Our speech from today:
My name is Syrus Marcus Ware and this is Pascale Diverlus. We come here today to sit with you in grief. In rage, in mourning and in uprising. For we are outraged, heartbroken, furious, and broken by the news that Gerald Stanley was aquitted of the murder of Colten Boushie.
We know that this is the state working exactly as it is supposed to work- to support the actions of white radicals who carry out these actions of white supremacy as desired by the state. The state has desired such outcomes for more than 500 years. The eradication of black and Indigenous people from their stolen land. Gerald Stanley was not acting alone. He is part of a widespread state sanctioned white supremacy that has facilitated the murder of Indigenous and black people at alarming rates across this north part of turtle island. He is not an exception, a bad apple, a lone shooter. He is part of the system, a system set on our destruction and annihilation. And this is why he was acquitted. And this is why it was the Boushie home that was searched when his mother was visited by police to tell her of her sons passing. The violence of that act keeps me up at night.
The prison industrial complex and the criminal injustice system are setup to protect white people when they kill us, when they brutalize us. It is designed to protect them because they are doing exactly what is asked of them by white supremacy- to participate actively the destruction of everything and anything that is not white. This is part of what enables our torturers, their ability to get off again and again and again.
But of course, we are resisting. Even as we grieve and weep and wail our sorrow together, we are also, as Assatta told us, getting back up, a little more slowly and a lot more deadly. We will fight like hell to ensure that this never happens again. That there is NOT ONE MORE Indigenous death at the hands of our oppressors, at the hands of the white supremacist state.
We will rise with you, raising fists and pouring love out of ourselves, to fight together, and to win.
All power to the people
In sorrow, rage and struggle,
BLMTO
Six years! Six years of struggle, of community, of love, of wins, of life in this city. So much has happened since we began that cold November day 6 years ago- campaigns, rallies, marches, occupations, demands, artworks, the city changing. Today we continue our fight for all Black lives to matter- to be considered inherently valuable. We deserve freedom, justice, and to live. We will never stop fighting until we are all free. Black! Lives! Matter!
Check out this conversation with Skylar and folks at 1492 LandBack Lane. The team there is prepping for winter and ongoing threats of violence from the state.
Indigenous resurgence now and always. There will never be justice for Black people on occupied land. Justice and power to the land defenders, today and always!
Black trans, non binary and gender non-conforming people, we love you. This is a love letter from us to us, with some words from those fighting alongside us to ensure the all #BlackTransLivesMatter . Thank you to Ayo Tsalithaba this incredible video creation. Thank you to LAL for the use of the song “Close”. TURN ON CAPTIONS as needed!
Join us to create a #NewNarrative for our community. ...
