AllSelby

Samuel K

Solidarity to all protestors

3 Demands for York, laid out by York Stand Up to Racism:

❗Education - Teach the British Empire and the struggles against it mandatory in York schools...
❗Culture - Erect the statue of Septimus Severus, the first black emperor of York with information about the history of black Romans living in York
❗Police - The practises of the police in York need to change, both to pressure the Metropolitan Police into analysing the deep structural racism within it, as well as changes to the teaching practises

Thank you all who came out today for the rally for and the launch of our demands we want for change in the City of York. These are on 3 key areas:

❗Education - Teach the British Empire and the struggles against it mandatory in York schools...
❗Culture - Erect the statue of Septimus Severus, the first black emperor of York with information about the history of black Romans living in York
❗Police - The practises of the police in York need to change, both to pressure the Metropolitan Police into analysing the deep structural racism within it, as well as changes to the teaching practises

Stay Tuned, Watch this Space ✊🏿✊🏾✊

Working Class History

On this day, 5 June 1993, emergency medical technician Breonna Taylor, recently killed by police, was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Taylor, who was African-American, worked full-time in the emergency room Department of the University of Louisville Jewish Hospital, as well as working part-time at Norton Healthcare.
At 1 AM on March 13, 2020, Louisville police broke into her apartment with a "no-knock" drug warrant, which allows police to forcibly enter properties without identifying themselves as police or giving any warning. Officers shot Taylor eight times, killing her. Police claimed that Taylor's boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, opened fire on them first, however despite initially charging Walker with attempted murder of police, the charge was dismissed, which suggests the claim was fabricated. Taylor's family state that after breaking in, officers “then proceeded to spray gunfire into the residence with a total disregard for the value of human life." Walker was a licensed gun owner, and no drugs were found on the premises.
On her Facebook account, Taylor had recently explain how she felt about her job helping people: “Working in health care is so rewarding! It makes me so happy when I know I’ve made a difference in someone else’s life!”
News of her killing was initially overshadowed by the Covid-19 pandemic, after the racist murders by current or former law-enforcement of other unarmed African-Americans Ahmaud Arbery and George Floyd, many thousands of people have taken to the streets shouting her name, as well as those of other Black people killed by police.
Taylor's family have started a fund for justice for Breonna which you can give to here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/9v4q2-justice-for-breonna-taylor
Photograph: Breonna Taylor, courtesy Breonna Taylor Facebook account

Black Lives Matter. Don't be THAT person.... 🙄

What we are seeing in America are millions of people declaring that their lives, safety and freedom from systematic oppression is more important than the discomfort and inconvenience the truth causes white people.

Robin DiAngelo

A statement from Dr. Robin DiAngelo:

“If white people responded with as much outrage to racial injustice as we do to the response to that injustice, we would not see looting. But when people have exhausted all mechanisms for change with no significant impact, they will resort to desperate measures. Within those measures, those who loot are a very small percentage that the news focuses on because high drama brings in the viewers. We must ask ourselves why we don't have an emotional response to the taking of black life, but we do have an emotional response to the taking of white property. What happened to us that this is where our focus goes? If you do not understand systemic racism you will not understand what you are seeing, you won't be able to think critically about it or act against it, and you will inevitably play your part in upholding it. White people, we must educate ourselves. Racism is arguably the most complex social dynamic of the last several hundred years. You do not know all you need to know. Your learning is not finished. You have not been exempt from the forces of race, no matter who you know, where you've traveled, how many languages you speak, what other forms of oppression you experience or how nice you are. The information is everywhere but we must break with our apathy and certitude that we are not part of the problem and seek it out."

FBI investigates death of black man after footage shows officer kneeling on his neck

Jacob Frey, the Mayor of Minneapolis: “[Floyd] should not have died,”

Should this be "[Floyd] was ruthlessly killed and it is unacceptable"?

theguardian.com Hundreds protest after death of George Floyd, who told Minneapolis police ‘I cannot breathe’

BAME people fined more than white population under coronavirus laws

theguardian.com Police in England issue at least 22% of fines for contravening lockdown to 15.5% of population

Video of white woman calling police on black man in Central Park draws outrage

“I don’t think there’s an African American person in America who hasn’t experienced something like this at some point,” he said.

Asked about the woman’s decision to call the police, he said: “I can be racially intimidated and kowtow to her [but] I’m not going to participate in my own dehumanization.”

An example of weaponisation of racism in America an empowered response of the person subjected to it. (From America)

theguardian.com Woman called 911 after birdwatcher asked her to leash her dog, reigniting storm over everyday racism

Eid Mubarak to all celebrating

Ramadan Mubarak to Muslims throughout the country and around the globe.

UK government urged to investigate coronavirus deaths of BAME doctors

"The overall death figures in the UK have not been broken down by ethnicity but early research published this week showed that 35% of almost 2,000 patients in intensive care units were non-white."

There are also concerns that the proportion of doctors and healthcare workers that have died from the virus is great even taking into consideration the many workers from BAME backgrounds working in healthcare. It is speculated that BAME workers may feel more disinclined to complain about PPE and BAME doctors "often feel bullied and harassed at higher levels compared to their white counterparts".

theguardian.com Exclusive: Doctors’ organisation concerned at ‘disproportionate severity of infection’

Checking in on a neighbour by posting a note, especially if they are elderly, high risk or out of touch with family, is one way we can pull together and look out for each other. On the note you can include your number for them to get in touch if they need anything. Remember to wash your hands thoroughly before and after you post though!

Trump's naming COVID-19 "the Chinese virus" is divisive and irresponsible. In Selby some weeks ago there were reports of multiple incidents of abuse towards people with Chinese heritage.

He knows this helps stigmatise Chinese people and people with Chinese heritage. He will also be aware of the effect on his item citizens with Chinese backgrounds. Such behaviour is not with off the high office he holds.

Welcome to All Selby, stylised AllSelby, which aims to stand up for equality, social cohesiveness, and prosperity for people of all backgrounds in and around Selby, North Yorkshire.

As well as delving into, sharing, and exploring the experiences of ethnic minorities and People of Colour, we will also keep an anti-racist lookout, because intolerance of someone's very being is intolerable.

AllSelby