Community Response
June 8, 2020
At Diverse & Resilient, we serve this community. We are this community. And we will stand with this community. We grieve the recent murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Tony McDade, Ahmaud Arbery, and David McAttee. Yet, this is only one list of public violent acts caused by police officers, racism, and the institutions that uphold white supremacy.
Our pain isn’t felt only because of these lives lost but because we recognize the consistent fear and racial trauma black people feel through historical systematic injustice. That is why we support the demands and efforts by African American Civic Engagement Roundtable and Leadership Igniting Transformation along with the many other black-, Indigenous-, and POC-led organizations.
Our staff is organizing to supply resources to protesters, clean the streets, offer relief funds, and continue to provide support as it is needed. Our streets should not be militarized, and we call for immediate action to end the presence of the national guard, tear gas, and excessive arming of the police. Funding should be redistributed back into the community that is currently being oppressed rather than continuing the suppression. Community safety is of the utmost importance.
This is why we are asking our partners and friends to join us in this outcry. June is a revolutionary month for the LGBTQ community because black queer and trans people fought for it.
Now is the time to listen to black and brown leaders and protest.
Call Governor Tony Evers, Mayor Tom Barrett, and County Executive David Crowley to demand real change. And provide funds to black-led organizations and businesses, mutual aid, and bail funds.
Let this not be a time of complacency and ignoring the racism throughout Milwaukee and this nation. Our staff will continue the work this community deserves while also taking needed mental health days. Our black community needs space to rest, cry, reflect, and heal through this frustration. Staying alive and staying whole is a form of protest. All white people need to educate themselves and others around them. Everyone across the world is joining in this fight, not because of one horrific instance in Minnesota, but because all black people have stories like these.
Community Resources
African American Civic Round-table Roundtable Response
Leaders Igniting Transformation Response
Milwaukee Community Leaders Response
Nonprofit Path to Racial Justice Article