Tell Me on a Friday #14: We Keep Us Safe

Hi-ho readers,

It’s day 85 of social distancing, but that seems so strange now, especially being back in New York, or I guess, anywhere. The murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis by a uniformed officer has galvanized people in every major American city (and abroad) to take to the streets and demand the defunding and abolition of the police.

Protesting Past Curfew in New York City (The New Yorker / Emily Witt / Steven John Irby)

This isn’t my place to make statements besides this one – I am fully for the abolition of the police, prisons, and ICE. I’d like to share resources and actionable items.

The abolition mindset

Jobs for white people

Take action

Defund12.org has many states listed, with elected officials you can contact to reallocate police budgets.
If you can’t get outside: Virtual Protesting 101 / Manassaline Coleman

Actionable items for New Yorkers

Defunding
- Defund12’s page for NYC Council members
- Defund the NYPD 2020 master document
- Information on urging your reps to repeal Section 50-A / Adam J. Kurtz
- Contacts!
  - State Senate
    - Find your state senator
    - Senate Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins: (518) 455-2585 / (914) 423-4031 / scousins@nysenate.gov
  - NY State Assembly
    - Find your assembly member
    - Speaker Heastie: (518) 455-3791 / (718) 654-6539 / speaker@nyassembly.gov
  - NYC
    - Scott Stringer, NYC Comptroller: (212) 669-3916 / action@comptroller.nyc.gov
    - Melanie Hartzog, Director of Office and Management and Budget for the Mayor: web / (212) 788-5900
    - Write to Mayor DeBlasio
  - NYC Council
    - Find your council member
    - Daniel Dromm, Chair of Committee on Finance: ddromm@council.nyc.gov
    - Donovan Richards, Public Safety Chair: drichards@council.nyc.gov
    - Financial division of NYC Council: (212) 788-6921
Protesting
- @justiceforgeorgenyc tracks and posts updates on protests and vigils happening in the boroughs
- If you’re protesting, write these numbers on your arm in Sharpie:
  - National Lawyers Guild: (212) 679-6018
  - if you can’t get home after curfew: (914) 732-1656
If you want to help with jail support:
- Download Signal and text HELLO to (718) 550-2312 (right now, they’re prioritizing BIPOC volunteers, but everyone else is welcome to provide supplies and other support)

Bonus: actionable items for Wheaton community

Letter to the Provost: Terminate Wheaton College relationship with Norton P.D. / thanks to Shannon Sullivan ’20 for putting this together, which was pulled from a letter used at Clark University

Last night, I ended up walking about 12 miles during a march. In honor of that, I’m donating to 12 organizations, which I’ve listed below.

Ethel’s Club (donate)
Gofundme for Breonna Taylor’s family
Gofundme for Gianna Floyd (George Floyd’s daughter)
Assemblywoman Diana C. Richardson (donate)
VOCAL-NY (donate)
Color of Change (donate)
Riot Safety Fund (donate)
Black Visions Collective (donate)
Crown Heights Mutual Aid (donate)
Bed-Stuy Strong (donate)
Reclaim the Block (donate)
FTP Bailfund (donate) (for arrests in the Bronx last night)

This week, I’m listening to protest songs written and performed by black artists, linked here and listed below.

Talkin’ Bout a Revolution – Tracy Chapman
Mississippi Goddam – Nina Simone
The Revolution Will Not Be Televised – Gil Scott-Heron
A Change Is Gonna Come – Sam Cooke
Fuck Tha Police – N.W.A.
Freedom (feat. Kendrick Lamar) – Beyonce
Alright – Kendrick Lamar
Strange Fruit – Billie Holiday
Fight the Power – Public Enemy
Say It Loud – I’m Black And I’m Proud – James Brown

Some Hope

Minneapolis City Council members consider disbanding the police / Hannah Jones
When I was marching last night around mile 11, after someone handed me the most perfect orange, after we were out after curfew, a chant started. “Who keeps us safe?” “We keep us safe!” Abolition is possible. Keep taking action, and funding those efforts. I love you.

See you in two,
Emily