#07.21.2016

Today, Romano decided that he would not get his priorities decided anytime soon, so he would take a skip year. It isn't like he has no time.

BRING SIGNS & INSTRUMENTS & stand in solidarity with#Blacklivesmatter's #Freedomnow call for collective action against white supremacy and the murder of our Black brothers and sisters as well as all others whose lives are violated or robbed by racist policing and criminal justice system. See National Call To Action below and here: https://www.facebook.com/events/286952491696228/: Free from violence. Free from oppression. Free to be our full selves. Free to love. Freedom Now. If you've been marching on the streets or been on the sidelines, this is your opportunity to join the movement for justice to make sure today is different than yesterday. We can create a future where Black children live in peace and possibility, not under a police state. We will honor those we've lost by fighting for the world we can build together, the world we know is possible, the world we deserve. What you can do: This is a moment where all of us, driven by love, can make a change that will define this generation. Image what world we can live in if we follow our dreams instead of fear? On Thursday July 21st we're asking you to take action. Join a march, or rally, stage a walk-out or sit in. Hit the streets and stay engaged. Find an action near you and join people in your communities demanding justice. If there are no actions near you, don't ask for permission, organize one. If you need support, have questions, or feedback contact us and we'll get back to you as soon as possible. If you can’t hit the streets, take action online all day. Use hashtag #FreedomNow --------------------------------------- El jueves 21 de julio el Movimiento para Vidas Negras está pidiendo que tomen medidas. Únanse a una marcha o manifestación. Salgan a la calle y sigan participando. Encuentren una acción cerca de usted y únanse a la gente en sus comunidades exigiendo justicia. Si no hay acciones cerca de usted, no pedían permiso, organiza una. Si necesitan ayuda, tienen preguntas o comentarios comuníquense con nosotros y nos pondremos en contacto con usted tan pronto como sea posible. Si no puede salir a la calle, tomen medidas por el internet durante todo el día. Usen el hashtag#LibertadAhora

Join us in expressing rage, grief, fear, frustration, & the intent to no longer be complicit in the state-sanctioned police violence of Black lives in this country. We will be mourning & honoring the lives of Alton Sterling, Philando Castile, & the countless other Black/Trans lives murdered every day. This event will be peaceful, but let it be known that we are FURIOUS & REFUSE to be silent. This event will begin by opening up to community members sharing collectively. We will then move to a moment of un-silence to express our anger, sorrow, frustrations, and intentions to move through our heartbreak into action to ensure that the murder of Black lives is interrupted, and will march through campus. We will end & close with a ritual of intention. If possible, please wear black in solidarity. This is a Smith SSW student-led event. As social workers, we want to be intentional in acknowledging our complicity in systems and structures of racism, & to hold ourselves accountable while constantly questioning the role we play in this. Although this is a school community event, we also want to be intentional in including and centering the larger Northampton community members who are most impacted by police violence. Allies - including white & non-black POC - please center the voices and presence of the communities most affected by police violence, and be willing to sit with your discomfort around this.

Black Lives Matter Kalamazoo will be holding a demonstration on the Kalamazoo Mall at 6pm on Friday July 22nd. This demonstration is one of many to come and is designed to not only to speak about the atrocities that continue to be committed against Black Lives but also to display our presence. During this demonstration, we will be voicing our concerns in regards to the Anti-Black policies and pratices within Kalamazoo. This will serve as a space for healing in action and we will be honoring our slain Black family (especially our Black Women, Cis and Trans). Be ready to share your experience! All emotions are valid. All stories are welcomed. All truth is embraced. These are Our lives. This Is Our city! Let's demonstrate until we can all say this and have a Kalamazoo that we can truly call home. Please note that the goal of this demonstration is not to get arrested or to drum up media hype. This demonstration is for visibility of Black bodies in action, to uplift Black voices, to have a space to mourn, to celebrate and to impact change. ***Wear all Black or at least a Black T-Shirt if possible*** Please contact [email protected] with any questions, comments or concerns. 

If you have been marching in the streets, participating in rallies, or on social media after the horrific deaths of #AltonSterling and #PhilandoCastilo, come join BYP100 and others to participate in the #FreedomNow Collective Action For Justice event! We have organized for collective healing through poetry, crafts, and Black joy. If you are tired of seeing Black bodies turned into hashtags, come join us for #FreedomNow.

Thousands of people across the country are showing their outrage in the streets following the brutal murder by the police of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile, and in opposition to the epidemic of racist police terror in the United States. ANSWER Coalition chapters have and will continue to organize, support and participate in this wave of struggle. Every day the numbers continue to climb. As of July 17, the cops have murdered 596 people of color and poor people this year alone, disproportionately African American men and women. That’s on average more than 3 people per day! This is state-sanctioned terror directed against Black, Brown and poor people and only a sustained people’s movement in the streets can stop it. As part of a national day of action initiated by the Movement for Black Lives, join us in the streets this Thursday in San Francisco to demand justice for all the victims of police brutality and end to racist police terror. Call 415-821-6545 or visit www.ANSWERsf.org for more info.

The planning committee for COS SURJ (Showing Up for Racial Justice) is planning an action in solidarity with the national SURJ organization to make visible white support of Black Lives Matter. Please join on Thursday, July 21st at 4:30PM on the corner of Tejon and Vermijo. -This is a low-risk, non-violent action in solidarity with the 500+ actions already organized around the nation -SIGNS will be provided. [See sign-making event for Tuesday, July 19th 6:00-7:00PM if you are interested in creating] -Please contact Annmarie Stanley for more information (she will serve as the on-site coordinator for this action) -Sophie Javna will serve as the public relations liaison for this action. All reporting media should be directed to her. - Ruthie Markwardt will be be issuing a media advisory in advance; she will also be providing water and first aid services - Mac Sergeant and Amanda Kerrigan will serve as spokespeople for conversation with police and/or agitators ("All Lives Matter folks, etc)