BWFJ receives 2015 US Human Rights Movement Builders Award
The US Human Rights Network gave one of its prestigious awards to the Black Workers for Justice. The BWFJ was selected along with seven other recipients for its Movement Builders Award. The awards ceremony was held in conjunction with USHRN’s biannual conference in Austin, Texas called Advancing Human Rights 2015: Sharpening Our Vision, Reclaiming our Dreams.
Human rights activists from around the country and some international visitors examined a full range of issues such as immigrant rights, workers rights, the rights of sex workers, water rights, LGBTQ rights and so much more. As is the practice at these and similar gatherings the delegates were welcomed by the indigenous peoples of the area and spend time conducting a local action, in this case at the county courthouse challenging a bad immigration policy and unfair deportations.
The Fruit of Labor Singing Ensemble represented the organization and participated in workshops, panels and cultural performances.
International Human Rights Day 2015
The Trump Danger and the Rising Tide of Racism
On December 10 people around the globe acknowledge International Human Rights Day, the date when the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted by the UN in 1948. People around the globe have reason to be concerned about the state of human rights. Raging wars, terrorist attacks, massive displacement, growing fascism, police murders, economic crisis and pending ecological disaster are the conditions that challenge all humanity.
Trump and racism
The presidential campaign of Donald Trump has drawn out the deeply racist sentiments among a section of the white population to a dangerous level. Starting with his attacks on immigrants, the Black Lives Matter activists and now Muslims, he is whipping his base into a frenzy. Read More 
********************************************************************************************
Check Out an Important New Website
Just in time for Black History Month and the 50th anniversary of the Black Power Movement a new website was recently launched. Black Liberation and Social Revolution: the Life and Legacy of Saladin Muhammad is an excellent digital education tool for understanding that powerful movement from the perspective of a young Philadelphia activist who joined a movement that he has dedicated his life to; a movement that made significant strides in moving Black people towards more freedom and self-determination. 
The autobiographical videos tell the story of different phases of Saladin’s movement work but is of special interest to those wanting to learn about the history of the Black Workers for Justice. The sixth video in the series focuses on the founding of the BWFJ and some of its subsequent work. The website also contains relevant documents. Saladin will be available for speaking engagements during 2016.Click here to see the website
********************************************************************************************
| Eye-witnesses say Minneapolis Police fatally shot 24-year-old Jamar Clark "execution style."
Join local activists in demanding police release all video of the shooting:
|
|
The weekend of November 14th 2016, Minneapolis Police fatally shot unarmed 24-year-old Jamar Clark.
In a scene all too similar to the police shooting of 18-year-old Mike Brown, dozens of people saw the shooting unfold. Eye-witnesses say Jamar was handcuffed with his hands behind his back when police shot him in the head "execution style." 2
The entire event was likely caught on video by a nearby camera, but local officials are refusing to release the footage. Last night, police unjustly arrested more than 51 Black Lives Matter activists for demanding release of the video and justice for Jamar.3 Now, it's time for us to help turn up the pressure to get Jamar's family the answers they deserve.
All eye-witness accounts of what happened to Jamar point to murder. According to the latest news reports, police were called to the area for domestic assault. While it's unclear exactly what happened before the paramedics arrived, Jamar allegedly tried to speak to his girlfriend before she was put in an ambulance but police threw him to the ground and arrested him. Moments later, law enforcement shot him in the head. Tate Wilson, a local business owner who saw the shooting happen, said, "the young man was just laying there. He was not resisting arrest."4 According to the local NAACP, every eye-witness they've spoken to said Jamar "was handcuffed. Every witness account. [They say police] put a knee on him and shot in the head."5
We need the video footage of the shooting in order to hold law enforcement accountable for this brutal violence. Time and time again, we've seen what happens when local officials are able to keep this type of key information from family members and the public.6 The longer videos are kept secret the easier it is for police to doctor the footage or alter their stories to fit what's caught on camera instead of what actually happened.7 We need full transparency and public accountability or else we will never be able to end the racist culture of corruption and violence that leads to these tragedies. Local officials have asked the Department of Justice to investigate the case, but the investigation will likely take months to complete.8 We need answers now.
When NAACP activists Jason Sole heard about the tragic police shooting of Jamar he said, "Minneapolis is one bullet away from Ferguson...that bullet was fired last night."9 The reality is, police violence targeting Black people is rampant in cities across America. In fact, Jamar is at least the 251st Black person killed by police in 2015 alone.10 Due to discriminatory racial stereotypes, police are 21 times more likely to shoot Black teens than white teens.11 And Minneapolis Black youth have had enough. As protesters put their lives on the line to stand with Jamar's family in demanding justice, we must raise our voices to hold local officials accountable.
References:
2. See reference 1.
8. See reference 5.
|
