Black Lives Matter Zine by FLIESSEN MAGAZINE

FLIESSEN

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Editorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Note

Performative Activism

Allyship

Literature

Film

Podcasts

Dinner Table Conversation

Black-Owned Restaurants in DC

Racism in Social Media Cover photo by Camille Drury

Black Artists

Black Businesses

Black Organizations

#8CANTWAIT

Qualified Immunity

ACAB

Protesting Safely

Funds to Donate to

Masthead

Emma Caamano â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;23 Graphic Design Initially coming up with the idea for Fliessen in the beginning of the second school semester, this zine was brought to life with the intent to create awareness towards the misrepresented artists of Corcoran & our community. As a privileged white female, I have come to recognize my benefits from a corrupt system of injustice, power, & racism in a society that encourages hate and supremacy. The privilege to have my voice heard & cared for is one that the black community lacks. I will use my voice & education in design not as a way to center the color of my skin but to create a platform to challenge the system, offering my privilege & position as a way to emphasize the voices left unheard. To turn a blind eye to the blatant racism seen today would be a gross injustice to my friends, the black community, & a society in desperate need of change. Regardless of race,

ge we & for

ender, sexuality, etc. all people ere born out of love, to love be loved and & this has been rgotten for far too long.

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Ginny Chang ‘23 Graphic Design Fliessen is a magazine that conveys various cultural backgrounds & began thanks to our Corcoran art community at The George Washington University. We hope that everyone who will read our magazine can find not only inspiration but can also somehow relate to each topic. Through creating this zine, we intend to emphasize & give voice to the “Black Lives Matter” movement. As an Asian, even though I am not a part of the black community, this does not mean I do not have a voice to speak against the injustices this community faces. “I am not sure”, is no longer an excuse for myself or others to not discuss this problem. Using art to express our voices is a way that we can boost change & have our opinions heard. There should not be restrictions towards speaking against injustice. It’s 2020 and the black community’s

voices must be heard. Injustice must be solved. It is so important for all of us to keep educating ourselves & keep supporting this community even after these protests have died down.

Brianna Hawley ‘23 Graphic Design Fliessen is a zine created to give a voice to the Corcoran students at George Washington University. It was founded on being a safe space for all people of cultural backgrounds, sexual orientations, & genders. As a black woman in American, I have always used my voice to fight against injustices & actively incorporated these messages into my art. As 2020 continues, it has become more apparent that we can not remain silent. Our first edition of Fliessen is dedicated to the black lives matter movement. It is vital that we keep educating ourselves and using the information we learn to make a change. It is time to take an indepth look into ourselves & ask : “What can I do to ensure equal treatment not only in America but in the world?” This zine is a collection of artists speaking out because all lives can’t matter until black lives matter.

Photo by Kathryn Super

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Most zines remain hidden; hidden underneath mainstream publications & hidden underneath mass media industries. Most voices remain hidden; hidden underneath those of the elite, the privileged & those of our presidency & law enforcement. Concentrated ownership by mass media industries, wealthy white men, has limited diversity of opinion, of voice, & of quality of impact. The impact which every educated anti-racist ally of the black community should have on the public. Photo by Kathryn Super

Fliessen, the Swiss German word for “flow,” was meant to underline our studies in the origins of graphic design & highlight the creative unfolding of every individual & artist. This zine now emphasizes the disruption of a different flow, our society, to unapologetically call for the dismantlement of institutionalized racism & embedded white supremacy.

This zine, established by a group of Corcoran graphic design students, is a safe space to encourage a call for change & offer opportunity. This zine serves as a document of a societal history of black oppression & the sharing of voices through this platform. Our voices need to be mass communicated. Our platform has been created to give a voice to the students of GW to motivate activism, year-round allyship, anti-racism, getting comfortable with being uncomfortable, &, most importantly, educating ourselves & others on the importance of knowing the “Unknown”. There is no quick fix to the nation’s systematic problem, yet we must start making changes from our local communities in hope to encourage two-way interactive communication, change in perspective, & education in a world of ignorance and assumption.

This zine is dedicated to George Floyd, the Minneapolis Protests, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, Christian Cooper, David McAtee, and all black lives that have been oppressed, discriminated against & lost.

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ment without sacrificing anything Example: use of hashtag/ socialmedia without further action. Performative Activism: (v) acting out the motions of activism to gain social capital rather than engaging in impactful action Superficial activism: action fueled by self promotion all to maintain an image of “wokeness.” Being a part of the movement without sacrificing anything Example: use of hashtag/ socialmedia without further action.

PERFORMATIVE ACTIVISM

Performative Activism: (v) acting out the motions of activism to gain social capital rather than engaging in impactful action Superficial activism: action fueled by self promotion all to maintain an image of “wokeness.” Being a part of the movement without sacrificing anything Example: use of hashtag/ socialmedia without further action. Performative Activism: (v) acting out the motions of activism to gain social capital rather than engaging in impactful action Superficial activism: action fueled by self promotion all to maintain an image of “wokeness.” Being a part of the movement without sacrificing anything Example: use of hashtag/ socialmedia without further action. Performative Activism: (v) acting out the motions of activism to gain social capital rather than engaging in impactful action Superficial activism: action fueled by self promotion all to maintain an image of “wokeness.” Being a part of the move-

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NO MORE #BLACKOUTTUESDAYS When virtually protesting use hashtags that will target the oppressors. Leave the black squares behind.

#communitypolicing

#secondamendment

#deputysheriff

#armedforces

#sheriffsoffice

#backtheblue

ESCAPE

#policeweek

#policepics

#blueline

#policefamily

#kag2020 #sheriffdeputy

#kag

ROUTE

#nra

#serveandprotect

#keepamericagreatagain

#policedepartment #bluelinesstrong

#womenfortrump #bluelinefamily

#lawenforcementfamily

#draintheswamp

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Solidarity: (n) unity or agreement of feeling or action, especially among individuals with a common interest; mutual support within a group. Allyship: (n) a lifelong process of building relationships based on trust, consistency, and accountability with marginalized individuals and/or groups of people Solidarity: (n) unity or agreement of feeling or action, especially among individuals with a common interest; mutual support within a group. Allyship: (n) a lifelong process of building relationships based on trust, consistency, and accountability with marginalized individuals and/or groups of people Solidarity: (n) unity or agreement of feeling or action, especially among individuals with a common interest; mutual support within a group.

ALLYSHIP

Allyship: (n) a lifelong process of building relationships based on trust, consistency, and accountability with marginalized individuals and/or groups of people Solidarity: (n) unity or agreement of feeling or action, especially among individuals with a common interest; mutual support within a group. Allyship: (n) a lifelong process of building relationships based on trust, consistency, and accountability with marginalized individuals and/or groups of people Solidarity: (n) unity or agreement of feeling or action, especially among individuals with a common interest; mutual support within a group. Allyship: (n) a lifelong process of building relationships based on trust, consistency, and accountability with marginalized individuals and/or groups of people Solidarity: (n) unity or agreement of feeling or action, especially among individuals with a common interest; mutual support within a group. Allyship: (n) a lifelong process of building relationships based on trust, consistency, and accountability with marginalized individuals and/or groups of people

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STEPS TO

Do not position yourself as an ally for personal or external gratification

ALLYSHIP

You must be INTOLERANT of racism both in private spaces & in personal relationships

Allyship lasts longer than when the topic is trending Photo by Jing Zhong

Allyship is the bare minimum; We need co-conspirators Co-conspirator organizes, actively learns & protects black lives on the frontlines Allies do not always have to be heard Recognize when you are speaking over Black voices

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REFLECTION QUESTIONS FOR ALLYSHIP In what ways does my proximity to whiteness afford me priviledges that arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t extended to the black community? What are my local polticians policy on ending police brutality? In what ways have I been conditioned to believe in the superiority of whiteness? Who taught me about race and culture? How do I behave when I am confronted by racist behavior? In what ways have I ignored this behavior in the past? In what ways have I engaged in rhethoric that promotes othering or stereotyping of the black community? What can I do to better educate myself of the historical context of race in the country & community I exist in? What do I want to learn more about? What information can I teach others? How? Do I owe anyone an apology?

Illustration by Devon Healy

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On May 30, 2020, Assistant Editor of Square Peg Books and contributor at Worldplay Magazine, Mireille Harper shared on social media the “10 Steps to Non-Optical Allyship.”

Understand What Optical Allyship is

Read up on Anti-Racist Works

“Allyship that only serves at the surface level to platform the ‘ally’; it makes a statement but does not go beneath the surface & is not aimed at the breaking away from the systems of power that oppress.”

It is not enough to be against racism, you need to be actively taking steps to work towards being anti-racist.

Be Prepared to Do the Work

Donate to Funds & Support Initiatives

Understanding that coming to terms with your own privilege will Support platforms & initiatives which support black people, such as not be a pretty or fun experience. It is necessary to feel feelings of the Minnesota Freedom fund, black-owned funding platforms like guilt, shame & anger throughout this process. Coming to terms with Kwanda, & petitions. these feelings & accepting them is part of the process. Put your money & pen where your mouth is.

Avoid Sharing Content which is Traumatic

Do Not Centre this Narrative Around Yourself

Whatever your intentions are, it is vital to understand that sharing videos of black people being abused & hurt are both traumatic and triggering for many black people. If doing so, provide a trigger warning for the sensitive material.

It is not the time to insert personal experiences into a narrative that isn’t about you. It is harmful to take away the severity of the situation. Leave your ego behind.

Check in on Your Black Friends, Family, Partners, Loved Ones & Colleagues

Stop Supporting Organizations that Promote Hate

This is an emotional & traumatic time for the black community, & you checking in on them means more than you can imagine. Ask how you can provide support for them.

If you read pieces on media platforms that promote hate or fund supremacist & hateful organizations, you are contributing to the problem. Equally, stop supporting organizations that love “black culture”, but fail to speak up on issues affecting the black community.

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Ink Print Multiple of a Linoleum Cut by Devin Healy

Keep Supporting After the Outrage

Start your Long-Term Strategy

Keep supporting black media, black initiatives, charitable organizations & continuw your work AFTER attention has died down.

How are you making a long-term impact or affecting change? Can you mentor a young person? Can you become a trustee for an organization that supports the black community? Could you offer your time to volunteer? Make the effort to do something valuable over a long-term period.

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Jigsaw? Systemic Labels? By Nyle X. Hutchinson What do you do when your world stops spinning? Do you try to push it back into motion? Do you reach out to your neighbor for a jumpstart? Do you try to identify why it has stopped? Or do you let it stand still until it eventually moves again. That’s what it feels like to be human. & as a black man I’m at risk of that happening all the time. As a black man exposed to the privileged world my identity is constantly in flux. You become an ambassador of your race, family & culture to the privileged & a storyteller to your brothers that haven’t made it yet. You might start to develop different habits based on your location. My world stopped spinning when George Floyd was murdered & all the identities I had collided. In this moment if my identity was a jigsaw puzzle the corners would be in the middle & the edges wouldn’t match. The journey of finding yourself is very much like putting a jigsaw puzzle together except each piece starts out blank. You might be given some pictures of what it is supposed to look like. What you are supposed to look like after you complete the puzzle. But once you start piecing it together you begin to create your own picture. & our society is filled with images of what people are supposed to be like. A history of over generalizing people & a lack of individualism has contributed to our current political climate. It’s really in the last 20 years that members of society are trying to see beyond the labels we assign & think inwardly about how they relate to each of us. Which is why I’m not entrusting the next four years of nation in the hands of who wins the election. I’m entrusting the future of our nation in the hands of my generation & our allies. Our generation is one that has been creating from a multitude of factors to define each other, like any generation before us, but the key difference is that there are also more of us trying to understand what those labels mean. Where these older generations & labels originate from. We research how the labels used by the government & media affect the people they are prescribed to. There’s a clear system in place in our society. The labels are used to affect the life puzzles that we put together. They restrict & disadvantage many individuals. Then the government & the media feeds off of the disgruntled. They don’t even appease them. If anything they distract them. Political parties will take turns being the champion of the unheard & the supposed suppressor. When they both want to take advantage of us to maintain power; we have to do our due diligence to arm ourselves with intelligence. Then WE must mobilize ourselves into the decision making part of the world. To lead the charge for change. Some people say “things don’t change the longer you look at them.” I want to amend that saying to “things won’t change if we only look at them” it’s an active process. If we only look at the picture on the puzzle box, are we building the world we want or what the world already expects?

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Photo by Kathryn Super

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Books to Read on Anti-R Non-Fiction -The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin -The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness by Michelle Alexander -The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson -Tears We Cannot Stop by Michael Eric Dyson -Black Feminist Thought by Patricia Hill Collins Self-Help -Blindspot: Hidden Biases of Good People by Anthony Greenwald and Mahzarin Banaji -White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk about Racism by Robin DiAngelo -Mindful of Race: Transforming Racism from the Inside Out by Ruth King -Healing Racial Trauma: The Road to Resilience by Sheila Wise Rowe -How We Fight White Supremacy by Akiba Solomon -This Book is Anti-Racist: 20 Lessons on how to Wake Up, Take Action, & Do the Work by Tiffany Jewell Other Genres -Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston -Have Black Lives Ever Mattered by Mumnia Abujamal -Beloved by Toni Morrison -Citizen: An American Lyric by Claudia Rankine -Fences by August Wilson

It’s recommended to read text by Malxom James Baldwin, Assata Shakur, Michelle A Wells, & The 1619 Project.

Photo by Ca

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Racism, Justice & Reform

m X, Martin Luther King Jr., Angela Davis, Alexander, Keeanga Yamahtta Taylor, Ida B.

amille Drury

History & Intersectionality -An Indigenous Peoples’ History of the United States by Roxanna Dunbar-Ortiz -The Making of Black Lives Matter: A Brief History of an Idea by Christopher J. Lebron -Black against Empire: The History & Politics of the Black Panther Party by Joshua Bloom -The Color of Law: A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America by Richard Rothstein -Slavery, Race & American Revolution by Macleod -So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo -An African American & Latinx History of the United States by Paul Ortiz Autobiographies & Biographies -Assata: An Autobiography by Assata Shakur -I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou -Heavy: An American Memoir by Kiese Laymon -Between The World & Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates -How To Be An Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi -I’m Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness by Austin Channing Brown -When They Call You A Terrorist: A Black Lives Matter Memoir by Asha Bandele & Patrisse Cullors -Good Talk: A Memoir of Conversations by Mira Jacob

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Film & Documentaries Ready To Watch Films -Selma -Fruitvale Station -The Black Power Mixtape -Soundtrack for a Revolution -Freedom Riders -Eyes on the Prize -The Hate U Give -Blackkklansma -American Son -Clemency -Dear White People -Queen and Slim -See You Yesterday -If Beale Street Could Talk -I Am Not Your Negro -Just Mercy -Hidden Figures -Black Panthers Documentaries -13th -When They See Us -Let It Fall: Los Angeles 19821992 -LA 92 -Who killed Malcom X? -The Death of Life of Marsha P. Johnson -Explained: The Racial Wealth Gap -Time: The Kalief Browder Story -The Sandra Bland Story

2018 If Beale Street Could Talk

2016 2018 The Hate U Give

Hidden Figures

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2017 2019 Just Mercy

Time: The Kalief Browder Story

2019

When They See Us

See You Yesterday

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PODCAST If you want to invest in learning & unlearning, you have to do the work. You have to listen to the people willing to teach you about the black experience in this country, ALONGSIDE reading. Podcasts allow you to do so & have a backlog of information.

How did you learn about race in the US? What can you do to support the black people in our community? Name two actions you are commited to taking beyond social media? Define systemic oppression. Provide an example that exists today in the US. How do you react when confroned with racist behavior & actions? What do you want to learn more about? What information could you share with others? How have you ignored this in the past? Why is it important that we all work towards ending injustice?

DINNER TABLE CONVERSATIONS

On The Topic Of Being A Better Ally

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Ben’s Chili Bowl Cane Ooh’s & Aah’s Nu Vegan Chat’s Liquor Keren Service Bar Niko’s Spiked Gelato

Brookland Grill Sunrise Caribbean Restaurant DC Puddin’ Habesha Market Zion Kitchen Jerk at Nite DCity Smokehouse Backyard Smoke Spot

Black-Owned Restaurants in Jam Doung Style Hype Cafe DC Khepra’s Raw Food Juice Bar Teddy’s Roti Shop Heat Da Sport District Soul Food Sweet Sosumba Jamaican Vegan Mr. Braxton The Consulate DC

The Sweet Lobby Bukom Cafe Peaches Kitchen Po Boy Jim Tsehay Ethiopian Restaurant Serenata The Kitchen Jerk Urban Chefs Table Cork Wine Bar

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WHAT TO CONSIDER BEFORE PO

Am I posting to dismantle racist systems, or to broacast myself as a â&#x20AC;&#x153;good white personâ&#x20AC;??

Does posting allow me to feel off the hook for taking meaningful action in my own life? What more can I do?

Whose voice am I centering? Am I centering my own?

How much do I still have to learn? Is

it my time to listen?

Does this post leverage or risk my privilege in a way that will cause awareness & lead to action?

Photo by Camille Drury

OSTING ABOUT RACISM

as a white person

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MICROAGRESSIONS Microassaults

Vrbal or nonverbal attacks against people of color, such as using racial slurs, avoiding contact with the black community, etc. IMPACT: Can make people of color feel unsafe & unwanted.

Microinvalidations

Subtly or obviously denying or attacking the experiences, feelings, or thoughts that people of color have, such as “We are all human beings”, “All lives matter”, etc. IMPACT: Can make people of color feel invisible & frustrated.

Microinsults

Verbal & nonverbal insults that demean or discredit people of color, such as “you’re pretty for a Black girl”, “you sound white”, etc. IMPACT: Can impact the self-esteem of people of color.

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Photo by Kathryn Super

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Black Artist Accounts to Follow @artofcrixtoveredwin @Stattheartist @iamsaintrose @jazzminimani @nikkolas_smith @reyanoriega_ @solacilike @barryyusufu_art @ty.shots @odetofuture @chelseadmarch @alexahgodoy

Black Voices to Follow @Laylafsaad @blairimani @rachel.cargle @whembleysewell @adwoaaboah @tamikadmallory @mspackyetti @moemotivate @ijeomaoluo @sonyareneetaylor @thefrendineverwanted @decolonizingtherapy @brwnplace @melissatoler @fullcircletherapy @sassy_latte @mammyisdead @thehoodalkemist @kendriana.speaks @iamrachelricketts @porshanality @healsista @ckyourpriviledge @theconsciouskid @ogorchukwuu @mynameisjessamym @skillinaction @thenapministry @trustmeimasocialworker @refinedtherapy @the_intersectionaltherapist @melanin_maskedanxiety @chairbreaker @heydrsand @elaina.chinea @gabestorres @eauthority @alexfoodfreedom

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4o Black-Owned Busines

@ceeceesclosetnyc @dorcascreates @brothervellies @kncbeauty

@hanifa

@mdmflow

@weardiop

@mentedcosmetics

@sherah_online

@thelipbar @beautybakeriemakeup @juviasplace @mischobeauty

@nubianskin @thefolklore @thewraplife @nudebarre @onabags @blkmktvintage

@bla

@ros

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sses

To Support

@_melaniemarie_ @peaceimagesjewerly @jamandrico

oyinhandmade @solonoir

@ehoneyskin

@gethyperskin @himistry

mybutterbarskin

ackgirlsunscreen

@blkandgrn

semansremedies

@helloyowie

@thirdcrown

@bespokebinny

@anyaurbanboutique

@toolsforlivingba @rayoandhoney @boleroadtextiles @purhomeclean @effiespaper

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15 Black Organiza “There comes a time when silence is betrayal” - Martin Luther King, Jr. @blklivesmatter -An international human rights movement -Originating in the African American community -Campaigns against violence & systemic racism towards black people

@blackmenheal ( free therapy for black men) -Provide access to mental health treatment, psycho-education, & community resources to men of color -Three goals: remove the stigma, match the male up with a qualified provider of color, & initially eliminating cost

@colorofchange -Progressive nonprofit civil rights advocacy organization -Formed in 2005 in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in order to use online resources to strengthen the political voice of African Americans.

@naacp

@showingupforracialjustice

@civilrightsorg

-The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People is a civil rights organization in the United States -Formed in 1909 as a bi-racial endeavor to advance justice for African Americans

-National network of groups & individuals working to undermine white supremacy & working towards racial justice -Works to connect people across the country while supporting & collaborating with local & national racial justice organizing efforts

-Nation’s oldest, largest, & most diverse civil & human rights coalition -A coalition of more than 200 national organizations that work to promote & protect the civil & human rights of all persons in the United States

@mpowerchange

@theconsciouskid

@blmgreaterny

-A grassroots movement working to build social, spiritual, racial, & economic justice for all people -Aims to build political power online & offline for Muslims across the U.S. Combining cutting edge digital tools with years of field experience, organizing know-how, & an extensive network of supporters

-An education, research & policy organization dedicated to reducing bias & promoting positive identity development in youth -Partners with organizations, children’s museums, schools, & families across the country to promote access to children’s books

-Believes in building community through civic engagement, education & mentorship -Its vision is to directly impact the policies that impact our conditions, focusing on: criminal justice reform, basic public safety, fair & equal access to education, jobs & infrastructure

@ethelsclub

@unitedwedream

@sistersong_woc

-A matriarch figure in a tight-knit Black community whose home offered warmth, laughter, and care-Creates healing spaces that center & celebrate people of color through conversation, wellness & creativity

-Largest immigrant youth-led community in the country -Its vision is a society which celebrates diversity & believes in leading a multi-ethnic, intersectional path to get there

-A southern based, national membership organization -Its vision is to build an effective network of individuals & organizations to improve institutional policies & systems that impact the reproductive lives of marginalized communities

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FLIESSEN

ations To Follow @nycjusticeleague

-Multi-disciplinary task force of juvenile & criminal justice experts, artists, educators, direct service providers, activists, & formerly incarcerated individuals -Its vision is to maintain a movement to end child incarceration, while working to eliminate the racial inequities in the criminal justice system that enliven mass incarceration

@eji_org -Nonprofit organization, based in Montgomery, Alabama -Provides legal representation to prisoners who may have been wrongly convicted of crimes, poor prisoners without effective representation, & others who may have been denied a fair trial

@fams2gether -Includes nearly 250 organizations representing Americans from all backgrounds across the country who have joined together to fight family separation & promote dignity, unity, & compassion for all children & families

Photo by Kathryn Super

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A Project by Campaign Zero https://8cantwait.org/

Ban Chokeholds & Strangleholds

Allowing officers to choke or strangle civilians when less lethal force could be used; results in unnecessary death or injury of civilians.

Require De-Escalation

Require officers to de-escalate situations through communication, maintaining distance, & eliminating the need to use force.

Require Warning Before Shooting

Require officers to give a verbal warning, when possible, before shooting at a civilian.

Exhaust All Other Means Before Shooting

Require officers to exhaust all other reasonable means before resorting to deadly force.

Duty To Intervene

Require officers to intervene & stop excessive force used by other officers & report this immediately to a supervisor.

Ban Shooting At Moving Vehicles

Restrict officers from shooting at moving vehicles, as it is a particularly dangerous & ineffective tactic.

Require Use Of Force Continuum

Develop a Force Continuum that limits the types of force &/or weapons that can be used to respond to specific types of resistance.

Require Comprehensive Reporting

Require officers to report each time they use force or threaten to use force against civilians.

This campaign is misleading as it proposes reforms that have already been proven ineffective by many major cities. The 72% decrease would be if a police department has no proposed policies instilled. It offers more policing as a solution to the problem of police brutality. The system of policing is inherently violent. The system must be dismantled not reformed.

THE SYSTEM MUST BE DISMANTLED NOT REFORMED

Collage by Jules Fetti

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Established in 1967, Qualified Immunity is a legal doctrine in the United States federal law. This doctrine shields police from being sued in federal court for infringing on civilians’ constitutional rights unless their actions violated “clearly established law.”

Quali Immu Even if victims win, police officers will almost always keep their jobs & not have to compensate the people whose rights they violated. If no previous case involving the disputed conduct exists, as often happens as each cause is unique,

THE OFFICER IS IMMUNE.

to sign the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Ending Qualified Immunity Actâ&#x20AC;? & have it delivered to your officials.

ified unity How Do We Eliminate Qualified Immunity?

Congressman Justin Amash revealed that he will introduce the End Qualified Immunity Act. Should it pass, this act will see an end to the roadblock that plaintiffs face when suing on account of their rights being violated.

Photo by Camille Drury

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ACAB ACAB ACAB ACAB ACAB ACAB ACAB ACAB ACAB

Photo by Kathryn Super

ACAB, or “All Cops are Bastards”, is often misinterpreted as “All Cops are Bad.” To “bastardize” is to lower in quality or character.

While people were born unable to change their skin color, all cops make the conscious decision to join a system based on racism & violence.

Can there be Good Cops? The actions of some affect all in this situation. Because all police have to support & stand up for each other, they all play a part in this system. A cop can be a good individual, but it does not make them a good cop.

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“DEFUNDING THE POLICE” Defunding the police means reducing police budgets (& power) on a local & state level & investing that money directly into poor communities of color through public service. Redirected & reinvested public funds can uplift poor communities while also reducing crime & increasing safety; crime is a response to social conditions. To really “fight crime,” we don’t need more cops; we need more jobs, educational opportunities, art programs, community centers, mental health resources, & more of a say in how our society functions.

We are not calling for the immediate & total abolition of the police. We are arguing that the large sums of money that go into the police force be allocated into more PREVENTATIVE measures, not REACTIONARY.

In Your City: -Demand city councils & mayors to reject city budgets with expanded & militarized police budgets -Demand mayors to de-escalate police forces -Contact the Independent Budget Office for budget literacy -Email or call Director of Office & Management for Mayor

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WAR? By Jackson Pierce

My white castle does not Hide my priviledge On the news they were rioting Flames stained the skies, Though I cannot smell the smoke So is this war? As only one who is not forced to as fight can ask

PROTESTING

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SAFELY

Photo by Kathryn Super

Reminders for Protests

Know Your Rights

What to do if Tear Gassed

What to do if Pepper Sprayed

-Bring your phone fully charged but off or on airplane mode -No jewelry or contact lenses -Wear multiple, breathing formless layers to cover up & remove identifyers -Set up a rendezvous point in case you are separated from your group. NEVER GO ALONE! -Wear a mask & practice social distancing as best you can -Wear goggles -Be attentive of surroundings & locate escape point -Have emergency contacts written down -Wear Athletic shoes -Bring Bandages & First aid supplies -Carry Cash/change & ID

-Freedom of Expression & Amnesty -Protection of the Right to Freedom of Assembly -Freedom From Excessive Use of Force -Right to Medical Assistance -Freedom From Arbitrary Arrest & Detention -Right to Complain

-Hold your breath; try not to suck in the gas -Close your eyes, if safe to do so -Leave area -Stay calm; steady your breathing -Remove contact lenses/ wash glasses thoroughly -Rinse your eyes -Change ASAP. If you cannot do so, make sure you air out your close -Stay dry; sweat can cause gas to run down your skin -Wash exposed clothes separately

-Do not touch contaminated area -Move somewhere safe -Remove contact lenses -Wash exposed area with soap & cold water -DO NOT apply oil/grease medication -Flush exposed area with cold water for 3-5 minutes -Keep the area exposed to fresh air

DO NOT UPLOAD PHOTOS IDENTIFYING FELLOW PROTESTORS

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DONATIONS

Painting by Erin Sudek

Support. Love.

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• “OfficialGoFundMe” • Support Floyd’s Family • gofundme.com/f/Geroge Floyd

• Nonprofit organization • Exposing root abuse of dynamic social & environmental issues • https://unicornriot.ninja

• “OfficialGoFundMe” • Support Bree’s Family • JusticeForBreonna.org

• Supports Ahmaud Arbery • Official site for signing petitions • RunWithMaud.com

• For individuals who have been arrested while protesting • Community based & nonprofit; pays criminal bail & immigration bonds

• Advocates & invests in community-led safety initiatives in Minneapolis neighborhoods

• Black, Trans, & Queer led organization • Committed to dismantling systems of oppression & violence

IS PUSHING PEOPLE TO DONATE TO OTHER FUNDS

Other funds include: The Innocent Project, Communities United Against Police Brutality, No New Jails NYC, Know Your Rights Camp, Committee to Protect Journalists, NAACP, & National Bail Out.

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MA s T H E A Editors in Chief Emma Caamano Ginny Chang Brianna Hawley Writers Nyle X Hutchinson Jackson Pierce Photographers Camille Drury Kathryn Super Jing Zhong Artists Jules Fetti Devin Healy Erin Sudek

- Angie Thomas

An American young adult author who is best-known for writing The Hate U Give (2017)

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All cops involved in George Floyd’s murder have been charged; Derek Chauvin gets second-degree murder. Breonna Taylor’s Law that will regulate “no-knock warrants” has been passed in Louisville.

This zine serves as the beginning of the inexhaustible information & educational tools that all people, regardless of color, should learn & practice. As time progresses, more information will become available. Familiarize yourself with it to better support the black community.

Gov. Ralph Northam will be taking down the Robert E. Lee statue, a Confederate monument, in Virginia. A bill was introduced in Colorado that will address abusive law enforcement policies. The mayor of LA & lawmakers in New York are calling for the defunding of the police department. Ferguson elected its first black mayor, who happens to also be the first woman mayor.

Change starts now, but does not end in a matter of weeks, months, or years.

Mayor Frank Rizzo, who encouraged voters to “vote white” in the 70’s, statue was taken down in Philadelphia.

Allyship is forever. We cannot burnout.

Judges give the green light to the trial to hold the men responsible for Ahmaud Arbery’s murder. ETC. Photo by Kathryn Super

Black Lives Matter Zine

Articles inside

10 Steps to Non-Optical Allyship