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DAMN Response to Demonstrations Against Police Violence
The Direct Action Monterey Network responds with initial thoughts on the demonstrations against police violence in Salinas.
Here are some of our initial thoughts on the demonstrations against police violence in Salinas:
To the cops: We want no dialogue with you. Leave our communities now.
To the politicians: We see you for what you are: opportunistic leeches. We oppose your attempts to co-opt the community’s response to the police murders of our neighbors. Do you really expect anyone to believe that you suddenly care about police violence? Where were you when Angel Ruiz was gunned down on March 20th? Or Osman Hernandez on May 9th? We will not let you transform our anger into votes.
To the media: You’re no better than the politicians, and hardly deserve a mention here. Everyone can see how your reporting favors the police and legitimizes their intimidation and harassment against the community. Your overemphasis of the supposed “violence” of the demonstrators on the night of Wednesday, May 21 implicitly equates it with the very serious violence of the police. You are only perpetuating the attitudes that justify the sustained violence and oppression which the police maintain on a daily basis.
To activists and community organizers: We understand the desire for dialogue within the community and the important attempts to facilitate this. But this is not the only way in which people need to respond. People are angry. People are spontaneously mobilizing. Things get a little messy. This is okay, and for some people, it is a healthy response. There are many ways to grieve, to express and channel anger, to react to the murders of our friends, family, and neighbors. Some people need a calm environment to talk to others about these atrocities. Some people need to be on the streets and scream and hear their voices amplified and echoed by others. We must respect the different ways in which people respond, and not attempt to silence or exclude members of our community because they react differently than us. And we must especially avoid falling into the trap of dividing ourselves into “good” protestors and “bad” protesters. The police, the politicians, and the media are going to do that no matter how we respond. Demonizing people for throwing a few bottles at the cops distracts us from exposing the police as the violent oppressors that they are.
To the East Salinas community: Your response to these police murders is inspiring. If hundreds of people took to the streets like you did every time a cop kills or attacks or harasses someone, that would cause the cops to check their behavior more than any review board or mandatory training ever would. We don’t have much more to say to you. In fact, every view expressed here has been posted online, reported in the news, or spoken to us in person by someone else. We just want you to know that we stand in solidarity with you in your struggle for freedom and dignity. We got your back, Salas.
Con amor y rabia,
Direct Action Monterey Network
centralcoastdirectaction [at] gmail.com
http://www.facebook.com/DirectActionMontereyNetwork
To the cops: We want no dialogue with you. Leave our communities now.
To the politicians: We see you for what you are: opportunistic leeches. We oppose your attempts to co-opt the community’s response to the police murders of our neighbors. Do you really expect anyone to believe that you suddenly care about police violence? Where were you when Angel Ruiz was gunned down on March 20th? Or Osman Hernandez on May 9th? We will not let you transform our anger into votes.
To the media: You’re no better than the politicians, and hardly deserve a mention here. Everyone can see how your reporting favors the police and legitimizes their intimidation and harassment against the community. Your overemphasis of the supposed “violence” of the demonstrators on the night of Wednesday, May 21 implicitly equates it with the very serious violence of the police. You are only perpetuating the attitudes that justify the sustained violence and oppression which the police maintain on a daily basis.
To activists and community organizers: We understand the desire for dialogue within the community and the important attempts to facilitate this. But this is not the only way in which people need to respond. People are angry. People are spontaneously mobilizing. Things get a little messy. This is okay, and for some people, it is a healthy response. There are many ways to grieve, to express and channel anger, to react to the murders of our friends, family, and neighbors. Some people need a calm environment to talk to others about these atrocities. Some people need to be on the streets and scream and hear their voices amplified and echoed by others. We must respect the different ways in which people respond, and not attempt to silence or exclude members of our community because they react differently than us. And we must especially avoid falling into the trap of dividing ourselves into “good” protestors and “bad” protesters. The police, the politicians, and the media are going to do that no matter how we respond. Demonizing people for throwing a few bottles at the cops distracts us from exposing the police as the violent oppressors that they are.
To the East Salinas community: Your response to these police murders is inspiring. If hundreds of people took to the streets like you did every time a cop kills or attacks or harasses someone, that would cause the cops to check their behavior more than any review board or mandatory training ever would. We don’t have much more to say to you. In fact, every view expressed here has been posted online, reported in the news, or spoken to us in person by someone else. We just want you to know that we stand in solidarity with you in your struggle for freedom and dignity. We got your back, Salas.
Con amor y rabia,
Direct Action Monterey Network
centralcoastdirectaction [at] gmail.com
http://www.facebook.com/DirectActionMontereyNetwork
For more information:
http://solidaritymonterey.wordpress.com/
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