We stand in solidarity with all oppressed by Racist and state sanctioned violence
Extinction Rebellion NYC stands in solidarity with all those oppressed by racist and state sanctioned violence.
The brutal death of George Floyd at the hands of police officers, the deaths of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and Atatiana Jefferson, are only the most recent high-profile examples of the existential threat that white supremacy poses to Black Americans.
In accordance with Extinction Rebellion NYC’s principles and demands we are committed to building a more just culture that truly protects and values the lives of Black people, Indigenous people, and those in marginalized communities.
The struggle for a more just world includes reparations, anti-racism work on the part of those who benefit from white privilege, and advocating for the repair of the cross-generational and ongoing injustices perpetrated against people of color.
Extinction Rebellion NYC affirms our commitment to the struggle to end white supremacy.
Resources for Protestors:
Roots of Injustice & Commitment to Change
On May 25th in Minneapolis, police murdered George Floyd. Following the killings of Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery, these were just the latest incidents of racist, state-sanctioned violence at the hands of a militarized police force that has claimed countless black lives. Since Floyd’s murder, thousands have poured into the streets across the world, expressing grief and rage, in a nationwide uprising calling for an end to police violence and demanding justice.
This violence is deeply entrenched in our society, built on the backs of slaves and stolen from indigenous people. The legacy of white supremacy and capitalism treats the Earth as a commodity, and black lives as disposable. We must stand up for what is right and what we know to be true. Life is precious and sacred. George Floyd’s last words, “I can’t breathe,” echoed those of Eric Garner, whose death inspired the Black Lives Matter movement. These black men were deprived of their most basic human right — the right to live.
Extinction Rebellion exists to protect all life. We must honor our relationships with each other and with the planet, and overcome the illusion of separation that allows an extractive economy to decimate the Earth’s ecosystems, and allows a white police officer to take the life of a black man. “To kill someone you have to feel separate from them, and some violence – lynching, rape – ritualizes this separateness,” writes Rebecca Solnit. “Fighting against climate change is the equivalent of fighting against hatred. A world that thrives is one where both people and planet are seen for their inextricable value and connectedness.” We are not listening to the oceans and forests, to indigenous people, to people of color, to the poor, to women and to our fellow species at the brink of extinction who also cannot breathe—but we must listen, or we will all meet the same fate. We must change the system now.
Governments have power because the people agree to comply with the law in exchange for safety. It is the job of the government to protect the people. When the government does not uphold its end of the bargain, the social contract is broken. This week, thousands of Americans have declared themselves in rebellion against a government that does not respect life.
Extinction Rebellion is standing with the protestors and supporting this historic struggle in the streets. We are committed to change these unjust systems of white supremacy, and embody the future we want together — to build a more just and equitable society.
“We act in peace, with ferocious love of these lands in our hearts. We act on behalf of life.”