PRESS RELEASE:
Fresno community members will be taking part in #BlackLivesMatter
national event called #BlackOutMonday in solidarity with those in
Ferguson, MO.
What: Press conference and demonstration
When: Monday, August 10, 2015 at 12 pm
Where: Robert E. Coyle Federal Building 2500 Tulare St Fresno, CA 93721
Who: 40-50 Community members
It has been almost one year since the murder of Michael Brown, Jr. and
the uprising that followed. From August 7-10th, we will stand
together, united in purpose, as we uphold our commitment to this
movement for Black Lives.
Over the last year, our movement has made it clear that Ferguson is
Everywhere. That’s why we’re using the hashtag #UnitedWeFight —
because we lift up and demand justice not just for Michael Brown, Jr.,
but for Sandra Bland, for Cary Ball, for Yvette Smith, for Kajieme
Powell, for Dontre Hamilton, for Taneisha Anderson, for Vonderrit
Myers and for far too many more.
More info at http://fergusonaction.com/united-we-fight/
According to the National Police Misconduct Statistics and Reporting
Project statistics which started from 03/09-06/10 there has been 5,986
reports of police brutality that are reported resulting in 382 deaths,
a great majority of these individuals have been black men and women.
Advocates respond by holding a press conference and demonstration
outside the federal building with the following demands:
1.The De-militarization of Local Law Enforcement across the country
2.A Comprehensive Review of systemic abuses by local police
departments, including the publication of data relating to racially
biased policing, and the development of best practices.
3.Repurposing of law enforcement funds to support community based
alternatives to incarceration and the conditioning of DOJ funding on
the ending of discriminatory policing and the adoption of DOJ best
practices
4.A Congressional Hearing investigating the criminalization of
communities of color, racial profiling, police abuses and torture by
law enforcement
5.Support the Passage of the End Racial Profiling Act
6.The Obama Administration develops, legislates and enacts a National
Plan of Action for Racial Justice
We see these events as vicious and relentless attacks by those in
power in an institutionally racist system that will stop at nothing to
preserve and protect White Supremacy. Continued police brutality
resulting in the deaths of black bodies by law enforcement must come
to an end and law enforcement around the country must be held
accountable.
