Sick of protests? Defund police

On Sunday, May 31, the Black Lives Matter Alliance Broward, with community partners, organized a peaceful protest in response to the unjust killing of George Floyd and the movement to defund police departments. Thousands of people showed up at Bubier Park and listened to young leaders, community organizers, and people who have been directly impacted by local police brutality demand transformation from government, from police and from white allies.

LaCandis Reid shared how her unarmed brother was shot and killed by the Hollywood SWAT Department in September of 2018 during a “no-knock” raid. She passionately spoke about her journey of fighting for justice for her brother. Quayneshia Smith, from Dream Defenders, shared her organization’s vision of divesting from police departments and investing those resources into things that actually keep our communities safe.

Black Lives Matter Alliance Broward has partnered with community organizations like Broward Dream Defenders, Broward Democratic Socialist of America, South Florida People of Color, Girls With Scars, Bridging the Gap and others. For the past five years, the Alliance has been dedicated to political education and activation by fighting against local and national state-sanctioned violence while reimagining justice and safety.

Sunday’s march, while in solidarity with national calls to action, is also a time to highlight state-sanctioned violence happening in South Florida. Names like: Jermaine McBean, Damain Martin, Barry Gedeus, Israel “Reefa” Hernandez, Sebastian Gregory, Michael Eugene Wilson Jr., Corey Jones, and Calvon Reid Jr, who may never make it to the national spotlight, should also be on our lips and in the air at all of our local actions.

The Alliance prioritizes the safety of the community in all it does, and that includes providing medics, peacekeepers, marshals and police liaisons. Protesters were reminded to drink water, stay hydrated and keep each other safe. It is a guiding principle that in and out of these moments of crisis, we know best how to keep our people safe and we have proven that time and time again.

Over four hours, with thousands of people, marchers took to the streets chanting, “No Justice, No Peace” before converging on the Fort Lauderdale Police Department. Organizers of the march prevented damage to businesses by reminding everyone of the long-term goal of the protest and calling them to join organizing efforts to continue building the power to make demands.

This action was organized with care, until it was agitated by police. In video footage that has now gone viral, an unarmed, kneeling 19 year old is seen shoved to the ground.

This act of violence incited outrage from the surrounding protesters, many of whom were leaving the action and heading home.

Not too far away, Latoya Ratlieff was also on her knees with her hands up, facing a line of police officers before she was shot in the head by a foam bullet. She fell to the ground before strangers picked her up and transported her to the hospital. Now recovering from a skull fracture caused by the bullet, Latoya has questions about the excessive force that was used against peaceful protesters. What is the tone being set in police departments that allows for lethal force to be used against communities peacefully gathered? What priorities are being reflected when we have more money for riot gear than personal protective equipment in the midst of a pandemic? How are we creating and promoting safety for everyone?

The beginning of the answer — defund the police. Make an investment directly into community programs and organizations. Make a clear divestment from weapons and equipment used for war, and into advancing equity into our schools that are underfunded. With $10 million additional dollars, what can we imagine and build in our communities?

In concert with Minneapolis and Los Angeles, join us in calling for the Fort Lauderdale City Commission to defund the Fort Lauderdale Police Department in the amount of $10 million by their next commission meeting on Tuesday, June 16th. At the commission meeting, we are also calling for the commission to reschedule a date for a new municipal vote to divest the $100 million earmarked to rebuild a new police headquarters and instead invest in community-led safety measures. We will not accept that this time period is short, since other larger municipalities have acted with haste to reaffirm their commitment to Black life, dismantling obvious inequities, and guarantee safety for all of us.”

Tifanny Burks is a community organizer with the Black Lives Matter Alliance Broward, a police abolitionist and an organizer of the May 31 anti-police brutality protest in Fort Lauderdale.

Open the border

The White House announced that the U.S.-Canadian border will be open only to essential traffic (not tourism) until June 21, 2020.

It’s time that this closure of March 18 is lifted and open to travel that includes visiting family and relatives.

In 2017, the latest figures available, about 3.5 million Canadians visited Florida, spending approximately $ 4.1 billion in the state, according to the U.S. Travel Association, National Association of Realtors and the Department of Homeland Security. They spent up to $2,800 per visit with an average of a 22-day stay.

Deerfield Beach

Are you ready for some football?

What else could Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross, a friend and financial supporter of Donald Trump, say after the president stated that sports must be played, in front of fans, at whatever cost.

There is little concern for players in this contact sport. There is no coronavirus bubble big enough for 60 players (active roster and taxi squad) along with injured reserve and others. Then there are the coaches, trainers and support staff.

If a player comes up positive, will he be placed on injured reserve? Could he be suspended if leaves the bubble? (There is a morals clause in each contract.) By the time the player tests negative, the season could well be over. Then the free agents must be tested and possibly quarantined until cleared. And then, traveling in the bubble to hotels and their ball rooms for meetings and then to stadiums with everything hopefully sanitized. Let’s hire an employed waiter or hairdresser for each player to squirt Gatorade into every mouth! And have them in the bubble too!

Ross’ statement about playing shows his lack of regard for the players and their fans. This is about filling seats, selling concessions and collecting parking fees. Is it outside the realm of reality that Ross stands to collect nearly a $1 billion this year for ten home games? Is the TV revenue not enough? Ross apparently wants the product on the field and return on his investment.

Hollywood

Don’t be a covidiot

Preservation is one of the strongest motivations to a person. I am having great difficulty understanding why a segment of our population refuses to follow the advice of the scientific and medical community in relation to our pandemic. A mask is worn not only to protect you, but mainly to protect others. The social distancing is to protect all of us. Is it stupidity or selfishness? I keep trying to find the rational answer. The only way we minimize this pandemic before a vaccine comes on board is to try to minimize cases. Is a pool party that important as to risk your life or someone else’s? The quicker we act rationally, the quicker we can rid ourselves of this hazard.

Delray Beach

Can somebody stick a mask on Trump?

I have been a frequent critic of the billionaire, draft-dodging game show host currently occupying the White House for his penchant of making unintelligent comments. However, I think his statement criticizing Joe Biden for wearing a face mask has reached a new high (or is it a new low) for such comments, particularly in today’s COVID-19 crisis.

This remark will be interpreted by his followers that it’s OK not to wear masks in public, thus increasing the threat (according to government health officials) of spreading the virus.

Thank goodness that Floridians who feel the same way as I do will have a chance to turn Florida blue this coming November.

Boca Raton