The Movement for Black Lives called for a week of action and Sister Diaspora for Liberation followed their guidance.
On Tuesday, June 2, 2020, we organized a zoom call to urge sisters and allies to contact their representatives and demand the Divestment of Law Enforcement. The policing system here is founded out of slavery and continues to exist as a terrorist organization that has threatened our communities. They continue to get increased funds while our social services are cut, they continue to be militarized, turning our neighborhoods into war zones. We must make our voices and power heard to those in decision making positions that we cannot tolerate this and the system must be dismantled.
On Wednesday, June 3, 2020, we asked our community to call, email, tweet our senators and representatives demanding the federal government provide direct cash payments, rent cancellation, mortgage cancellation, a moratorium on utility and water shutoffs and cancellation of student, medical, and other forms of debt. We demand long-term economic solutions like a Universal Basic Income, in order to address the immediate crisis and pave the way for a just recovery that doesn’t prioritize corporations and leave our communities behind. We demand our federal government supports the families and the lives of those we have lost and those struggling to survive now.
On Thursday, June 4, 2020 the Movement for Black Lives called on us to demand community control of our laws, institutions, and government agencies so that we have the power to make decisions that influence our lives. Part of this means getting our community members into political office who we know will be accountable to us. Sister Diaspora for Liberation led a phone banking day for Samelys López to get her elected to congress for the 15th District! Samelys López has made a commitment to support Black Lives Matter policies and issues, including demilitarizing and defunding the police. With Qualified Immunity and 1033 military equipment bills at hand, it is important for us to have congress members that will be on our side.
And on Friday, June 5, 2020, we asked our sisters and allies to call their federal representatives and tell them to repeal 1033 to end the sale of military equipment to police and to end Qualified Immunity. We also sent emails, tweets, and called our local officials to defund the police!