#FREE PALESTINE 🍉

EDUCATIONAL POST

It all started on 7th October, 2023 when Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel. According to Israeli Media, the attack led to at least 250 people killed and 1,500 injured in Israel, making it the deadliest attack in the country in decades. On the other hand, the Palestinian Health Ministry reported that 232 people in the Gaza Strip were killed and 1,700 were wounded in the Israeli strikes.

Hamas’s military leader, Mohammed Deif, said the group enacted the attack, as a result of Israel’s long-running blockade of Gaza, its occupation of Palestinian lands, and its crimes against Muslims, including the destruction of the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, Israel. Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded by announcing that Israel was at war with Hamas. In several decades, this marks the most significant escalation of the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

However, this isn’t a Palestinian-Israel War anymore.

It’s a PALESTINIAN GENOCIDE BY ISRAEL.

PROTESTS

There have been worldwide rallies in solidarity with Palestine, condemning Israel’s war or rather genocide on Palestine. Protests were held to mark the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People. Demonstrators around the world have rallied to condemn Israel’s war on Gaza and call for a permanent ceasefire. Protests were held on Wednesday in Manila, Tunis, Tehran, Karachi, Beirut, Harare, Tokyo, Stockholm, London, Johannesburg, Quezon City, Milan and more.

The International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People is observed on 29th November. This is to mark the anniversary of Resolution 181 when the UN General Assembly on this day in 1947 adopted a resolution to partition Palestine into 2 states.

RESPONSE TO THE GENOCIDE

People have been responding by spreading awareness of Israel’s true intentions on social media and by spreading the hashtags, #FREEPALESTINE and #FROMTHERIVERTOTHESEAPALESTINEWILLBEFREE.

People are also posting watermelon pictures in solidarity with the Palestinian people as a watermelon has similar colours to the Palestine flag. In addition, people have been highlighting hate crime incidents on social media, raising awareness and asking everyone to look out for their Palestinian family, friends and neighbours.

WHAT YOU CAN DO FOR THE COMMUNITY

Tackling personal prejudices

An unfair and unreasonable opinion or feeling, especially when formed without enough thought or knowledge.

It is OKAY to admit to these opinions you may have. It is not OKAY to continue to display these negative and unjustified opinions after noticing them.

WHERE DO I START?

Educate yourself: Education is one of the most valuable things you can do, there are various websites and organisations online that will explain to you why it’s so important and what you can do to help.

Know your history: Educate yourself and the role you and your communities play.

Make your voice heard: Staying silent in times of injustice is just as bad as opposing justice. Use your platform to educate others and share what is going on!

Stay updated: Stay updated on what’s happening around you, and follow accounts on social media, so you are updated on the continuing action.

Normalise changing your opinion: Normalise changing your opinion, once you have educated yourself on this topic it is okay to change your opinion!

WHY SHOULD YOU CARE?

Injustice will never be justice if it is unheard, don’t stay silent! No matter where you come from, this is a global issue and is something we clearly should not be facing in 2023 or 2024. Please make sure you are not a part of this problem. If you are unsure of what is happening, educate yourself!

YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND, THAT SOME OF YOU WILL NEVER UNDERSTAND WHAT IT IS LIKE, BUT YOU HAVE TO STAND WITH THIS MOVEMENT AND SHOW YOUR UTTERMOST RESPECT.

HOW HAVE PEOPLE HELPED TO STOP THIS

There have been many organisations that have helped and are still helping the Palestinian people. One example is the website arab.org. This website was started and is owned by The Olive Tree S.A.L. a social enterprise startup group from Lebanon. It is making an impact for the common good, particularly to improve the status and welfare of the people in the Arab world.

Arab.org helps by allowing people from all over the world to give free donations, costing people nothing but a few seconds of their time.

HOW CAN I CREATE CHANGE?

Educate people in our community: Once you have educated yourself on this issue, educate others in your community don’t be afraid to speak out!

Speak up and speak out: SPEAK YOUR OPINION!! Don’t stay silent, spread awareness, and make sure everyone knows!

Donate and Sign petitions

Support Advocates: Support fellow advocates, making sure you are being respectful and understanding!

YOU CANNOT EXCUSE THIS GENOCIDE.

SIGN, DONATE, EDUCATE.

A NON-COMPREHENSIVE LIST OF ARTICLES AND WEBSITES WITH A LIST OF RESOURCES IN IT TO LOOK AT TO STOP THE GENOCIDE IN PALESTINE

Resources to support Palestinian liberation

Resources

https://afsc.org/news/6-ways-you-can-support-palestinians-gaza

Resources

https://www.amaliah.com/post/67235/resource-list-advocacy-guide-palestine

https://asianamericanadvocacyfund.org/resources-for-palestine

References:

https://world101.cfr.org/understanding-international-system/conflict/israeli-palestinian-conflict-timeline

https://www.aljazeera.com/gallery/2023/11/30/photos-people-around-the-world-rally-in-solidarity-with-palestinians

https://www.britannica.com/topic/United-Nations-Resolution-181

https://www.wpr.org/why-watermelons-are-symbol-palestinian-solidarity#:~:text=In%20response%20to%20the%20ongoing,colors%20match%20the%20Palestinian%20flag.

Who we are

Lack of Proper Asian Representation in The Media

This is just a little rant that I have wanted to get off my chest.

I’m pretty sure that girls of all ethnicities want to see themselves portrayed on the big screen. Media has portrayed the Caucasian identity for as long as cinema has been around and in many different forms and genres. However, on the downside, when it comes to representing the Asian identity, it gets the short end of the stick. From stereotypes to tired-out cliches, the movie industry has a lot that needs to change.

The first aspect is the lack of Asian lead roles in movies and why in almost every movie, the Asian character just follows the white character. For example, in Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan, there’s this white girl named Tamara that’s like the “leader” and then we get this one Asian girl named Eva who just “follows” her actions or instructions and doesn’t have her own opinion or anything and it’s frustrating. Another example in Harriet The Spy, there’s a white mean girl named Marion who just acts like a leader, and the Asian girl Rachel just follows her. Also, the Netflix movie Moxie has the same kind of traits as the Asian girl Claudia following a white girl Vivian. It’s exhausting and it’s the same for Asian boys. They act like followers instead of leaders and it diminishes Asians, specifically Asian girls and boys and it creates a toxic mindset that Asian people can’t be leaders themselves which isn’t true. Now there is more inclusivity in Netflix shows like Never Have I Ever, with the main girl Devi being Indian, To All The Boys I Loved Before with the main girl Lara Jean being Asian- American and more which includes more Asian leads.

Another aspect is Hollywood writing stories for Asian characters which only include war, traumatic experiences and etc. It doesn’t have to be that way. There can be multiple stories for Asian characters which show a multitude of aspects of life such as sexuality, family dynamics, friendships, the individual themselves and more. Fortunately, we are seeing more of these in shows such as The Babysitters Club with Claudia Kishi, played by Momona Tamada, who has stories that range from family situations to her friends and more.

A final aspect is Asian characters with an emphasis on their friendships. We seldom see Asian characters with genuine friendships with ups and downs along the way. They are usually seen by themselves or with their families. Thankfully we see more genuine friendships with Asian characters in movies such as Turning Red, with Meilin and her friends.

In conclusion, these cliches are reused constantly regarding Asian characters and representation, which is tiring. However, with the increased exposure of social media and the news media as well as up-and-coming directors, we are getting more inclusive stories in terms of Asian representation. Hopefully, it will be better in the long run.

These are a few examples that I could think of, I’m pretty sure there are a ton more examples out there.

However, feel free to discuss any of these in the comments below or if you agree or disagree with the above.

Roe Vs Wade Overturned

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EDUCATIONAL POST

WHAT IS ABORTION:

Abortion is the deliberate termination of a human pregnancy, most often performed during the first 28 weeks of pregnancy.

OVERVIEW:

On 24th June, the US SUPREME COURT overturned ROE V WADE issuing a ruling that upholds a Mississippi law banning most abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy, and striking down constitutional protections for abortion acre.

The decision, leaked in early May, meant that abortion rights would be rolled back in nearly half of the states immediately, with more restrictions likely to follow. This will mean that abortion will not be available in large parts of the country, for all practical purposes.

This decision as well as the abortion question itself will most likely be a focal point in the upcoming fall elections and in the fall and thereafter.

The ones who made the decision were Justice Clarence Thomas, Justice Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett.

The ones who dissented from the decision were Justices Stephen Breyer, Justice Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan. They said that this court decision meant that “young women today will come of age with fewer rights than their mothers and grandmothers.”

It means that “from the very moment of fertilisation, a woman has no rights to speak of. A state can force her to bring a pregnancy to term even at the steepest personal and familial costs.”

They wrote, “ With sorrow,- for this court, but more, for the many millions of American women who have today, lost a fundamental constitutional protection – we dissent.”

HISTORY BEHIND THE THE ROE V WADE LAWSUIT

The ROE V WADE lawsuit formed in 1973 famously led to the Supreme Court, making a ruling on abortion rights. Jane Roe*, an unmarried pregnant woman, filed suit on behalf of herself and others to challenge Texas abortion laws. A Texas doctor joined Roe’s lawsuit, arguing that the state’s abortion laws were too vague for doctors to follow. He had been previously arrested for violating the statute.

At the time, abortion was illegal in Texas unless it was done to save the mother’s life. It was a crime to get an abortion or to attempt one. In ROE V WADE, the Supreme Court decided two important things:

The United States Constitution provides a fundamental “right to privacy” that protects a person’s right to choose whether to have an abortion.
But the abortion right is not absolute. It must be balanced against the government’s interests in protecting the health and prenatal life.

LEGAL ARGUMENTS:

Down below are each side’s arguments before the Supreme Court

Texas Defends Abortion Restrictions:

– States have an interest in safeguarding the health, maintaining health standards and protecting prenatal life

– A fetus is a “person” protected by the 14th Amendment

– Protecting prenatal life from the time of conception is a compelling state interest

Roe Claims Absolute Privacy Rights:
– The Texas law invaded an individual’s right to “liberty” under the 14th Amendment

– The Texas law infringed on rights to marital, familial, and sexual privacy guaranteed by the Bill Of Rights

– The right to an abortion is absolute – a person is entitled to end a pregnancy at any time, for any reason, in any way they choose

HOW THE SUPREME COURT DECIDED ROE VS WADE:
– It split the difference between the two arguments being made

– First, the Court recognised that abortion does fall under privacy rights

– The constitutional right to privacy comes from the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.

-> The Due Process Clause doesn’t explicitly state that Americans have a right to privacy. However, the Supreme Court has recognised such a right going all the way back to 1891.

– Just 1 year before Roe, the Supreme Court held that “in a Constitution for a free people, there can be no doubt that the meaning of liberty must be broad indeed.”

– The Court decided that this right to privacy extends to control over pregnancy

The justices acknowledged that being forced to continue a pregnancy puts a lot at risk such as :

– Physical health

– Mental health

– Financial burdens

– Social stigma

The Court was sceptical of the state’s argument that Constitutional protections begin at conception.

The Constitution doesn’t provide a definition of a “person”. But it does say that its protections cover those “born or naturalised” in the United States. After examining other cases relating to unborn children, the Court concluded that “the unborn have never been recognised in the law as persons in the whole sense.”

The Court did not agree that the Constitution guarantees an absolute right to an abortion. In other words, privacy rights do not prevent states from putting some regulations on abortion.

The Court created a framework to balance the state’s interests with privacy rights. The Court defined the rights of each party by dividing pregnancy into three 12-week trimesters:

During a pregnant person’s first trimester, the Court held, a state cannot regulate abortion, beyond requiring that the procedure be performed by a licensed doctor in medically safe conditions.
During the second trimester, the Court held that a state may regulate abortion if the regulations are reasonably related to the health of the pregnant person.
During the third trimester of pregnancy, the state’s interest in protecting potential human life outweighs the right to privacy. As a result, the state may prohibit abortions unless an abortion is necessary to save the life or health of the pregnant person.

IMPACTS:

Many think of ROE V WADE as the case that “legalised abortion”. However, that isn’t actually true. What it did was change the way states can regulate abortion, and characterised abortion as something that was covered under constitutional rights of privacy.

It may come as a surprise that Roe didn’t have much of an impact on the number of abortions performed each year in the United States. According to the Guttmacher Insitute, in the years before Roe was decided there were over 1 million illegal abortions performed in the US annually. After Roe, the number remained around 1 million, performed legally. Plus, the rate of deaths resulting from abortions dropped dramatically in the years following Roe.

There wasn’t much public reaction to Roe when the Supreme Court first released its decision. However, in the decades that followed, it became a significant issue in American politics and more so now today.

As Justice Harry Blackmun ( who wrote the decision in Roe) points out, abortion will never be a simple issue. It remains a hotly debated topic because someone’s opinion on it depends on their view of the world, and when they believe life begins.

WHAT WE CAN DO:

Here are 7 things you can do today to help people seeking care:

Donate to abortion funds

These directly support people seeking abortion care including financial and practical support like transportation, lodging and language translation and are a critical part of ensuring abortion access

Donate to independent abortion clinics at Keep Our Clinics

Small, community-based clinics provide the majority of abortion care in the U.S. and are more likely to be located in states hostile to abortion rights. When clinics close, entire communities lose access to abortion and other essential reproductive and sexual health services

Show up and protest

Attend a rally or event near you – make your voice heard. Events supporting abortion access are continuing across the U.S. – visit the We Won’t Go Back map and find one near you.

Speak up and activate your network. Speak to your friends, family, business colleagues, professional associates, community leaders – and anyone else you can think of – and tell them why the right to abortion is so essential to a person’s life and future. Activate your networks by creating your own message or sharing some sample #AbortionIsEssential posts.
Learn more about abortion laws in your state. Click through the interactive “What if Roe Fell?” tool to learn about the laws in your state and all other states – and which states protect abortion, and which are likely to ban it.
Find out where your lawmakers stand on abortion rights. Do you know where your local, state, and federal legislators stand on abortion rights? Call or email them to find out – and urge them to act now to protect abortion rights and access in law.
Tell Congress to protect abortion access by passing the Women’s Health Protection Act (WHPA). Congress can and should act immediately to protect the right to access abortion in every state. WHPA should protect abortion access from state-level abortion bans and restrictions, despite the Supreme Court’s ruling overturning Roe.

*an alias

LINKS TO THE WEBSITES BROUGHT TOGETHER IN THIS BLOG POST:

Seven Things You Can Do Right Now For Abortion Rights

https://supreme.findlaw.com/supreme-court-insights/roe-v–wade-case-summary–what-you-need-to-know.html

https://www.npr.org/2022/06/24/1102305878/supreme-court-abortion-roe-v-wade-decision-overturn

Featured

Asian Hate Crimes

ASIAN HATE CRIMES EDUCATIONAL POST

ATTACKS ON AAPI/ASIAN PEOPLE

It first started with an elderly Thai immigrant who died after being shoved to the ground. Then it continues with a Filipino-American being slashed in the face with a box cutter. After that, a Chinese woman was slapped and then set on fire. The most recent attacks were at massage parlors in Atlanta.

There were more attacks following 2019, 2020 till now even.

These people were innocent human beings who were sadly taken from this world.

PROTESTS

There have been several anti-Asian-violence rallies that have been held across the United States in 2021 in response to racism against Asian Americans related to the COVID-19 pandemic. These have been called STOP ASIAN HATE.

Many of these occurred in the wake of a series of shootings that occurred at 3 Atlanta spas on March 16, 2021, in which 8 people were killed, 6 of whom were Asian American women.

However, the movement began to gain action after the killing of Vicha Ratanapakdee nearly 2 months earlier.

AT THE START

At the beginning, the COVID-19 pandemic which was 1st reported in the city of Wuhan, in China’s Hubei province, has led to an increased amount of racism against Asians and Asian Americans.

It has been believed that part of the hatred started with the repeated use of “China virus” and “Kung Flu” by former US President Donald Trump, conservative media outlets, and his supporters when referring to COVID-19.

RESPONSE TO THE HATRED

People have been responding by highlighting these hate crime incidents on social media, raising awareness and asking everyone to look out for their Asian American family, friends and neighbours.

Thousands took out to the streets to speak out against anti-Asian hate, calling for police reforms and criticising Trump for his hateful rhetoric against China during the pandemic.

WHAT YOU CAN DO FOR THE COMMUNITY

Tackling personal prejudices

An unfair and unreasonable opinion or feeling, especially when formed without enough thought or knowledge.

It is OKAY to admit to these opinions you may have. It is not OKAY to continue to display these negative and unjustified opinions after noticing them.

WHERE DO I START?

Educate yourself: Education is one of the most valuable things you can do, there are various websites and organisations online that will explain to you why it’s so important and what you can do to help.

Know your history: Educate yourself on anti-asianness, and the role you and your communities play.

Make your voice heard: Staying silent in times of injustice is just as bad as opposing justice. Use your platform to educate others and share what is going on!

Stay updated: Stay updated on what’s happening around, follow accounts on social media, so you are updated on the continuing action.

Normalise changing your opinion: Normalise changing your opinion, once you have educated yourself on this topic it is okay to change your opinion!

WHY SHOULD YOU CARE?

You may wonder why this is relevant to you:

This is important to you because it is your job as a global citizen and a human being to understand what is happening to people, even if it is not from your country.

Racism towards the Asian community is not as prominent in your country, but it is NOT a valid reason or an excuse for you to not understand what is happening to people. Injustice will never be justice if it is unheard, don’t stay silent! No matter where you come from, this is a global issue and is something we clearly should not be facing in 2020 or 2021. Please make sure you are not apart of this problem. If you are unsure of what is happening, educate yourself!

YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND, THAT SOME OF YOU WILL NEVER UNDERSTAND WHAT IT IS LIKE, BUT YOU HAVE TO STAND WITH THIS MOVEMENT, AND SHOW YOUR UTTERMOST RESPECT.

HOW PEOPLE HAVE HELPED TO STOP THIS

Organisations have been created to help stop the trend of Asian hate. One example is Stop AAPI Hate. It is a non-profit organisation that runs the Stop AAPI Hate Reporting Center, which tracks incidents of hate and discrimination against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) in the US.

The organisation was formed in 2020 in response to racist attacks on the Asian community as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Their approach is to focus on working to end all forms of structural racism leveled at the communities of colour to truly be able to effectively address anti-Asian racism.

HOW CAN I CREATE CHANGE?

Educate people in our community: Once you have educated yourself on this issue, educate others in your community don’t be afraid to speak out!

Speak up and speak out: SPEAK YOUR OPINION!! Don’t stay silent, spread awareness, and make sure everyone knows!

Donate and Sign petitions

Support Advocates: Support fellow advocates, making sure you are being respectful and understanding!

YOU CANNOT EXCUSE RACISM.

SIGN, DONATE, EDUCATE.

A NON-COMPREHENSIVE LIST OF ARTICLES WITH A LIST OF WEBSITES IN IT TO LOOK AT TO STOP ASIAN HATE

https://vitruvi.com/blogs/impact-and-identity/stop-asian-hate-a-resources-list

https://www.stuvoice.org/updates/stop-asian-hate

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-america/anti-racism-resources-support-asian-american-pacific-islander-community-n1260467

COVID-19 Outbreak!!

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COVID-19 OUTBREAK!

I know this is super super late but I want to say this to people who are reading this. It’s the end of the year 2020 which has been super sucky for all of us due to various sucky reasons, the big one being an outbreak of a virus called COVID-19. This virus has spread all around the world, causing chaos and unforeseen circumstances that aren’t convenient for people.

Besides this, the rising of COVID-19 has thus led to new and different changes that we must adapt to if we want to stop this in 2021.

One of the new changes is the use of face masks. If we want to stop this, we must wear a face mask in public, wherever we go, no matter what time it is. They are affordable, there are plenty to go around and they come in various sizes, colours and designs. If we don’t do this, we are being ignorant and the world doesn’t have time for that.

Another new change is sanitisers. If you are at a place that doesn’t have a bathroom, use a sanitiser instead. They are lightweight, portable and you can get some pretty ones for a collection. Just like the masks, if we don’t use this, we are contributing to the rise of COVID-19.

On the other hand, if there are bathrooms available,you can just wash your hands. It’s easy and doesn’t take a lot of time. This will kill off germs and leave you healthy.

The third change is the limit on gatherings, whether family or friends. This goes for work meetings too. If it is absolutely crucial, then it is fine but you need to show a slip for it if your area has a procedure. If you are not respecting these rules, you are going to be a danger for other people.

Another note to this is that you can avoid crowds also. This can be applied to grocery shopping, family gatherings and more. A solution to this is online shopping. Nowadays there are a ton of apps and services that allow you to shop for essentials or for your wants. This can allow you to be safe from big crowds and keep you healthy while in your house.

The fourth change is the physical distancing between people. People must distance themselves at least 1-2 metres apart from each other. This is for the benefit of you, your friend and other people so you don’t get sick.

Please do not think these rules are for your discomfort. These rules are for everyone’s safety, health and overall benefit.

To end on a good note, I hope all of you reading this have a good day, be safe, stay healthy, and make sure to follow the rules.

IT IS FOR YOUR SAFETY

Write down in the comments if you’ve heard of different rules in your area and other solutions to these changes.

BLACK LIVES MATTER!

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Lake Charles residents and friends of George Floyd speak out

BLACK LIVES MATTER EDUCATIONAL POST

THE MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD

The murder of George Floyd revolved around him dying at the hands of 4 white police officers, one of them placing their knee on his neck. He then stated “I can’t breathe” to the officers who simply ignored him while bystanders plead for them to stop. He passed out after 8 minutes and 46 seconds and passed away in the ambulance an hour later. He was accused of a counterfeit $20 bill which was indeed real.

His death has been piled on with Breonna Taylor’s death, Ahmaud Arbery’s death, and many many other black people’s death.

The 4 police officers’ have been fired and have faced charges. As of 4th June Officer Derek Chauvin has been arrested and charged with 2nd-degree murder, manslaughter, and 3rd-degree murder. The officers with him will be charged with aiding and encouraging 2nd-degree murder.

George Floyd was a 46-year-old man, father, friend, son, brother, and a human being.

This isn’t the first case either. There was a similar case that happened in 2014 to a black man named Eric Garner, who was also not given his human rights when officers suffocated him to death whilst he was simply on a walk. His last words were also “I can’t breathe.”

PROTESTS

People have been protesting every day to raise awareness of the injustice of the US police system, the justice of George Floyd, justice for all the innocent black lives taken by police brutality and racism, and the systemic racism that is still much real and present today. These protests are what brought the 4 officers arrested.

The most important matter that they are protesting is Black Lives Matter.

WHAT IS THE BLM MOVEMENT?

The Black Lives Matter movement is an international human-rights movement that stems from the African American community’s campaign towards the violence and racism inflicted upon them. The social movement was founded in July of 2013. It began with the trending hashtag of #BlackLivesMatter on social media.

But don’t all lives matter?

People are also protesting the “All Lives Matter” ‘initiative’.

Black people in America are disproportionately likely to be incarcerated and suffer police brutality.

“The entire point of Black Lives Matter is to illustrate the extent to which black lives haven’t mattered in this country [The US]”.

ALL LIVES WILL MATTER AFTER BLACK LIVES MATTER.

STATISTICS

Here are some statistical facts that prove to you that systemic racism is indeed real.

MICROAGGRESIONS

WHAT ARE MICROAGGRESSIONS?

Microaggressions are terms used (unintentionally or intentionally) that communicate negative derogatory insults towards people or cultures, specifically those that have been mistreated and marginalised.

Examples of microaggressions:

Internalised fear of POC
Negative imagery of POC
Use of slurs and degrading terms against minorities

Words like the n-word are racial slurs and can be a potent symbol of slavery, white supremacy, and historical violence. It’s typically directed at black people specifically AFRICAN AMERICANS, who have reclaimed the use of the word. This DOES NOT MEAN everyone with dark skin NOR those who feel entitled based on uneducated views and personal opinions, that misinterpret the severity and origins of the word regardless of the current circumstances can say it!!!!

WHY MICROAGGRESSIONS ARE DAMAGING:

No matter how subtle, or blatant the things you say or do are, they have consequences.

One should NOT have to have thicker skin for a joke that you’d like to make because those words DO HAVE MEANING.

The slurs and insults that you say don’t hurt you, because THEY WEREN’T MADE TO HURT YOU. The slurs and insults that you say don’t hurt you, because THEY WEREN’T MADE TO HURT YOU. The slurs and insults that you say don’t hurt you, because THEY WEREN’T MADE TO HURT YOU. The slurs and insults that you say don’t hurt you, because THEY WEREN’T MADE TO HURT YOU. The slurs and insults that you say don’t hurt you, because THEY WEREN’T MADE TO HURT YOU. The slurs and insults that you say don’t hurt you, because THEY WEREN’T MADE TO HURT YOU.The slurs and insults that you say don’t hurt you, because THEY WEREN’T MADE TO HURT YOU. The slurs and insults that you say don’t hurt you, because THEY WEREN’T MADE TO HURT YOU.

And if they were that doesn’t enable you to participate in the use of other slurs or harmful behaviours that weren’t.

WHY MICROAGGRESSIONS ARE DAMAGING (con):

It is important to realise that you don’t know anything. Anything about the slurs and insults you say, anything about the actions and microaggressions you enact and anything about anyone who is hurt in these minority groups because PEOPLE ARE DIFFERENT.

You only know something once you EDUCATE YOURSELF. You shouldn’t be the reason, someone feels UNCOMFORTABLE around you when you’re singing a lyric. You shouldn’t be the reason someone considers silencing their PAIN around for your benefit. AND you SHOULDN’T have to be the reason someone feels TARGETED just being born with their skin colour around you.

You have the freedom of speech but it’s up to you whether or not you choose to dehumanise others with it.

SYSTEMIC RACISM:

“Systemic racism” or “institutional racism” refers to how ideas of white superiority are captured in everyday thinking at institutional or systems of a society’s level: taking in the big picture of how society operates, rather than looking at one-on-one interactions.

One noticeable example of systemic racism is the wealth gap in the US, where the median net worth for:

-a white family is $134,000

– a Hispanic family is $14,000

– and an African American family is $11,000

Racism= Privilege + Power

Privilege: A structural, institutional, and social advantage.

Power: the ability, backed up by society, to be a strong social influencer with a greater scope when it comes to what you do, where, and how.

From this definition, it is clear that white people have the strongest ability to be racist and to live in a society built upon systematic racism that works in their favour.

WHAT YOU CAN DO IN THE COMMUNITY

SAY THEIR NAMES!

Tackling personal prejudices

An unfair and unreasonable opinion or feeling, especially when formed without enough thought or knowledge.

It is OKAY to admit to these opinions you may have. It is not OKAY to continue to display these negative and unjustified opinions after noticing them.

WHERE DO I START?

Educate yourself: Education is one of the most valuable things you can do, there are various websites and organisations online that will explain to you why it’s so important and what you can do to help.

Know your history: Educate yourself on anti-blackness, systemic racism, oppression, and the role you and your communities play.

Make your voice heard: Staying silent in times of injustice is just as bad as opposing justice. Use your platform to educate others and share what is going on!

Stay updated: Stay updated on what’s happening around, follow accounts on social media, so you are updated on the continuing action.

Normalise changing your opinion: Normalise changing your opinion, once you have educated yourself on this topic it is okay to change your opinion!

WHY SHOULD YOU CARE?

You may wonder why this is relevant to you:

This is important to you because it is your job as a global citizen and a human being to understand what is happening to people, even if it is not from your country.

Racism towards the Black community is not as prominent in your country, but it is NOT a valid reason or an excuse for you to not understand what is happening to people. Injustice will never be justice if it is unheard, don’t stay silent! No matter where you come from, this is a global issue and is something we clearly should not be facing in 2020. Please make sure you are not apart of this problem. If you are unsure of what is happening, educate yourself!

YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND, THAT SOME OF YOU WILL NEVER UNDERSTAND WHAT IT IS LIKE, BUT YOU HAVE TO STAND WITH THIS MOVEMENT, AND SHOW YOUR UTTERMOST RESPECT.

HOW CAN I CREATE CHANGE?

Educate people in our community: Once you have educated yourself on this issue, educate others in your community don’t be afraid to speak out!

Speak up and speak out: SPEAK YOUR OPINION!! Don’t stay silent, spread awareness, and make sure everyone knows!

Donate and Sign petitions: Down below there are links to where you can donate and sign petitions to help!!

Support Advocates: Support fellow advocates, making sure you are being respectful and understanding!

YOU CANNOT EXCUSE RACISM.

SIGN, DONATE, EDUCATE.

HOW YOU CAN HELP: DONATIONS AND PETITIONS

WHERE TO DONATE:

George Floyd Memorial Fund:

https://www.gofundme.com/f/georgefloyd

Minnesota Freedom Fund:

https://minnesotafreedomfund.org/

Reclaim The Block:

https://www.reclaimtheblock.org/

Black Lives Matter:

https://blacklivesmatter.com/

Black Visions Collective:

https://www.blackvisionsmn.org/

Bail Project:

https://bailproject.org/

LINKS TO DONATIONS AND PETITIONS!

https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/

YOUR CONTRIBUTION IS IMPORTANT AND VALUED.

I think this quote below from the TV show Mr. Iglesias and this quote from the Invisible Man novel perfectly explains how black people feel they are being treated. But I may be wrong and I will educate myself on this.

“Invisible, you say Gabe?”

“People of colour knows what that feels like,”

“I am invisible simply because people refuse to see me”

THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO READ THIS AS IT IS SO IMPORTANT IN THIS TIME.