas Negras Importan contra la policía, las pandillas y los supremacistas blancos en defensa de la vida negra. Las personas ‘Brown’, incluidos, entre otros, Nativos, Asiáticos, Latinos, y inmigrantes participan solidariamente con el movimiento Black Lives Matter y se enfrentan a la lucha contra la anti-negritud en sus propias comunidades.

Compartimos primero un vistazo a los lados sur y oeste de Chicago [durante las manifestaciones in Junio] En medio de las crecientes tensiones raciales en comunidades ‘black y brown; habitantes y aliados ( a la causa BLM ) de la comunidad de Little Village y Pilsen salieron a las calles para denunciar la violencia y el acoso contra l@s afroamericanxs y la anti-negritud en sus comunidades. El 2 de Junio de 2020, en la calle 18 y Blue Island – una esquina también conocida como Plaza Tenochtitlan- se restauró una ofrenda-altar de “Brown People for Black Power” despues que organizadores “ChiResists” mencionaron que dicho el altar había sido destruido el fin de semana anterior.
Esto se produjo después de que se reportó violencia de pandillas interraciales en los lados sur y oeste de Chicago el fin de semana del 30 de mayo al 1 de junio y continuo-
Una mujer afroamericana fue acosada por miembros de pandillas afuera del restaurante “Coyotes” en la 18 cuando “condujo desde el lado norte, solo “para comprar buenos tacos” como ella afirmo en un video que fue replicado en redes sociales.
Desafortunadamente, aunque algunas personas registraron el incidente no hicieron nada para ayudarla. Las personas negras estaban siendo hostigadas y atacadas y les arrojaban cosas a sus autos a través del territorio de pandillas “latinas”. Estos vecinos pedían ayuda y denunciaban ataques y temían por su vida en Facebook.
A altas horas de la noche, un residente de Pilsen vio un automóvil lleno de jóvenes negros siendo interrogados por CPD en la calle 18 después de que su automóvil fue alcanzado por disparos. Los pandilleros continuaron poniendo miedo en los corazones de los vecinos. Un joven residente de Pilsen dijo que escuchó que “ se disparó “ un rifle automático alrededor de las 9.00pm, otro comerciante local informó que esa misma noche “vio un camión lleno de personas deteniéndose con armas”. Miembros de la comunidad de estos dos barrios más Lawndale, Humboldt Park, Cicero, South Shore y muchos más vecindarios en los lados sur y oeste publicaron frenéticamente en Facebook toda la noche sobre disparos. Desafortunadamente, en los vecindarios donde el miedo al saqueo y las protestas habían llegado al punto de que algunos apoyaban a la policía que trabajaban con las pandillas,
afirmando que estaban “protegiendo el barrio”… Un volante de la Cámara de Comercio de Little Village fue explícito sobre las pandillas locales, policías, la comunidad y los comerciantes que “se unieron “ contra los saqueadores para proteger el barrio.

Sin embargo, muchos vieron más allá de esto; Un miembro de la comunidad escribió: “Esto no se trata de” proteger el barrio, esto es una gran muestra de poder machista, si “los Bangers “ estaban tan preocupados por la comunidad ¿Cuando se han enfrentado a Gentrificadores o contra el desalojo de familias? ¿Donde han estado contra ICE, la migra o por los derechos de imigrantes? Ahora correteando con pistolas, acariciando a la policía en la espalda, pintando símbolos de pandillas para que nadie más pueda rociar “Black Lives Matter” esparciendo el miedo para que el pueblo no marche abiertamente en la calle contra la violencia policial, pero Las pandillas, los policías y algunos intereses de las grandes empresas tambien “se unieron” … solo para demostrar que la policía se unirá a las pandillas ahora no solo por debajo, sino abiertamente para oprimir a comunidades enteras usando tácticas conocidas para dividir y conquistar… iiQue se sepa que las pandillas no estan’ Protegiendo el barrio’!!
simplemente patrullan su territorio como siempre… los matones más grandes del bloque con armas de fuego.
La policía ha estado ayudando e incitando en esta violencia, Recientemente en una situación particularmente volátil, el décimo recinto policial fue escuchado en el escáner diciendo: “Se están disparando el uno al otro”, en referencia a un tiroteo entre pandillas “negro” y “latino” desde sus automóviles y la respuesta de otro llamado “oficial de paz” fue de “Déjelos hacerlo”. Y si las pandillas y la policía no fueran suficientes, también grupos de supremacistas blancos e individuos estan atacando a personas negras en nuestros vecindarios y protestas. Hay reportes que el grupo “Proud Boys” presentes en Bridgeport y en muchas acciones.
La marcha de la unidad -Black and Brown- fue organizada por personas del barrio, especialmente ChiResists y otros colectividades e individuos, la mayoría de ell@s, latinx o “latino”, es decir, personas de México, Puerto Rico, el Caribe, América Central y/o América del Sur con diferentes mezclas de raíces africanas, indígenas y españolas.

Fue seguido por otra marcha en Little Village el 3 de junio a las 10 am que incluyó a Danzantes ofreciendo oraciones por la defensa de la vida negra y muchos valientes de la comunidad dispuestos a confrontar miembros de pandillas para garantizar la seguridad de sus vecinos; organizadores de Chi Resiste expresaron, “estamos aquí porque lxs negrxs han sido atacados en Little Village, alguien mas fue asesinado, Una madre negra y sus hijos fueron atacados,le quemaron su auto y le dispararon; entonces, esta es una respuesta a la violencia contra lxs negrxs que ha estado ocurriendo en las comunidades “ latinas”, no hay necesidad de tener miedo. ¡Hay que profundizar en torno a esto y protegernos mutuamente!

Durante los discursos, un joven afroamericano, miembro de la comunidad habló: “Soy miembro de “Good Kids Mad City”, vivo en el lado Este de Chicago y hoy estoy aquí para mantenerme firme en la solidaridad negra y latina, les pido a mis hermanos Latin Kings y a mis hermanos de Little Village asi como a mis hermanos Vice Lord de Lawndale lleguen a una paz y comprensión como lo hicieron en el pasado cuando las tensiones raciales eran altas. Podemos encontrar la paz y el respeto mutuo nuevamente. Esta es una nueva era, en la que el negro y el moreno son uno debido a nuestras similitudes, donde nuestro trabajo sea proactivo hacia nuestras diferencias. Este es un momento para comunicar nuestros problemas para que podamos trabajar hacia una solución. Las comunidades negras y morenas en el lado sur y oeste de Chicago se ven afectadas por el racismo ambiental, la discriminación racial, la discriminación sistemática y los siglos de exclusión.
Tanto es así que puede ser difícil para algunos asimilar el trauma que hemos sufrido, lo que nos dificulta determinar cómo en realidad se ha frenado la movilidad social y económica de negros y latinos. Ambos estamos sujetos a la negación de nuestros derechos básicos en los Estados Unidos, la tierra que pertenece a sus ancestros indígenas y que colonizadores obligaron a mis ancestros a estar aquí, Necesitamos redirigir esa energía a una causa para la comunidad negra y morena. ¡Somos más fuertes juntos que divididos … porque somos familia! ”

Más tarde ese día, el 3 de junio, vimos otra marcha de la Unidad Black and Brown en Pilsen, aún más grande; las consignas incluyeron las mismas que las protestas en todo el país: “No Justicia No Paz! ¡No a la policía racista! “ Black Lives Matter ”, diciendo los nombres de Breonna Taylor y George Floyd “Fuck 12” y “Las Vidas Negras Importan!”
Una integrante de la comunidad mexicana danzante escribió: “Durante la marcha, una hermosa hermana negra se me acercó y me agradeció por hacer que los danzantes ofrecieran canciones y bailes sagrados; ella dijo que sentía a los antepasados ​​y le tocó el alma y el corazón, era una medicina que necesitaba; espera que más grupos espirituales ofrezcan esta medicina en momentos como este en público.
Esta es la medicina que necesitan nuestras comunidades por eso hacemos esto, sus palabras tocaron mi corazón y mi espíritu.
Tlazokamati a todos los danzantes por ofrecer su energía y a quienes organizaron por darnos espacio para ofrecer este medicamento a la comunidad “.

Estos esfuerzos fueron solo uno de tantas iniciativas en Chicago para no solo apoyar sino defender las vidas de las personas negras.
Se han producido protestas similares contra las pandillas que atacan a los vecinos negros en Little Village y Lawndale Highschool (5 de junio) Marquette Park (5 de junio), Humboldt Park (6 de junio) el vecindario East Side, Cicero, Brighton Park, Gage Park y más lugares en toda la ciudad.
Entre todo esto surgio el grupo de Respuesta Rápida “Brown Squad for Black Lives “ para responder a las necesidades de los vecinos Afroamericanxs, especialmente si necesitan protección o ayuda para enfrentar a personas racistas. Este es un esfuerzo coordinado que proporciona recursos, apoyo y respuesta que incluye traslados, alojamiento, comida y servicios médicos.

Todos estos esfuerzos son solo algo de tanto que está sucediendo en Chicago y sus alrededores y es muy inspirador. La misma comunidad Mexica danzante expresó: “A todas mi gente mexicanas / latinas que viven en Pilsen, Little Village, Cicero, Back of the Yards, doy gracias, gracias por responder de inmediato a la antinegritud en nuestras comunidades, esto es un movimiento, no un momento y tenemos que seguir haciendo este trabajo.
En la última semana he visto círculos de paz, marchas de base para la solidaridad en nuestras comunidades, iniciativas lideradas por jóvenes negros y latinos (poderosas), equipo de respuesta de personas morenas para personas negras, murales solidarios, arte, canciones y bailes, sanación, comunidades trabajando juntas para restaurar el daño y mostrar solidaridad con nuestras hermanas y hermanos negros, esto ha sido muy inspirador, sigamos trabajando juntos, personas morenas por vidas negras. este es el Chicago en el que creo, amo mi ciudad ”.


No es solo Latinx, la comunidad indígena también ha estado presente con toda su fuerza, especialmente en Minnesota, donde se fundó AIM, American Indian Movement, y sus integrantes han salido a las calles contra la violencia policial. Desde Chicago, el Consejo Juvenil Chi-Nations publicó una declaración el 1 de junio: “Como organización que defiende la vida y el futuro de los jóvenes nativos, debemos reconocer que muchos miembros de nuestra comunidad también son negros. Los caminos entre los nativos y los negros están entrelazados a lo largo de la historia y en todo el país. Nuestra comunidad tiene un legado negro. Debemos defender las vidas y el futuro de nuestras hermanas, hermanos y parientes negros. Todos los días, los negros tienen que caminar por este mundo, mirando por encima del hombro. A una edad temprana, los niños negros son sentados por sus padres y se les dice que este país está construido para derribarlos, para destruir vidas negras. Los negros y morenos tienen una larga historia de criminalización en este país. Y lo único que aparentemente han hecho mal es ser negros en Estados Unidos. El 25 de mayo, las familias negras de todo el país tuvieron que sentarse una vez más con sus hijos y explicarles lo que significa ser negro en Estados Unidos. El 26 de mayo, esas familias negras dijeron: “¡no más!” Hoy, estamos con nuestros familiares y decimos: “¡no más!” Ya no podemos soportar las lágrimas, las conversaciones y las vidas quitadas. Estas protestas, disturbios y violencia no son un acto de venganza o represalia. Son una respuesta. Una respuesta a cientos de años de violencia infligida sobre ellos. Cientos de años sin voz e invisibilidad. Recuerde que nuestro trabajo como aliados es escuchar y respetar las necesidades de los negros. Si eso significa pararse junto a ellos en primera línea, que así sea. Si eso significa estar detrás de ellos y apoyarlos allí, que así sea. Si eso significa hacer ruido, que así sea. Estamos contigo. Juntos, los nativos y los negros han construido este país sin querer, juntos debemos destruyir estas estructuras coloniales ”.

Toda la ‘gente de color’ han presentado para la vida de los negros, incluidos los inmigrantes. Muchas personas han escuchado la historia del restaurante Gandhi Mahal que se quemó en Minnesota durante los primeros días del levantamiento. El propietario Ruhel Islam, un inmigrante de Bangladesh, dice que “la vida es más valiosa que cualquier otra cosa”. Podemos reconstruir un edificio. Pero no podemos devolver a este hombre a su familia “. Estaba preparando “daal” y más alimentos la noche anterior para repartir entre los manifestantes. Además, algunas personas pueden haber leído sobre Rahul Dubey, un indio americano que abrió su hogar a más de 70 manifestantes en Washington DC que estaban siendo atacados con gas lacrimógeno y arrinconadxs en los bloques del vecindario para un arresto fácil después del toque de queda de las 7pm. Los manifestantes fueron alojados allí toda la noche y Dubey se negó a permitir que la policía entrara. Dijo que estaba haciendo lo que todos en Estados Unidos deberían estar haciendo en este momento. Sobre el terreno aquí en Chicago, muchos grupos y colectivos de personas Asiáticas han estado apoyando el movimiento BLM no solo asistiendo a las protestas sino también ofreciendo pagar los viajes para personas atrapadas después del toque de queda, como la organización Chicago Desi Youth Rising. Los activistas del sur de Asia también han estado creando foros de arte, charlas y materiales para enfrentar la lucha contra la anti-negritude..

Activista local del sur de Asia dijo: “Como asiáticos, hemos sido pintados como la ” minoría modelo “por el capitalismo, lo que en realidad está relacionado con el hecho de que muchos asiáticos obtuvieron visas profesionales en los años 70 y 80. Entonces, hoy en día, hay muchos ‘Desis’, (es decir gente de India, Pakistan, Bangladesh y Sri Lanka) encalados que se benefician de este privilegio. No entienden mucho sobre el racismo en los EE. UU. porque pueden haber estado en su mayoría protegidos, muchos crecieron en la clase media y / o en los suburbios o alrededor de personas blancas. Eso no quiere decir que no experimenten racismo anti-morena y anti-inmigrante, pero hay diferentes niveles de esto en nuestra comunidad. Muchos inmigrantes indios, especialmente en las últimas décadas, están trabajando en trabajos manuales en estaciones de servicio, restaurantes, sitios de construcción, granjas junto a otros inmigrantes “.

Ella continuó: “India tiene una larga historia de confrontar al” hombre blanco “en nuestra tierra. Los movimientos de libertad de la India y los movimientos de derechos civiles se inspiraron mutuamente. Por ejemplo, Martin Luther King Jr fue influenciado por el movimiento no violento de Gandhi contra los británicos. Pero el levantamiento en India contra el dominio británico no fue pasivo. Muchas personas utilizaron la acción directa y tomaron las armas para luchar contra los británicos hasta que “acordaron” irse. Mucha historia depende de la versión que leas. La primera guerra por la independencia de la India en 1857 se denomina “motín” en la historia occidental. Más allá de eso, como Gente de Color tenemos que ver que todos los derechos que tenemos en EEUE hoy son el resultado del movimiento de Derechos Civiles. ¡Gracias hermanos y hermanas negrxs! Por lo tanto, debemos enfrentarnos a la lucha contra la anti-negritud aquí en los Estados Unidos, pero también en la India y nuestras comunidades del sur de Asia, donde, como muchas culturas asiáticas, el blanco y la piel clara, se considera mejor. Esto no es solo el resultado de la colonización, sino de siglos del sistema de castas, siglos de violencia interétnica y siglos de opresión contra varias comunidades, incluidos los dalit (considerados “intocables” por el sistema de castas) que en realidad son indígenas de la región, más que los brahmanes y algunos grupos de musulmanes con piel más clara que llegó al subcontinente desde Asia Central. De todos modos, como subcontinente, estoy feliz de ver todos los colores de la piel en la India, desde el blanco piel pastoso de Kashmir hasta el moreno oscuro en Kerala de cabello rizado. Todavía hay mucho que desempaquetar y comprender sobre la devaluación del “kala”,conocido como “negro” en nuestras culturas. Pero como Kali Mata, la madre negra, sigue siendo la diosa más popular, ¡estoy seguro de que nos mostrará el camino para derrocar los sistemas opresores en los que vivimos! “

De vuelta en Chicago, las tensiones multidimensionales continúan. Debe tenerse en cuenta al momento de escribir, que los Proud Boys siguen siendo una amenaza en el vecindario de Bridgeport, amante de la policía. Bridgeport y los residentes vecinos están llevando a cabo esfuerzos de organización para enfrentar a los supremacistas blancos. Pero hará que las personas den un paso adelante, al igual que la violencia de pandillas interraciales, aunque se está enfrentando, también sigue siendo una amenaza.

La policía todavía está atacando a nuestras hermanas y hermanos negros y a cualquier persona que protesta contra el Estado policial. Como dijo un residente de Chicago: “¡A todas las personas de todas las razas! Debemos continuar siendo solidarios con el movimiento Black Lives Matter, continuar asistiendo a protestas y eventos organizados por organizaciones negras como Black Lives Matters Chicago, BYP100 más grupos de vecinos e individuos. Debemos seguir apoyando los esfuerzos y, si no podemos, debemos seguir presenciando a Hyde Park, Bronzeville, South Shore, Englewood, el centro de la ciudad y en todas partes los negros están pidiendo justicia. Necesitamos seguir hablando en contra de la violencia policial hasta que abolamos la Policía, que reemplazaremos con sistemas de justicia transformadores. Sigue haciendo apoyo en la cárcel. Siga donando al Chicago Community Bond Fund. Sigue pidiendo justicia para Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, Ahmaud Aubrey, Tony McDade, Iyona Dior y muchos más. – Pero no solo eso, también debemos defender activamente las vidas negras con nuestros cuerpos y voces. Y debemos seguir confrontando la lucha contra la anti-negritud en nuestras familias, comunidades y vecindarios, hasta que desaparezca de esta hermosa Tierra ”.


Estas son las 10 demandas del BLMCHI, Black Lives Matters ( las vidas negras importan)- Chicago
1. El cierre de Homan Square: Nosotros estamos exigiendo el cierre inmediato de Homan Square(y todos los “sitios oscuros” donde 7,000 personas fueron desaparecidxs.
2. CPAC Ahora: Nosotrxs exigimos la implementacion inmediata de un grupo de contabilidad policiaca civico, con el mandato de la inclusion de lxs sobrevivientes y familias de las victimas de tortura policiaca y violencia- tal como se vote en cada barrio. Rechazamos propuestas burguesas de elecciones, que expande el alcanze del estado a la vida del pueblo.
3. No Policias En Las Escuelas: El cancelamiento del contrato de CPD con CPS. Dar fondos para las practicas de restauracion en todas las escuelas. Haz a todas las escuelas comunitarias sostenibles.
4. Contabilidad por lxs Fallecidxs Debido a la Matanza Policiaca y Tortura: Nosotrxs exigimos la despedida inmediata de todxs lxs policias y oficiales gobermentales involucradxs en la tortura y ofuscar las muertes de Pierre Loury y Ronald Johnson. Nosotrxs exigimos que le quiten la pension a Dante Servin por la muerte de Rekia Boyd y quitarle la pension a todxs lxs policias que cometieron tortura.
5.Justicia Para Todxs Que Han Matado Lxs Policias: Nosotrxs exigimos lxs nombres de lxs policias involucradxs en matar a cualquier persona en la ciudad de Chicago mientras perdura la fuerza policiaca de Chicago. Exigimos que vuelvan abrir los casos cerrados. Tenemos que saber la profundidad de la brutalidad.
6. Despide Inmediatamente a Lxs Policias Que Matan y Abusan: Exigimos el despido inmediato de lxs policias del CPD: Kevin Fry, George Hernandez, y Robert Rialmo por asesinar a Cedric Chatman, Ronald Johnson, Bettie Jones, y Quintonio LeGrier y exigir cargos criminales por el aseseniato de cada uno. Exigir el despido inmediato de lxs policias Oficiales Murphy y Lopez por la golpiza brutal del Pastor Catherine Brown.
7. Terminar Con El Encarcelamiento Juvenil: Exigimos el cierre inmediato del centro de detencion juvenil del condado de Cook, la carcel juvenil mas grande del pais.
8. Desembolsar La Policia: Exigimos desembolsar la CPD y dirigir la inversion de fondos fuera del ambito policiaco, representa el 40% del propuesto de la ciudad y resulta en $4 millones al dia que se gasta en la policia.

9.Invertir Los Recursos En La Comunidad: Exigimos que los fondos sean invertidos en nuestras comunidades para abrir 50 escuelas, centros de salud mental, vivienda para la gente sin techo, centros de crisis, centros para la recuperacion de drogas, un programa de trabajo para todxs aquellxs sin empleo.
10. Suelta Lxs Presxs Torturadxs Por Jon Burge: Exigimos la liberacion inmediata de lxs sobre vivientes de la tortura en la carcel. El ex-comandante del CPD Jon Burge y sus companerxs torturaron a mas de 100 Afro descendientes y Latinos ( el mas joven de 13) Algunxs permanecen en el cautiverio apesar de admitir que fueron torturadxs. Liberacion Ahora!


In Defense of Black life – Brown People for Black Power!
by

In Defense of Black life – Brown People for Black Power!

A Medios Libre/Free Media Project – Chicago Illinois

It is not enough to claim we support the Black Lives Matter movement; we must also actively defend Black life.

Brown people are coming out in droves against Police, gangs, and white supremacists in defense of Black life. Brown people including but not limited to Native, Asian, immigrants, and ‘Latinx’ are participating in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement as well as confronting anti blackness in their own communities.

First a look at Chicago’s South and West sides.  Amid rising racial tensions in Black and Brown Neighborhoods, Community members from the communities of Little Village and Pilsen took to the streets together to denounce Anti-Black violence and harassment in their communities.  An alter for, “Brown People for Black Power” was restored in Pilsen, on June 2nd, 2020 at 18th and Blue Island also known as Plaza Tenochtitlan, after Chi Resists organizers said the Black Lives Matters alter had been destroyed over the previous weekend.

This came after Interracial gang violence was reported across the South and West sides of Chicago the weekend of May 30 to June 1st and continues.   A black woman was harassed by gang members outside of El Coyotes restaurant on 18th Street when she “drove all the way from the north side”, as she said just to get some good tacos. Unfortunately, even though some people recorded the incident, they did not do anything to help. Black people were being harassed and attacked, having things hurled at them in their cars across ‘Latino’ gang territory.  Black neighbors were calling out for help and reporting attacks and being fearful for their life on Facebook. Late at night a Pilsen resident saw a car full of black youth being interrogated by CPD on 18th Street after their car was hit by gunfire.  Gang bangers continued to place fear in the hearts of neighbors. One youth resident of Pilsen said he heard an automatic rifle go off around 9 pm June 1st, Monday.  A local shopkeeper reported that same night he “saw a truck full of people pull up with guns”. Community members from the two hoods plus Lawndale, Humboldt Park, Cicero, South Shore, and more neighborhoods all across the South and West sides were posting on Facebook frantically all night about gun shots.  Claiming to be, “protecting the hood”, the gang members unfortunately had some support in the neighborhoods where the fear of looting and protests had overtaken to the point that some were supporting the Police who were working with gangs. One flyer from the Little Village Chamber of Commerce was explicit about local gangs, cops, community, and shop keepers coming together against looters to protect the neighborhood.

However, many saw past this. One community member wrote, “This is Not About “Protecting the Hood” This is a gross Machista power display, if the Bangers so concerned about community, where were they to stand up against Gentrification? Or against families being evicted? Or against Ice or for Immigrant Rights?  Now running around with guns, patting police on the back, graffitiing gang symbols So No One else can Spray ‘Black Lives Matter’ making community fearful to march on the street openly against Police Violence! Gangs, Cops, and some Big business interests joined hands…It just goes to show the Police will join Gangs now not just downlow, but openly to Oppress whole communities using fear tactics for divide and conquer… Let it be known the Gangs are not ‘Protecting the Hood’ they are just patrolling Their Turf like always… biggest Bullies on the Block with guns”

Police have been aiding and abetting in this violence.  At a particularly volatile situation, the 10th precinct Cops were overheard on the Police Scanner saying, “They’re shooting at each other”, in reference to a ‘black’ and ‘Latino’ intergang shootout from their cars. The response from another so called ‘peace officer’, “Let em do it”.   And if the gangs and cops were not enough there have also been white supremacist groups and individuals attacking black people in our neighborhoods and protests.  Reports have been made of ‘Proud Boys’ in Bridgeport and at many actions. 

The Black and Brown Unity march was organized by folks in the neighborhood, notably Chi Resists and other collectives and individuals most of them, Latinx, or ‘Latino’, that is to say peoples from Mexico, Caribbean, Central and/or South America with varying mixtures of African, Indigenous and Spanish roots. The BnB Unity March was followed by another march in Little Village on June 3rd at 10am which included Danzantes offering prayers for the defense of Black Life and many brave community members willing to confront gang members to ensure the safety of their black neighbors.  Chi Resists organizers expressed, “we’re here because black people have been attacked in Little Village. Someone was killed. A black mother and her kids were attacked. Her car was burned, and she was shot at. So, this is a response to the anti-black violence that’s been happening in Latino communities. There is no need to be scared.  We deep and we will protect each other!”

During the speeches,  a young black community member spoke, “I am a member of Chicago’s Good Kids Mad city, I live on the East side of Chicago and I’m here today to stand firm in Black and Latinx solidarity. I’m asking that that my Latin King brothers and my Little Village brothers and my Vice lord brothers from the Lawndale come to a peace and understanding like they’ve done in the past when racial tensions were high. We can find peace and mutual respect again. This is a new age. An age when black and brown are one because of our similarities. Where our work to be proactive towards our differences. This is a time for communicating our problems so we can work towards a solution. Both black and brown communities in the south and west side of Chicago are affected by environmental racism, racial discrimination, systematic discrimination, and centuries of exclusion. So much so that it may be hard for some to assimilate the trauma which we have endured which makes it hard for us to determine how it actually has slowed both Black and Latino social and economic mobility. We are both subject to the denial of our basic rights on US soil the land which belongs to your indigenous ancestors and which my ancestors were forced to be in America by the colonizers. We need to redirect that energy to a cause for the Black and Brown community. We are stronger together than we are divided… because we are family!”

Later that day on June 3rd, we saw another Black and Brown Unity march in Pilsen. This one even bigger. The march chants included many of the same as the protests nationwide, “No Justice No Peace! No racist Police!”, “Black Lives Matter”, saying the names of Breonna Taylor and George Floyd. Along with, “Fuck 12” and “Las Vidas Negras Importan!”   A community Mexica danzante wrote, “Yesterday during the march, a beautiful black sister came up to me and thanked me for having the danzantes offer sacred songs and dances. She said she felt the ancestors and it touched her soul and heart, this was medicine that she needed, and she hopes more spiritual groups would offer this medicine during times like this in public. This is the medicine our communities need.  This is why we do this. Her words touched my heart and spirit. Tlazokamati to all the danzantes for offering your energia to the community and for the organizers for giving us space to offer this medicine to the community.”

These efforts were just one of many across Chicago to not just support but defend Black lives. Similar protests against gangs targeting black neighbors have happened and are happening in Little Village and Lawndale Highschool (June 5), Marquette Park (June 5), Humboldt Park (June 6), the East Side neighborhood , Cicero, Brighton Park, Gage Park plus many more places throughout the city.  

  Amongst all of this, the Brown Squad for Black Lives Rapid Response Team was also created to respond to any needs of black neighbors especially if/when needing protection or help confronting racist people. This is a coordinated effort providing resources, support, and response for Black community members in Chicago this includes rides, housing, food runs, and medics, plus de-escalation rapid response.

  All these efforts are just some of what is happening in and around Chicago and it is all very inspiring. The same community Mexica danzante expressed, “To all my Mexican/Latinx people living in Pilsen, Little Village, Cicero, Back of the Yards, thank you, gracias for immediately responding to the antiblackness in our communities. This is a movement not a moment. We have to continue to do this work.  In the last week I have seen black & mexican peace circles, grassroots marches for solidarity in our communities, black & Latinx youth led initiatives (powerful), brown people for black people response team, solidarity murals, art, songs and dance, healing, communities working together to restore harm and show solidarity with our black sisters and brother, it has been very inspiring, lets continue to work together, brown people for black lives. This is the Chicago that I believe in, love my city.”

The Indigenous community has also been present full force, especially in Minnesota, where AIM, American Indian Movement was founded, and members took to the streets against Police violence. Here in Chicago, the Chi-Nations Youth Council posted a statement on June 1st, “As an organization that stands for the lives and futures of Native youth, we must recognize that many members in our community are also Black. The paths between Natives and Black people are intertwined throughout history and around the country. Our community has a Black legacy. We must stand for the lives and futures of our Black brothers, sisters, and relatives. Every day, Black people have to walk this world, looking over their shoulder. At a young age, Black children are sat down by their parents and told that this country is built to bring them down, to destroy Black lives. Black and Brown people have a long history of being criminalized in this country. And the only thing they have apparently done wrong is being Black in America.  On May 25, Black families around the country had to once again, sit down with their children and explain what it means to be Black in America. On May 26, those Black families said, “no more!” Today, we stand with our relatives and say, “no more!” We can no longer take the tears, the talks, and the lives taken away. These protests, riots, and violence are not an act of revenge or retaliation. They are a response. A response to hundreds of years of violence inflicted upon them. Hundreds of years of voicelessness and invisibility.  Remember that our jobs as allies is to listen and respect the needs of Black people. If that means to stand beside them on front lines, then so be it. If that means to stand behind them and support them there, then so be it. If that means make noise, then so be it. We are with you. Together Native and Black people have built this country unwillingly, together we must tear these colonial structures down.”

All brown people have been showing up for Black lives, immigrants included.  Many people have heard the story of Gandhi Mahal restaurant that burned up in Minnesota during the first few days of the uprising. The owner Ruhel Islam, an immigrant from Bangladesh is quoted as saying “Life is more valuable than anything else. We can rebuild a building. But we cannot give this man back to his family.” He was making ‘daal’ and more foods just the night before to give out to protesters. Also, some people may have read about Rahul Dubey, an Indian American who opened his home to more than 70 protesters in Washington DC who were being teargassed and kettled into neighborhood blocks for easy arrest after the 7pm curfew. The protesters were sheltered there all night with Dubey refusing to allow the police to enter.  He said he was doing what everyone in America should be doing right now.  On the ground here in Chicago, many groups and collectives of Asian folks have been supporting the BLM movement by not just attending protests but also offering to pay for rides for people stuck after curfew, like the Chicago Desi Youth Rising organization. South Asian activists have also been creating art hosting forums, talks and materials on confronting Anti-blackness. 

South Asian local Activist said, “As Asians we have been painted as the ‘model minority’ by capitalism, which is actually related to the fact that many Asians came on professional visas in the 70s and 80s. So today, there are many whitewashed Desis, i.e. people from the subcontinent, who benefit from this privilege. They don’t understand a lot about racism in the US because they may have been mostly sheltered, many growing up middle class and/or in the suburbs or around white people. That’s not to say they don’t experience anti-brown and anti-immigrant racism, but there are different levels of this in our community. Many Indian immigrants especially in the recent decades, are working blue collar jobs at gas stations, restaurants, construction sites, farms alongside other immigrants.”

She continued, “India has a long history of confronting the ‘white man’ on our land. Indian freedom movements and Civil Rights Movements were highly inspired by each other. For example, Martin Luther King Jr was influenced by Gandhi’s nonviolent movement against the British.  But the uprising in India against British rule was not passive at all.  Many people used direct action and took up arms to fight the British until they ‘agreed’ to leave. A lot of history depends on whose version you read. The first war for independence of India in 1857 is termed the ‘Mutiny’ in western history.  Beyond that, as People of Color we gotta see that every right we have today is a result of the Civil Rights movement. Thank you, Black brothers and sisters! So, we must confront anti-blackness here in the US but also in India and our south Asian communities, where like many Asian cultures, white is considered better. This is not just a result of colonization, but of centuries of the caste system, centuries of interethnic violence, and centuries of oppression against various communities including the Dalits (deemed ‘untouchables’ by the Caste system) who are actually indigenous to the region, more so than Brahmins and some groups of Muslims with lighter skin that arrived to the subcontinent from Central Asia. Anyway, as a subcontinent, I’m happy to see every skin color in India from the pasty white Kashmiri to the dark brown, curly haired Keralite.  There is still a lot to unpack and understand about devaluing the ‘kala’, aka ‘black’ in our cultures.  But as Kali Mata is still the most popular goddess, I’m sure she will show us the way to overthrow the oppressing systems we live in!”

Back on the ground in Chicago, the multidimensional tensions continue.  It must be noted at the time of writing, that the Proud Boys are still a threat in the Cop loving neighborhood of Bridgeport.  Organizing efforts are underway by Bridgeport and neighboring residents to confront the white supremacists.  But it will take people stepping up, just as interracial gang violence, though it is being confronted, is also still a threat. 

The Police are still attacking our Black sisters and brothers and any people protesting the Police State. As one Brown Chicago resident put it, “To all people of all races! We must continue to stand in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement, continue to attend protests and events organized by Black organizations like Black Lives Matters Chicago, BYP100 plus neighborhood groups and individuals. We must keep going to support efforts and if we cannot, we must keep witnessing Hyde Park, Bronzeville, South Shore, Englewood, downtown, and everywhere Black people are calling for justice.   We need to keep speaking out against police violence until we abolish the Police, which we will replace with transformative justice systems.  Keep doing Jail Support. Keep donating to the Chicago Community Bond Fund.  Keep asking for justice for Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, Ahmaud Aubrey, Tony McDade, Iyona Dior and many many more.  –  But not only that, we must also actively stand up and defend Black lives with our bodies and voices.  And we must continue to confront anti-blackness in our families, communities and neighborhoods, until it disappears from this beautiful Earth”.

These are the 10 Demands of BLMCHI Black Lives Matter Chicago:

1. CLOSE HOMAN SQUARE:  We demand the immediate closing of Homan Square (and all other unknown “black sites” where over 7,000 people were “disappeared.”                                                             

2. CPAC NOW:  We demand the immediate implementation of an elected Civilian Police Accountability Council (CPAC) with mandated inclusion of survivors and families of victims of police torture and violence – voted in by each neighborhood. We reject appointees and bourgeois election proposals, which expand the reach of the state to prevent the power of the people.

3. NO COPS IN SCHOOL:   Cancel CPD contract with CPS. Fund restorative practices in all schools. Additional social workers and student support personnel in our schools.  Make all schools Sustainable Community Schools.

4. ACCOUNTABILITY FOR POLICE MURDER & TORTURE:  We demand immediate firing & prosecution of all police officers & government officials involved in torture and the cover ups of the murders of Pierre Loury & Ronald Johnson. We demand revoking Dante Servin’s pension for the murder of Rekia Boyd & revoking of pensions of all CPD officers who committed torture.

5. JUSTICE FOR ALL KILLED BY POLICE:  We demand the name of officers involved in killing anyone in the City of Chicago for the duration of the Chicago Police force. We demand the reopening of all closed cases. We need to know the full breadth of brutality.

6. FIRE MURDEROUS AND ABUSIVE COPS:  We demand the immediate firing of CPD officers: Kevin Fry, George Hernandez and Robert Rialmo for the murders of Cedric Chatman, Ronald Johnson, Bettie Jones and Quintonio LeGrier – and we demand criminal charges of murder for each. We demand immediate firing of Officers Murphy and Lopez for brutally beating and tasing Pastor Catherine Brown.

7. END YOUTH INCARCERATION:  We demand the immediate closing of the Cook County Juvenile Detention Center, the largest juvenile prison in the country.

8. DEFUND THE POLICE:  We demand immediate disinvestment in CPD and a reallocation of the operating funds currently allocated toward policing, which represent 40% of the City’s operating budget and result in $4 million a day spent on policing.

9. INVEST IN COMMUNITY RESOURCES:  We demand policing funds be re-invested in our communities through the reopening of the 50 schools closed, reopening of the mental health centers that were closed, housing for the homeless or nearly homeless, funding for crisis centers, free drug treatment and recover centers, and a jobs program for all who are unemployed or underemployed.

10. RELEASE IMPRISONED JON BURGE TORTURE SURVIVORS: We demand the immediate release of all torture survivors still in prison. Former CPD Commander Jon Burge & his henchmen tortured over 100 Black & Latinos (the youngest known was 13). Some still remain in prison despite the City admitting that they were tortured. Free them now!