It's Simple: All Black Lives Matter

I’m writing again about how the murder of another Black person by the police is making me feel. I hate writing about this because 1.) it means we’re still being extra-judicially murdered and 2.) it feels like I’m centering myself in a way that I shouldn’t be. I feel like if I’m going to write about this issue it should be about the issue itself, the statistics, and not about my feelings. But I can’t help it. The murder of Korryn Gaines and the injury of her five year old son led me to putting these words down. Every new hashtag of a murdered Black person breaks my heart into pieces all over again, but I don’t cry, (outwardly) scream or rage; every emotion stays bottled up inside. I struggle to not fall into despair, become completely numb, or let hatred overwhelm me, because I know it’s not healthy or helpful. It takes work everyday to remind myself that there are hundreds and maybe thousands of people across the country working hard every day to dismantle the violent policing and incarceration regimes that are strangling us and taking our last breaths. There needs to be more of us engaging in this work, but the work is happening.

At the same time that I grieve and rage for the Black lives stolen from us, I remain inspired by the work of so many people and organizations who not only believe that a world without policing and prisons is possible, but are actively trying to build that world. The Movement for Black Lives has released a detailed and transformative policy statement that addresses the violence we demand to be ended and the opportunities and human rights we need, including reparations, demilitarization of the police, a national basic income, access to clean water and healthy food, and so much more. Please read it; the policy statement also includes lists of organizations who are working on each issue, and if you want to jump in and work on a particular issue, please contact the organization in your area; we need more people!

On Sunday I was able to spend a beautiful day surrounded by beautiful Black people committed to providing space for our communities to learn and take care of each other, first at the Assata’s Daughter one year anniversary picnic and at Freedom Square. Assata’s Daughters holds space for celebrating different forms of black women’s empowerment and supports the leadership and participation of young Black women in the Black Lives Matter movement. Freedom Square, initiated by the Let Us Breathe Collective and BYP100 Chicago, is an ongoing occupation of space across the street from the Homan Square black site, where Chicago police officers illegally detain Black and Latino people for interrogation and torture. Freedom Square exists as a community space where we take of each other in various ways, including donating and cooking food, providing clothing, educational sessions, and youth activities. In addition to shutting down Homan Square and reinvesting funds in Black communities, the main demand of the occupation is that Chicago’s “Blue Lives Matter” ordinance, which seeks to protect police, firefighters and first responders under hate crimes legislation, introduced by Alderman Edward Burke, be dismissed by the city council. The blue lives matter ordinance is part of a nationwide strategy by the state to intensify the criminalization of dissent and activism by the Black Lives Matter movement. Freedom Square is constantly in need of donations and people committed to providing resources; please keep checking their Facebook page to see an updated list of their needs!

I have faith that we can and will build a world where Black people (of all gender identities) can live, thrive, love, laugh, and just BE without fear of premature death, incarceration, harassment and violence. On the way to building that world, I hope that the families of police murder victims are able to achieve some measure of justice (whatever that looks like for them). Rest in peace Korryn Gaines and all the victims of state sanctioned violence.