Advancing Justice-Chicago stands in solidarity with the Black community and protesters across the country who are demanding justice and racial equity. As police brutality and structural racism continue to incite national outrage, we invite other Asian Americans to join us in doing the ongoing work to fight for racial justice.
For too long, we have witnessed state violence against communities of color in our nation to protect a system based on white supremacy. We cannot remain silent in the face of this moment, like the Asian American police officer who stood by and watched the murder of George Floyd. This is a time for us to be allies to the Black community and work together to build stronger coalitions to drive real progress in dismantling systems of oppression in our country. We draw inspiration from Asian American civil rights leaders, such as Yuri Kochiyama and Grace Lee Boggs, who fought for liberation for all.
In our communities, we are hearing many mixed reactions to the destruction of property and looting across the country, but we must remember that Black lives are always more valuable than private property. Moreover, Advancing Justice-Chicago is firmly committed to the principles of non-violence and we call on the largest perpetrators of the violence happening in our streets, the police and national guard, to abandon their dangerous paramilitary tactics and escalation of tensions against communities exercising their right to protest injustice. For all who wish to participate in or support protest efforts, follow trusted organizations in Chicago including Black Lives Matter Chicago, BYP 100, SOUL – Southsiders Organized for Unity and Liberation, Chicago Community Bond Fund, and others for accurate information and action alerts.
We are all navigating the complexities of safely protesting during a global pandemic. You may choose to support the cause by protesting in the streets, but you can also protest in other ways. If you are joining street protests, then please try your best to adhere to social distancing guidelines, and be especially mindful about the disproportionate impact of the virus on communities of color.
Over the next few weeks, we will be opening up more spaces for dialogue, education, healing, and action with our base of grassroots leaders and supporters. Please join our next general meeting on June 17th at 6pm (link & details coming soon).
We remember and mourn for George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, Nina Pop, Tony McDade, Laquan McDonald, Rekia Boyd, and the countless others whose lives have been taken. Their deaths demand from all of us an active response. As Asian Americans, we cannot stand by and passively accept these injustices. Now is the time for Asian Americans to dismantle anti-Blackness in our own communities, stand in solidarity with Black communities, and build alliances to dismantle systems of oppression.