The Memphis Movement: August 2015

Sunday, August 30, 2015

#BlackLivesMatter and So Do Pigs

The owners of Imagine Vegan Cafe received a phone call and several negative comments/reviews on social media because they have signs on their wall supporting the #BlackLivesMatter movement. Below is their response.

Today, we received a phone call and several negative comments/reviews on social media concerning the signs on our wall that support the ‪ #‎BlackLivesMatter‬ movement.

Here is our official reply:

First, we support this movement because Black Lives do, in fact, matter. This is not a racist statement, nor does it mean that all other lives do not matter. If that were the case, the signs would say "ONLY Black Lives Matter". They do not, however, say "ONLY Black Lives Matter". This is actually simple common sense and basic knowledge of the English language. As an example: if I were to say "my kids lives matter" that would be true. It would not be true, however, to assume that this means that the lives of other children do not matter to me. It simply means that in the present moment, I am emphasizing the importance of the lives of my children.

Unfortunately, we live in a society that is built on systemic and institutional racism. Thus, it is important to emphasize that Black Lives matter in solidarity with the Oppressed within our society. Standing in solidarity with the Oppressed is, after all, the very reason that Imagine Vegan Cafe exists in the first place. Furthermore, unless you are vegan, it is hypocritical to say "ALL Lives Matter". What you are actually saying with your life is "ONLY HUMAN Lives Matter." Even then, consumption of factory farmed animal products is a leading cause of starvation in countries where starvation and malnutrition are prevalent, because rich countries (such as the United States) use grains that could nourish starving humans in poor countries to fatten animals for slaughter (while these animals should be eating their natural diet of grass) to meet consumer demands. So, what you are ACTUALLY saying is: "ONLY HUMAN Lives IN RICH COUNTRIES Matter".

Second, the pigs on the bulletin board are not intended to symbolize police officers at all. This thought never occurred to us until we received the phone call and negative comments earlier today. In humility, we offer a sincere apology for this particular misunderstanding. We have many close friends, regular customers, and family (Adam's grandfather) who are police officers. The pigs are there for the same reason that we have pigs in our profile picture... The pigs are there for the same reason that we have a rescue pig living in our backyard... The pigs are there for the same reason that we do not eat pigs... The reason: we love pigs!!! Pigs are our friends, not food.

Third, if you have read this statement and are still offended by where we stand on this issue, please feel free to spend your money somewhere else. We are not the slightest bit concerned with your money or your bad reviews. We do, however, care about you. If you would like to talk about it, please feel free to call and ask for us (Kristie or Adam, not our 13 year old daughter who typically answers the phone for "to go" orders and general informational purposes because we are a family owned and operated business.) Or, you can take the less mature path and continue to rally friends to leave negative comments on social media sites. In either case, we love you, because your life matters!

Peace and Love,
Kristie and Adam Jeffrey

A guide to debunking the need for “All Lives Matter” and its rhetorical cousins

It’s summer, you’re at a barbecue feeling really right with your Kool-aid, potato salad and hot dog. You strike up a conversation with a guy about black lives mattering. It’s not an unusual conversation, lots of people are having it. But suddenly, you’re mid-chew and this guy says “Right, but, don’t all lives matter? I’m more of an ‘all lives matter’ kind of guy.”

Last week, close to 200 Philadelphians showed up to protest for white lives. According to Philadelphia’s ABC affiliate, the event was held in response to an alleged “rash” of beatings in a white South Philadelphia neighborhood by four black women. And so the white residents of this Philadelphia neighborhood rallied for white lives.

In December, right when the black lives matter movement was picking up momentum, Kathleen McCartey, president of Smith College, wrote in an e-mail to the college in support of student protest efforts around the deaths of Eric Garner and Michael Brown. In it she said: “We are united in our insistence that all lives matter.” After students voiced their disappointment with McCartney’s use of the term, the president apologized.

Fox news panelist Lars Larson was outraged by McCartney’s apology. “In fact. I think the crowds, the mobs, who’ve been making these protests for the last couple of weeks all over America, they owe society an apology,” he said about using the phrase. “Because by exclusion it suggests that others matter less,” he continued. “It’s a bigoted thing to say.”

So, what do you say when confronted with an “all lives matter” enthusiast? And, really, Why is it so bad? Below is a guide to help you through those tricky times.

Read the rest here

Memphis Grassroots Organizations Coalition Statement

The Memphis Movement (M2) has started following the events surrounding the death of Darrius Stewart; a 19 year old African American shot and killed by Memphis police officer Conner Schilling on July 17, 2015. Two weeks later on August 1, 2015, alleged gunman Tremaine Wilburn, shot and killed police officer Sean Bolton. Both deaths happened while officers performed random traffic stops. Below is a statement from a coalition of grass root activists in response to the deaths of both Darrius Stewart and Officer Sean Bolton.

Over the past few weeks, several citizens, civic organizations, ministers and other interested parties have joined together in peaceful resistance against the injustice and despair that plague the black community both internally and externally. We join together to affirm the work being done across the city and nation. We solicit every willing worker of goodwill to join in dismantling the various forms of oppression and injustice among us through every adequate and effective form and method of resistance. This is a peculiar moment in the life of our country as well as our beloved city of Memphis. We mourn with our city in the loss of the life of Officer Sean Bolton and continue to fight for justice for the family of Darrius Stewart.

The undersigned stand as a grassroots coalition and collective in affirmation of all efforts to bring truth, justice, peace and love to our city. We recognize the need to produce a concerted effort in response to the State of Emergency whereby we find ourselves. The catastrophic loss and continual devaluing of black lives has stoked the fire of the #BlackLivesMatter movement nationwide. This national and local movement is a banner and philosophy under which many grassroots groups and sacred communities stand in solidarity. It is in this vein of unity and hope for better tomorrows that we petition our people, our institutions, and our organizations of goodwill to continue to work towards the freedom and liberty of all seemingly disenfranchised and marginalized people. Those who are familiar with the BLM movement know that the movement never seeks to merely switch the source of oppression from one group to the next. The spirit of the movement itself seeks to dismantle, disrupt and destroy every form of oppression and centers on the experiences of the most underprivileged.

In the words of Dr. King, we know that “an injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” We denounce the shooting and death of Officer Sean Bolton. We stand in full support of the MPD and other parties that seek to obtain justice for the slain officer and his family. Simultaneously, we must continue to focus on the shooting and murder of Darrius Stewart on July 17, 2015. We must remain diligent in and sensitive to the work necessary to bring justice and peace, healing and wholeness to ALL those who are suffering.

We seek an update to the general public on the developments on the investigation into the shooting of Darrius Stewart by Officer Conner Schilling. Within the past two weeks, with the support of the family, friends, social activist groups and ministerial leaders who have held several vigils, rallies, worship services and other events to raise the social consciousness of the city with respect to this particular incident as well as the issues of police brutality and violence in general. We all remain committed to resisting every form of oppression, exploitation and manipulation that continues to heighten the tensions between civilians, law enforcement and civic and political leadership. This is not the time to politicize tragedies. It is the time to respond to them with compassion and commitment to truth, love and justice.

Therefore, in the name of trust, transparency and progress, we request that the TBI, MPD, and/or DA Amy Weirich provide the general public with relevant, uncompromising, and up to date information with respect to both the shooting of Officer Bolton and the shooting of Darrius Stewart, at least once per week via written statements and/or press conferences until an indictment is handed down or the investigation reaches its legal conclusion. We have already begun to witness the intensity by which MPD and others are pursuing justice in the shooting of Officer Bolton. Equal force should be applied in pursuing justice in the shooting of Darrius Stewart.

To be clear, our aim is not personal but corporate. Our focus in not merely on an instance or two, but, moreover, towards the broader and longstanding epidemics of police brutality, the culture of violence in our country and the wanton use of guns as weapons of mass destruction. Therefore, with respect to law enforcement, we also request that the Citizens Law Enforcement Review Board be reestablished immediately and authorized by our city administration to review each use of lethal force since its disbanding (including the Darrius Stewart shooting). We expect nothing less than equitable measure to be taken in the name of justice for all parties involved.

We are not anti-police. We are anti-injustice. Again, let us reiterate that it is the collective work of all of our social, civic and ministerial organizations that obtain and sustain freedom, justice, and equal protections under the law. Therefore, we applaud the work of resistance that leads to liberation being carried out by all those who are fighting for freedom and ask them to continue to do so they work to which they are called and compelled. In the words of Dr. Bernice Johnson Reagon (in honor of Dr. Ella Baker), “We who believe in freedom cannot rest until it comes.” We have been and will continue to do the work of social justice in this city until freedom comes...for everybody.

Click here to sign

All Hands On Deck: We All Have A Role in the Movement for Black Lives

by Leah C.K. Lewis

A recent Twitter beef occurred when Deray McKesson received a response from presidential candidate Bernie Sanders to discuss racial policy. Activist dream hampton tweeted that this moment should have happened between Sanders and founders of Black Lives Matter. Her response is being cast as a growing divide between the official BLM organizers and other protesters and activists such as McKesson who mobilize locally.

You may perceive me as straddling the fence, but both hampton and McKesson are correct. Any candidate who understands the significance of Black Lives Matters organizational founders, Alicia Garza, Patrisse Cullors, and Opal Tometi, will reach out to them for a meeting. This is a reasonable expectation of BLM activists, protesters, and supporters. This is simply the proper and respectful thing to do. On this point, hampton is correct.

Yet, McKesson and any other activists, especially those who have a legitimate contribution to make, have a right—indeed, an obligation—to engage politicians and the political and legislative process. This is what activist do. To attempt to curb the activity of activists is contrary to the very nature of activism. Do you see the irony that such diminishment would pose?

Some may view what McKesson has done as a violation of protocol. As we know, etiquette is not an element of authentic activism. Even so, McKesson’s “challenge” is being viewed as (or actually being) co-opted and/or a foil. His invitation to attend Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign kickoff in New York positioned him (and his nearly 200,000 Twitter followers) as a guest to be courted. Activists are, however, duty-bound to exploit every opportunity and relationship, and must, simultaneously, take care not to be exploited.

Read the rest here

Why #BlackLivesMatter Has to Exist

by Caryn Riswold

When I saw a cluster of white police officers marching up to my neighbor’s house in military fatigues and helmets with large guns at the ready, my first instinct was to grab my camera and take a picture out the kitchen window. I started shooting video as they entered the house, ran around the back, and shepherded the small children who had been playing on the porch just a few minutes earlier out into the yard.

I soon stopped the recording. In many ways, nothing of note happened, other than someone later being taken away in handcuffs and charged with drug possession.

Yet the fact that my instinct was to record what I saw on camera stems almost entirely from an understanding of the problems built in to militarized and overzealous policing. It comes from the fact that we have recently seen example after example of white police officers failing to de-escalate encounters with black citizens, too often ending in the death of those citizens: Sandra Bland, Samuel DuBose, Freddie Gray,Eric Garner, and too many more.

I don’t want to mistrust the police. As a person who benefits from white privilege, I don’t have to. I was raised believing I could and should trust law enforcement. I don’t have to worry about being unfairly targeted while I’m driving or while I’m sitting in my living room. And yet because we have so many examples of blacks being mistreated, unfairly targeted, shot, harassed and otherwise abused by some in law enforcement, my instinct now is to protect my neighbor and turn on my camera.