Right now Black Visions as well as Reclaim
the Block and other community members are,
and for the last several years have been,
calling on our City Council and mayor to divest
from the police and invest in community-led
safety solutions.
We want justice for George Floyd, and we know
that justice isn’t enough.
And now is the time to defund the police and
invest in community.
And I was on the streets, not last night,
the night before, for some time.
I actually live with my dad, who is really
vulnerable to COVID-19, and so I’ve had
to figure out ways to keep myself safe so
that I can still care for him.
But yeah, I was there witnessing the rebellion
being led by young Black and Brown folks.
Upon seeing the video — I haven’t really
watched the full video, because I feel like
I’ve honestly seen enough of those.
But the murder did happen two blocks from
my home.
Cup Foods is actually my regular corner deli.
We want justice for George Floyd, and we think
accountability with the officers is really
necessary.
And too often we just lean on that accountability
and feed more into a prison system that continues
to be harmful to all of our communities.
And so now is really the time for the Minneapolis
City Council and mayor to defund the police
and invest in community.
As well, we are calling for the Minneapolis
Police Department to acknowledge the harm
of their institution in the ways that it has
violated the dignity and rights of Black communities
and families, make an official apology, and
then continue the work.
And let me also ask you, Kandace — Tamika
Mallory and others have been warning people
about provocateurs on the streets, and I’m
wondering your thoughts on this.
Absolutely.
I think that that is always a real issue.
We know the history of COINTELPRO and other
state-led interventions to quiet and quell
Black organizing and rebellion.
And so I think it’s very important that
folks who are on the streets are being wary
of who’s actually aligned with the values
and the reasons why they are out there, and
who’s not.
