I Can’t Breathe Kristin Hicks June 13, 2020

In this complicated season in our lives, many of us are looking for ways to show our concern and support for the family of George Floyd and the ongoing efforts for justice and peace. There are numerous ways to get involved. The Social Justice and Public Policy Ministry is asking you, “What can YOU do in 8 minutes and 46 seconds to support Racial justice and an end to police brutality?” and offering some ideas for your consideration. Please see some of our suggestions below, and feel free to send us other suggestions in the days ahead to socialjusticepublicpolicy@metropolitanbaptist.org.

George Floyd suffered under the knee of a White police officer. There are protest across the world. Protests and public policy go together. Some people are marching, some people are writing, some people are making donations of time, talent and money…. The possibilities of non-violent ways to serve are endless.

What can you do in 8 minutes and 46 seconds to support racial justice and an end to police brutality?

Pray for:

  • the President of the United States—that he would have compassion for people and seek to serve them.
  • your Congressional Representatives—that they would present a united force to the country against racism and implicit bias.
  • your Local County/City Council Representative—that they would create a liaison between the local community and the Police Force to create and maintain an open dialog.
  • your local Police Force—for their protection and that they see the humanity in everyone they meet.
  • those who still don’t understand what the problem is—that their eyes and hearts would be open to acknowledge that racism is real.

Complete the 2020 Census.

Seek information to inform your actions to help end police brutality—find your own or start here:

Send an email to your congressional representatives in support of the resolution to end the “qualified immunity defense” for law enforcement officers as it currently stands as of June 1, 2020.

Join 5 Calls to click and send a quick response. Click here for details.

Call or send messages of support to local officials who are supporting the calls for justice and honoring the right for peaceful protest.
Write/call your local mayors/county executives. Urge them to review current police policies. They should ban chokeholds/strangleholds, require officers to exhaust all alternatives before shooting, and require officers to de-escalate situations, where possible, by communicating with subjects, maintaining distance, and otherwise eliminating the need to use force.
Donate to/support organizations of your choice that are advocating for anti-racism policies:
  • Donate to Black Lives Matter:
  • Get involved with your local BLM chapter: The full list is here.
  • Or start your own BLM chapter: More info here.
  • Donate to a bail fund: Some Twitter users are crowdsourcing lists of local organizations that help bail out protesters who get arrested. Thread here.
  • Or another bail fund: This crowdsourced Google Doc of bail funds keeps getting bigger.
  • Support the National Police Accountability Project: This group, a project of the National Lawyers Guild, helps people find legal counsel.
  • Support Campaign Zero, a police reform group that has been working on policy solutions “informed by data and human rights principles.”
  • Sign a petition: Civil rights group Color of Change launched a petition asking that all the officers involved in Floyd’s death are brought to justice.
  • Or another petition: The “Justice for George Floyd” petition on Change.org already has 8.5 million supporters. That sends a big message.
  • Northstar Health Collective, a mutual aid group of organizers and street medics, is providing healthcare and other resources to activists and organizers on the ground.
  • Centro de Trabajadores Unidos en La Lucha, a Minneapolis worker’s center, is taking donations of food and money to support organizers and helping pressure local government.
  • Reclaim the Block, a Minnesota organization that lobbies for defunding the police and re-routing funds to affordable housing, health, violence prevention, civil rights, and renter protections.
  • Colin Kaepernick’s Know Your Rights Camp has established a legal defense initiative to provide legal services for protesters on the ground in Minneapolis.
  • Baltimore Action Legal Team (BALT) is bailing out and providing legal support to protesters.

Sign petitions:

Sign the Change.org petition calling for justice in Breonna Taylor’s case. The officers are still on the job.

Sign the MoveOn Petition #JusticeforBre: Police officers who killed Breonna Taylor must be FIRED.

Send an email directly to the Kentucky Attorney General, the Mayor, and the Governor:

attorney.general@ag.ky.gov
greg.fischer@louisvilleky.gov
Robert.schroeder@louisvilleky.gov

SAMPLE LETTER
Subject: We Demand Justice for Breonna Taylor

Hello,

My name is [NAME] and I am a resident of [CITY/STATE]. I am emailing today to demand accountability in the unjust murder of Breonna Taylor. I demand that Jonathan Mattingly, Brett Hankison, and Myles Cosgrove each be arrested and charged for 2nd degree murder for the wrongful death of Breonna Taylor.

June 5 would have been Breonna’s 27th birthday, but she is unable to celebrate because on March 13 your police recklessly executed a raid using a no knock warrant on the wrong home.

Despite your almost 3 months of inaction, Breonna’s life matters and I want justice for her.

Sincerely,
[NAME]

Use social media to express your support:
#BLM
#BlackLivesMatter
#SayHerName
#JusticeforBreonna
#WeveSeenEnough
#PoliceBrutalityPandemic
#BreonnaTaylor
#GeorgeFloyd
#BlackLifeMatters

Make your own list, but do something!

These are just a few suggestions and should not be taken as an endorsement of any entity.

Act Safely and Wisely,
Pastor Watson