The time has come for talk to end and real change to happen. Black men and women are being murdered. Centuries of injustice have culminated in the outrage we have seen across the country.
Black Lives Matter.
The Democratic Party will not rest until we eradicate systemic racism from law enforcement and our communities. We will be unyielding in our demand for justice. Respecting law enforcement professionals while holding them accountable is the balance we must achieve. They are entrusted with our safety, but atrocities like the murder of George Floyd and Arizona’s Dion Johnson desecrate that ideal. The Arizona Democratic Party stands with our black brothers and sisters. We grieve with you, we hear you, and we fight for justice with you.
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Statements from the Party, Party Electeds, and Party Leaders:
- The Arizona Democratic Party Observes Black History Month After A Year Of Loss And Promise w/ statement from African American Outreach Manager Michael Ruff (February 1, 2021)
- The Arizona Democratic Party on President Biden’s Equity Executive Orders w/ statement from Chair Raquel Terán (January 26, 2021)
- The Arizona Democratic Party on the passage of The George Floyd Justice In Policing Act (June 25, 2020)
- Black people can’t get equality until America stops having two systems of justice (Op-ed by Rep. Dr. Geraldine Peten)
- The Virus of Inequality (Statement from Political Director Quiana Dickenson + African American Outreach Manager Michael Ruff)
- We Must Act (Statement from Political Director Quiana Dickenson + African American Outreach Manager Michael Ruff)
- Dion Johnson (Statement from Rep. Bolding)
- Black History (Statement from Political Director Quiana Dickenson)
- How to Make this Moment the Turning Point for Real Change (Guidance from President Obama)
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Action Now:
President Biden signs Executive Order On Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government (January 20th, 2021)
U.S. House Democrats pass The George Floyd Justice In Policing Act (June 25, 2020)
Arizona Democrats request a special session to address police reform (June 2, 2020)
Some recommendations Arizona Democrats have seen introduced in the legislature before, often with little support from the majority party, include:
- Body cameras for all law enforcement officers in Arizona
- Independent investigations of an officer’s use of deadly force
- A statewide database of law enforcement officers’ history of misconduct
- De-escalation and sensitivity training
- Limits on officers’ “qualified immunity” against lawsuits
Democrats in the U.S. House have introduced police reform legislation (June 8, 2020)
The bill, dubbed the “Justice in Policing Act,” would ban chokeholds, including the kind used by a police officer in the Minneapolis death of George Floyd, as well as no-knock warrants in drug cases, as was used in the incident leading to the fatal shooting of Breonna Taylor in Louisville, Kentucky.
The legislation would also require local police departments to send data on the use of force to the federal government and create a grant program that would allow state attorneys general to create an independent process to investigate misconduct or excessive use of force. Further, the bill would make it easier for people to recover damages when police departments violate their civil rights.
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What You Can Do Right Now:
| It is long past time we address police brutality in our state. It’s time to act. We must work to dismantle white supremacy throughout our society and those actions start right here in Arizona. Add your voice, and call upon the Governor to call a special session. You can also: |
- Join a protest
- Bring water, masks, and gloves to hand out to protestors
- Donate to Black Lives Matter Movement
- Join the NAACP
- Support Local Black Candidates
- Support Black Businesses
- Support Black Organizations
- Elevate Black Leaders on Social Media
- Listen to the voices of the Black Community and follow their lead
Learn About 8 Reforms that Must Be Put in Place Nationwide – Click the Link Here
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Open Your Mind:
- Learn About the Case for Reparations From Ta-Nehisi Coates – Click here for the Link
- The Case for Reparations as made by Coates at West Point. Watch Here
- MLK Now 2020 with U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Ta-Nehisi Coates: Watch Here
- MLK Now 2019 Youtube video with Ta-Nehisi Coates and U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez: Watch here – it starts at 15:03
- Bryan Stevenson on Just Mercy Discussing the Proximity Problem in America: Watch Here
- Author Michelle Alexander and the New Jim Crow: Watch Here
- A TED talk by Isabel Wilkerson on the Great Migration: The Warmth of Other Suns
- America’s overdue reckoning with white supremacy: ‘We have allowed evil to flourish’
– Click here for the Link - Devil in the Grove: Thurgood Marshall, the Groveland Boys and the Dawn of a New America, by Gilbert King. (Winner of the Pulitzer Prize for General Nonfiction) – Click here for the Link
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Media Resources:
Arizona Informant Newspaper Link Here
The State of Black Arizona Link Here
Arizona Coalition for Change Link Here
Southern Poverty Law Center Link Here
LA Times – Choke Hold Banned in Minneapolis Link Here
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Support Black Lives Matter and NAACP:
Black Lives Matter Donation Link Here
Arizona NAACP Link Here
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COVID-19 Is Disproportionately Killing African Americans – Resources Here:
Washington Post Information Link Here
Become An Ally Resources:
Becoming a Black Community Ally
Black People Need Stronger White Allies — Here’s How You Can Be One
An extensive curriculum to help educate yourself about race and racism in the US:
Very user-friendly website with extensive resources for how to help:
https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/
Donate:
Here are a few places to donate. Check out the links above to learn about more organizations that could use your support right now.
- https://www.gofundme.com/f/georgefloyd
- https://www.blackvisionsmn.org/
- https://www.reclaimtheblock.org/home
- http://www.blackbailout.org/
Voting:
In terms of issues such as police brutality and police misconduct, our local governments hold the most power. Mayors and County Executives appoint most police chiefs and negotiate with police unions, and district attorneys and state attorneys decide whether or not to investigate and charge those involved with police misconduct. That is why voting in local elections is incredibly important! Here are some resources:
- If you haven’t already, register to vote: https://iwillvote.com/
For any additional information, please contact African American Outreach Manager Michael Ruff: [email protected]