A better Benicia

I just read this powerful document from Elizabeth Patterson (“El Pat’s Forum”) and I must say that I am experiencing a lot of emotions. I am very

Happy that Elizabeth had the insight, awareness and courage to write this. She saw the apparent disparity and refused to remain silent as many people who shouldn’t remain silent choose to do.

If no one acknowledges and speaks out about such things, then such things will continue to happen. I found this writing very enlightening and encourage all to read it. This writing is not one of blame, but of shedding light on a problem that has remained in the dark for much too long.

I am saddened because situations like this still exist and not many people are even aware of it (“There’s no racism in Benicia”). If people are aware of it, they are choosing not to speak. Maybe that’s because the powers that be and community members at large don’t see this as an issue. They agree with this behavior, or are too timid to say anything, as some people think it best not to rock the boat.

I assure you that the Benicia Black Lives Matter Movement is here to rock the boat — not by burning, looting or hating the police (as is the falsely applied stereotype), but by bringing to the attention of the government and the citizens of Benicia that events and issues of structural, conscious/unconscious racism, bias and social injustice will be identified, called out, fought against, and will certainly not be tolerated.

This is why I am so proud of Elizabeth for writing this document. The BBLM is collaborative and will not identify challenges that need to be addressed without working with the appropriate people toward the solution. I thank the city staff, mayor, past mayor and Benicia City Council for the support you have shown us so far. But we still have a long way to go. I again recommend that everyone read Elizabeth’s writing and work with us to create a better Benicia for all citizens.

— Nimat Shakoor-Grantham/ Benicia Black Lives Matter

Organizer