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Dear Friends,
Thank you so much for signing the George
Floyd open letter. NOW WE NEED YOU TO ACT URGENTLY!
On Wednesday at 3 pm CET, the UN will hold an
unprecedented debate on systemic racism and police violence.
They could order the set up of an independent commission of inquiry
investigating police brutality in the US. But, we need to pressure
our governments to demand US accountability at this meeting!
Insiders say the Trump Administration is exerting massive
pressure on countries to take the spotlight off the US.
Australia and European countries have capitulated to a watered down
resolution, and other countries are also coming under intense
pressure. This is where we come in!
If enough of us
contact our foreign ministries / country representatives to the UN
in the next 18 hours, we can get these countries to reverse course
and to demand US accountability! Here’s how we do it:
- If you live outside the US, please contact your Foreign
Ministry or your country’s UN
Mission in Geneva and let them know that you support the call
made by families of victims of police killings in the United
States, 54 African countries, and over 660 groups from 66
countries to mandate an independent Commission of Inquiry.
- If you live in the United States, please contact foreign
embassies in Washington D.C. that are members of the UNHRC (see
list here) especially U.S. allies and urge them to support
international accountability for police killings in the
U.S
George Floyd’s brutal murder has sparked an unstoppable
global movement demanding concrete and bold actions to end racist
policing practices and impunity for police violence. Our community
has an unparalleled opportunity to bring meaningful change here.
Let’s rise to the occasion!
In solidarity,
The Avaaz
team
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Dear friends,
These are the last words of George
Floyd, a 46-year-old man who died as a US police
officer pinned him down, kneeling on his neck for almost nine
minutes: "It's my face man I didn't do nothing
serious man please please please I can't
breathe please man please somebody please man I
can't breathe I can't
breathe please (inaudible) man can't breathe, my
face just get up I can't breathe lease, a knee on my
neck I can't breathe shit I will I can't
move mama mama I can't my knee my neck I'm
through I'm through I'm claustrophobic my stomach
hurt my neck hurts everything hurts some water or
something please please I can't breathe
officer don't kill me they're gonna kill me, man come
on man I cannot breathe I cannot breathe they're
gonna kill me they're gonna kill me I can't breathe I
can't breathe please sir please please please I
can't breathe" Then his eyes shut and the pleas stop.
George Floyd was pronounced dead shortly
after. Right now, we have a choice. This can
just be one more tragic death at the hands of US police -- or
the moment for change. We are a movement of
more than 60 million people -- when we all speak up, we are
deafening. So let's raise our voices to join
everyone calling for an end to these racist killings, and push
those in power to do the same. Sign this open
letter with one click, and when it's massive, Avaaz
will publish it in major US newspapers and websites around the
world. Let it be an anthem to end the killing and
honour all those we've already lost.
As
people of the world, we grieve the senseless loss of
another life at the hands of US police.
We
stand in community with everyone who is hurting.
These brutal killings must end. Each is a wound
to the heart of our humanity and a shameful, indelible
mark on that great flag of the United States of America.
Racism thrives in the company of silence --
so we will not stay quiet. Racism is a problem that
belongs to us all. It is our fight.
But we
cannot allow that fight to become hatred, for then we
are no wiser than those whose hearts we seek to change.
In the words of Dr. Martin Luther King: "Darkness
cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate
cannot drive out hate; only love can do that."
It is in this spirit that we call on all
those in power to act NOW, and hold President Trump and
US state and local governments accountable to:
- Ensure all officers involved in the killing of
George Floyd face legal due process,
- Expel and prosecute officers for even one instance
of excessive force or the failure to intervene when
excessive force is used,
- Ensure every police killing is independently and
transparently investigated.
We pledge to do our
part, meeting the fear, anger, and ignorance of racism
with all the hope, love, and strength of our humanity.
Rest in Power, George Floyd.
It will
not be in vain.
| With
endless hope, Mike, Marie, Meetali, Sarah, Andrew,
Ricken, Bert and the whole team at Avaaz. More
information: Of Course There Are Protests. The State
Is Failing Black People. (New York Times) https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/29/opinion/george-floyd-minneapolis.html
George Floyd killing: sister says officers should face
murder charge as protests grow (The Guardian) https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/may/27/george-floyd-sister-police-officers-should-be-charged-with-murder
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