Protests lead to change

This past week in our home, we’ve been having conversations how protests lead to change and some of it didn’t always feel good. I limited my social media because I wanted to take the time to listen and learn and reflect and when I did sign up – every single time when someone talked about the protests there would be that one or 5 persons to talk about the looting – that was their focus not how protests lead to change.

I can reflect on several moments where predominant people have tried to share a message peacefully only to be met with anger and hate because no one took the time to look at the message. I can look up history and see where protests have in fact created change for a variety of demographics such as women being able to vote or the LGBTQ community to celebrate Pride.

We have to look at things with a broader lens and not invalidate the experiences of Black People. But in case you are wondering what how protests lead to change – please see the list below! I did not create this and don’t know who to credit for it but wanted to share it anyway.

• 5/26 – 4 officers fired for murdering George Floyd
• 5/28 Univ of Minn cancels contract with police
• 5/28 3rd precinct police station neutralized by protestors
• 5/28 ATU Local 1005 refuses to bring police officers to protests, or transport arrested protesters
• 5/29 Activists commander hotel to provide shelter to homeless
• 5/29 Officer Chauvin who killed Floyd arrested
• 5/29 Louisville Mayor suspends “no-knock” warrants in response to polices 3/12
• 5/30 US Embassies across Africa condemn police murder of Floyd
• 5/30 MN AG Ellison takes over prosecution of the murdering officer
• 5/30 TWU Local 100 bus operators refuse to transport arrests protestors
• 5/31 2 abusive officers fired for pulling a couple out of car and tasing them
• 6/1 Minn public schools end contract with police
• 6/1 Confederate Monument removed – Birmingham, AL
• 6/1 CA prosecutors launch campaign to stop DA’s from accepting police union money
• 6/1 Tulsa Mayor Bynum agrees to not renew Live PD contract
• 6/1 Louisville police chef fired after shooting of David Mcatee at BBQ joint
• 6/1 Dems and reps begin push to shut down a Pentagon program that transfers military weaponry to cancels contract with police
• 6/1 Minn public schools end contract with police
• 6/1 Confederate Monument removed – Birmingham, AL
• 6/1 CA prosecutors launch campaign to stop DA’s from accepting police union money
• 6/1 Tulsa Mayor Bynum agrees to not renew Live PD contract
• 6/1 Louisville police chef fired after shooting of David Mcatee at BBQ joint
• 6/1 Dems and reps begin push to shut down a Pentagon program that transfers military weaponry to local law enforcement departments – nationwide
• 6/2 Minn AFL-CIO calls for the resignation of Bob Kroll, the president of the Minn police union (Bob Kroll is a vocal white supremest)
• 6/2 ATU Local 85 announces refusal to transport police officers or arrest protestors
• 6/2 Racist Ex-Mayor Rizzo statue removed
• 6/2 6 abusive officers charged for violence against residents and protestors – Atlanta, GA
• 6/2 Confederate soldier statue removed – Alexandire, VA
• 6/2 Robert Lee statue removed
• 6/2 Civil Rights investigation of Minn Police Dept launched
• 6/2 Resolution to prevent law enforcement from hiring officers with history of misconduct announced by San Fran DA Boudin and Supervisor Walton
• 6/2 Survey indicating 64% of polled sympathetic to protestors, and 47% disapprove of police handling + 54% think burning down of precinct fully or partially justified
• 6/2 NJ AG announces policing reforms
• 6/2 Minn City Council members publicly call for disbanding the police and replace safety and outreach capacity
• 6/3 1 officer fired for tweets promoting violence against protestors – Denver, Co
• 6/3 Minn Institute of Art, First Avenue, Walker Art Center end use of MPD for events
• 6/3 Officer Chauvin charged and taken into custody
• 6/3 Officer Chauvin charges upgraded to 2nd Murder, ad remaining 3 officers also charged and taken into custody
• 6/3 VA Gov announces removal of Robert E Lee statue
• 6/3 Richmond VA Mayor Stoney announces RPD reform measures: establish “Marcus” alert for folks experiencing mental health crisis, establish independent Citizen Review Board, an ordinance to remove Confederate monuments, and implement racial equity study
• 6/3 County commissioners deny proposal for $23 million expansion of Fulton County jail
• 6/3 Minn Parks and Rec cut ties with the Minn Police Dep.
• 6/3 US Army tells soldiers to disobey any orders to attack peaceful protestors – nationwide
• 6/3 LA Announces $100-150 million cut from LAPD budget, Reinvested into communities, moratorium on gang database, sharper discipline against abusive cops, in effect immediately
• 6/3 Seattle changes mind and withdraws request to end federal oversight/consent decree of police department
• 6/4 Breonna Taylor case reopened?
• 6/4 Portland schools superintendent ‘discontinues’ presence of armed police officers in schools
• 6/4 MBTA (Metro Boston) board orders that buses wont transport police to protests, or protestors to police
• 6/4 King County Labor Federation issue ultimatum to police unions, to admit to and address racism in Seattle PD, or be removed