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Businesses for Black Lives day of awareness set for November 2
The epidemic of police brutality, particularly toward African Americans, must be brought to an end once and for all. This problem is not new, though we are now bearing witness to the disturbing reality that the African American community has been decrying for decades. We have not listened to their voice. And many of us who have seen and heard have remained silent for far too long. We acknowledge and lament our complicity. We will remain silent no more.
The killings we have publicly witnessed stem from systemic, institutionalized racism in our country’s criminal justice system at every level of government. We are calling upon the governments of our city, state, and country to take immediate action to reform the laws, policies, and policing tactics that disproportionately affect and oppress the African American community.
We stand and grieve with the families who have lost loved ones, whether at the hands of law enforcement or at the hands of those who attack law enforcement officers. We ask for justice for all.
We believe that it is our responsibility, as corporate citizens, to hold our governments accountable and to use our economic influence for the common good of our country. We ask that all other businesses locally and nationally join us in speaking out against this crisis.
Is this a joke?
Please publish a list of the businesses that participate in this event. I will never step foot in or spend another dime in any of these establishments.
How dare these people throw shade on the very men and women who are the first to come to their aid when they need it!
The link from above shows:
Participating Businesses:
FOSTER MADE
(Richmond, VA)
TMI CONSULTING
(Richmond, VA)
RICHMOND RIDES BICYCLE TOURS
(Richmond, VA)
LEFT + RIGHT
(Richmond, VA)
PARKWOOD CREATIVE
(Richmond, VA)
@ 1 – I don’t think so. @2 – if you click on the story, the list of the businesses are there. Other than the bike company, I have never heard of them. And yes, even if the opportunity arises, I will never give them my business either.
I think this is awesome and I would go out of my way to support the businesses participating.
Also by the way throwing shade is a term that started with queer people of color who are targeted for police violence at an insane rate. It grosses me out to see it used to criticize people who are trying to do what they can to show they don’t accept police violence as necessary and support black lives matter’s struggle for justice.
@2 If you hit the link in the article and read the linked article, it clearly lists the businesses participating.
Hey y’all – I’m taking the step of only allowing comments on this one from folks who have previously commented on CHPN. I want this to be *our* conversation, not a collection of copy&past snippets from random people.
@2 while you are entitled to your own opinion and decisions about where to spend your money, I feel compelled to point out that just because someone (or a business) is pro- black lives does not mean they are anti-cop. This is one of the major misconceptions about the BLM movement (see #9 here: http://blacklivesmatter.com/11-major-misconceptions-about-the-black-lives-matter-movement/).
This kind of binary thinking is what drives people apart… the text above says this group is specifically asking for “justice for all,” which includes law enforcement officers who through inappropriate training, lack of resources, and a host of other factors are part of a larger system of systemic racism that disproportionally targets our neighbors of color. Justice for all means everyone is safer.
I think this is poor judgement on the part of these business owners. It will not raise awareness about this issue, it will only generate animosity, perpetuate racial divisions and I am really tired of black this and black that! All lives matter!
Hasn’t anybody noticed how many police officers are of color? I would never be in a position to use any of these businesses anyway, however I would not boycott them for trying to make a statement about something that they feel is important. Their efforts are misdirected.
How about instead, have a rally which includes the police and community of all color?
I respect this.
“We will remain silent no more.”
Closing shop (arbitrarily?) on Wednesday, November 2nd only serves the purpose of giving the businesses a day off in the middle of the week (losing productivity, money, time, etc.)…it is counterproductive, you are only hurting yourselves. Essentially, you are boycotting your own business for a day. Instead, wouldn’t it be more useful to close on, say, Tuesday, November 8th and get the vote out…for real change?! That is when your “voice” will be deafening…quit bitching, go VOTE!
Businesses plan peaceful event for black lives
http://www.richmond.com/business/local/article_3dae57ca-6e0f-5e75-b075-f78603ee7efd.html
“Mejias said the event is not anti-police. “We are very much pro-police and are in the process of reaching out to the police departments in the surrounding area. We want to work with them and we really just want to make sure that nothing like what we’ve seen in the national news ever happens here.””
I am one of the business owners and we are very much pro-everybody, including white people and police. In fact, the Richmond Police are joining us or the dialogue on November 2nd.
The point is to allow businesses the opportunity to join the national discussion and identify ways to better serve the cause and the community. What we don’t want to do is sit idly by and pretend we don’t see the national epidemic when we, as business owners, may have the resources to support our communities.
Am a black woman married to a white man and I wish nothing more than for all races to “matter” and be treated fairly and equitably. Unfortunately, unconscious bias is behind much of this problem. When less than 13% of the US population is African American but 26% of of the population shot by police, there is a problem. African Americans are 2.6 times more likely to get shot by police than white people.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/post-nation/wp/2016/07/11/arent-more-white-people-than-black-people-killed-by-police-yes-but-no/?utm_term=.1ce5c74c8464