Statement

STATEMENT FROM THE MOVEMENT FOR BLACK LIVES ON CHARLESTON SHOOTING

Charleston’s Emanuel A.M.E. church, which is steeped in the incredible history of resistance to slavery, will now be known as the site of an unspeakable and tragic act. Our hearts go out to the families of those killed. We also keep in our thoughts a congregation that lost its pastor and a community mourning the loss of its neighbors.

We are reminded today that while our attention has focused on increasing state and police violence against Black people, racist vigilante attacks are a large part of this country’s legacy. We must face the hard truth that our collective work goes much further than the implementation of body cameras and police reform initiatives if we cannot even be safe worshipping at church.

Whether its the murder of four schoolgirls at a Birmingham church in 1963, the killing of twelve year old Tamir Rice by Cleveland police officers, or the suicide of Kalief Browder after years of being unjustly imprisoned and tortured as a teenager at Rikers Island jail– our communities continue to suffer the many strains of a cancerous racism allowed to flourish in this country. While the arrest of this shooter must come as a small comfort to the families of those killed, we know we cannot arrest our way out of this country’s history or its present.

Therefore, as a movement, we must say what our President cannot or will not say. This was an undeniable act of terrorism intended to strike fear into the hearts of Black communities at a time when we have bravely stood together declaring that #BlackLivesMatter everywhere.

We continue to fight for a world that values Black life in the names of all those we have lost, including and especially those who were killed last night on a date we will surely never forget.

SIGNED,

The Movement for Black Lives Team, including:

Ferguson Action

Black Lives Matter

Black Youth Project 100 (BYP 100)

Million Hoodies Movement for Justice

ColorOfChange.org

Project South

Ohio Students Association

Baltimore United for Change

Leaders of a Beautiful Struggle

Concerned Citizens for Justice

ENDORSED BY:

Center for Media Justice

CREDO

Democracy for America

Media Action Grassroots Network

Dignity and Power Now

Media Mobilizing Project

Voices for Racial Justice

Global Action Project

Media Literacy Project

Showing Up for Racial Justice