submitted to the Earth First! Journal
In response to the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and countless other Black people at the hands of police or vigilantes, the Movement For Black Lives is organizing a weekend of mobilizations to commemorate Juneteenth, the day the last enslaved people found out they were free in Galveston, Tx. . In the midst of both local uprisings across the nation and national mourning for the toll of COVID-19 on Black communities. Local marches and other actions will take place this weekend in 46 states and D.C. with satellite events internationally to advance three demands:
- Defunding the police
- Investing in Black communities
- The resignation of Donald Trump
WHAT: Juneteenth marches and rallies
WHERE: 46 states and D.C., including Tulsa, Atlanta, Miami, Madison, Philadelphia & hundreds of other cities.
WHEN: Friday, June 19, 2020 – Sunday, June 21, 2020 with a theme each day:
-
- Friday: Investing in Our Futures – Actions across the country will lift up the victories of Black communities and take stock of the fight ahead.
-
- Saturday: The Cost of Inaction – Marches across the country will honor the Black lives lost to COVID-19 and recognize how Black communities are bearing the brunt of twin pandemics: the preventable spread of COVID-19 and the unwillingness of political leaders to end police violence.
-
- Sunday: Trump Must Resign – Actions across the country will demand Donald Trump resign from office.
M4BL is organizing three days of action online, in 46 states, hundreds of cities nationwide, and at the White House from Friday, June 19 through Sunday, June 21 to call for an end to state violence, defunding of police forces, and investment in healthy, sustainable communities. More information about this weekend’s events are available at https://sixnineteen.com.
The Movement for Black Lives (M4BL) is a national network of over 150 leaders and organizations creating a broad political home for Black people to learn, organize and take action. M4BL includes activists, organizers, academics, lawyers, educators, health workers, artists and more, all unified in a radical vision for Black liberation and working for equity, justice and healing.