Black Lives Matter
On May 25th 2020, an unarmed black man died after a Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck for more than eight minutes as he called out "I can't breathe". The death of George Floyd caused an uproar in the USA and reenergised #BlackLivesMatter protests around the world.
The protests about treatment of black people in the USA shone the light on black deaths in custody in Australia. Although Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults make up around 2% of the national population, they constitute 27% of the national prison population. And, since the 1991 Royal Commission into Black Deaths in Custody - there have been 432 Aboriginal deaths in custody. The deaths include David Dungay, a 26 year old Dunghutti man in Long Bay prison who said “I can’t breathe” 12 times before he died while being restrained by five prison guards.
It's time for change. As protests roll out across the world, the Kindness Pandemic is inviting our members to our #BlackLivesMatter online protest rally. The online rally provides an opportunity for people who are unable to attend the rally to participate in the protest.
The protests about treatment of black people in the USA shone the light on black deaths in custody in Australia. Although Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults make up around 2% of the national population, they constitute 27% of the national prison population. And, since the 1991 Royal Commission into Black Deaths in Custody - there have been 432 Aboriginal deaths in custody. The deaths include David Dungay, a 26 year old Dunghutti man in Long Bay prison who said “I can’t breathe” 12 times before he died while being restrained by five prison guards.
It's time for change. As protests roll out across the world, the Kindness Pandemic is inviting our members to our #BlackLivesMatter online protest rally. The online rally provides an opportunity for people who are unable to attend the rally to participate in the protest.
Make a protest placard
Protest placards can send powerful messages for change across social media:
- Make a protest placard
- Share it on your social media and ours
- Use hashtag #BlackLivesMatter
- Please include a brief description of your placard or (ALT Text) for our vision impaired and blind members
- We will share some protest placards below
Online protest
On Saturday 6th June we hosted an online protest, which began with a powerful presentation by Damian Griffis CEO of First People’s Disability Network. We encourage you to watch the video below and check the webpage to check out ways to support this important organisation here: https://fpdn.org.au/
Resources for allies
So many of us want to know how to be better allies. Here are some useful resources, if you know of others please share with us - email below.
Why "All Lives Matter" isnt a show of support
We have seen a number of people expressing their support for #BlackLivesMatter by using the expression: All Lives Matter. We appreciate the good intent - but its so important to understand why that expression is offensive and why its not a show of support to use it - resources below.
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Doug Williford
If my spouse comes to me in obvious pain and asks “Do you love me?”, an answer of “I love everyone” would be truthful, but also hurtful and cruel in the moment. If a co-worker comes to me upset and says “My father just died,” a response of “Everyone’s parents die,” would be truthful, but hurtful and cruel in the moment. So when a friend speaks up in a time of obvious pain and hurt and says “Black lives matter,” a response of “All lives matter,” is truthful. But it’s hurtful and cruel in the moment.
If my spouse comes to me in obvious pain and asks “Do you love me?”, an answer of “I love everyone” would be truthful, but also hurtful and cruel in the moment. If a co-worker comes to me upset and says “My father just died,” a response of “Everyone’s parents die,” would be truthful, but hurtful and cruel in the moment. So when a friend speaks up in a time of obvious pain and hurt and says “Black lives matter,” a response of “All lives matter,” is truthful. But it’s hurtful and cruel in the moment.
Gallery
Thankyou for sharing your placards and protest signs.
@LucyMaeRobertson
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Peyton Osmond 10 year old
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Denise Johnstone
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Merrin Wake
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Vicki Fahey-Bennett
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Margaret Mejhju (crochet banner)
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Taylah Louise Brown
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