It feels strange to try and form coherent thoughts right now, especially something that would be fit for publication. For context this is my last week of college and the nation, furthermore the world, is on a stage which is set for the greatest societal shifts which my generation will likely see in our lifetime barring the arrival of alien life. But I think right now more than ever that being silent is as much a part of the problem than anything else. Although I don’t necessarily think that anyone wants little more than words these days. I can’t express how sick to my stomach I get when I see a company or some celebrity on twitter voice their opinions about “these unprecedented times” or “everything that’s happening right now.” What we want is for people to take action in order to protect us. Not just from the global pandemic which is very much still a real and present threat, but also from the overwhelming feeling of helplessness in the face of a police force which cares little for our right and the lives of those they are meant to “protect” - evidenced by the fact that police have no problem killing black people and never have. I could spend the rest of this post dedicating my time to educating you on the history of that statement, but there are far more people who are better at and more qualified than me to do so. There aren’t many- if any statements I could make on the matter of which that wouldn’t be true, but what I can do is point you in the direction of ways in which you can get involved.
A LIST OF WAYS TO SUPPORT BLACK LIVES MATTER:
https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/
THE PORTLAND PROTESTERS BAIL FUND:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/pdx-protest-bail-fund
SEND AN EMAIL TO THE MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS TO DEFUND THE PPB:
https://www.uniteoregon.org/defund_ppb_special_units
If you’re unsure about these movements or what they stand for, there are countless other resources on the internet which can provide you with the information you need. Now more than ever is not only a time for listening, but for self-education and action even for someone like me- who can’t take to the streets due to health issues.
These issues also are going to furthermore disproportionately affect our homeless community, as they have nowhere to go when these curfews are enforced, and on the whole are harassed by cops every single day just for trying to survive. Homelessness can be caused by a myriad of issues which many parts of our society are not prepared or equipped to treat, and that especially goes for the police. When we march, it’s important to remember that we aren’t just marching for those who we’ve lost, but to protect those that need it the most- the homeless especially who are already being under treated in the other crisis which we face today.
Remember. We’re still in a pandemic.
Black Lives Matter. Defund the police. Don’t stop there.
A graduating senior,
-Brad Weber
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