HI FRIENDS! Fair warning, this isn't a light, fun post. Although, it will be followed up with some adorable photos from an engagement shoot I did recently.
Are you losing it a little? I surely am! These last couple of months have been something else. Definitely not something I'd be capable of wrapping up into one blog post, but I'll try my best.
Covid aside, this last month has taught me a lot. I think it has taught us all a lot. It's been an emotional rollercoaster for all of us. Coming to terms with the fact that racism and police brutality not only exists, but my white privilege has allowed me to be quite blind to it till now. I've cried too many times feeling like I haven't done enough. I've cried too many times watching the videos of police brutality, reading news of how another POC has been killed. How could we not have all really been trying to fix this problem? I don't know if I'll ever have the answer to that, but my mindset has now shifted to "what can we do to help NOW?".
The trendiness of the protests are fading. One by one, everyone is going back to their regular life feeling like they've helped enough. It will never be enough. That's why I feel like if I'm going to write about something, it damn well is going to be about the Black Lives Matter movement followed up by resources on how to help. I do still feel like it'd be tone deaf to talk about anything else.
So here we go, let's go down the line folks:
1.) We Need Justice For Breonna Taylor
It is disgusting that to this day, her murderers are still out there, allowed to live freely knowing what they did. We will not shut up, we will not STOP until they are sentenced with murder. PERIOD.
First, please sign the petition to get her murderers charged: here
Secondly, call or email ANY of these numbers/emails:
NEW: NOW Special Prosecutor State AG Daniel Cameron (Contact again)
502-696-5300
Mayor Greg Fischer
(502) 574-2003
Commonwealth’s Atty Thomas Wine
LMPD Chief Steve Conrad
(502) 574-7660
Kentucky Gov. Andy Breshear
(502) 564-2611
NEW: Police Public Integrity Unit
(502) 574-2136
NEW: Louisville Metro Council
(502) 574.3902
Need help with what to say? Here you go:
The Mayor and City Council address the use of force by LMPD.
Fire and revoke the pensions of the officers that murdered Breonna. Arrest, charge, and convict them for this crime.
Provide all necessary information to a local, independent civilian community police accountability council #CPAC.
Create policy for transparent investigation process due to law enforcement misconduct.
Drop all charges for Kenneth Walker, Breonna’s boyfriend, who attempted to defend them and their home. [DEMAND MET]
Release the 911 call to the public for accountability. [DEMAND MET]
Eliminate No Knock warrants (Updated 6-4-2020)
Source: here
And obviously, please use your social media platform to SHARE and TALK about Breonna. No, I do not mean the catchy, meme style posts I've been seeing to get her murderers charged. This downplays the situation. Make or share true, authentic posts about how to help.
2.) Grab your popcorn and soda... we're goin' to the movies! Here are some films that explain black oppression and white privilege. Let's get ourselves educated!
13th
Self Made
Fruitvale Station
Explained: the Racial Wealth Gap
Time: the Kaleif Browder Story
When they see Us
Who Killed Malcom X
She Did That
Murder to Mercy - the Cyntoia Brown Story
3.) Justice for Ahmud Arbery
Sign this petition: here
Make the Calls: THIS LINK will lead you directly to a page that talk you through the calls and even dial the numbers for you! All you have to do is stay on the line and follow the instructions you hear. Easy as that!
4.) You aren't ready for this one....or are you? DEFUND THE POLICE
Remember to educate yourself on what this means. Defunding the police DOES NOT mean to have no police force and everything turns to anarchy. “Defund the police” means reallocating or redirecting funding away from the police department to other government agencies funded by the local municipality. That’s it.
Serve and Protect, right? That's what the police are supposed to do...right? So why is it that most Americans feel unsafe around most cops? Why is it that people who are African American are TERRIFIED when they encounter a cop? How many times do we have to watch a body cam where a cop (who is almost always breaking some sort of law) escalates a situation with a black person? How many times do we need to hear it was "self defense?
Here's how to help: go to this link, which will help send a message to our congress to end Police Militarization and Over-Policing in Our Communities.
There are obviously so many other resources out there for you find. All it takes is a google search. Thank you to anyone who read this, clicked the links and followed through with using your voice to make the world a better place. You're voice has POWER. Do not forget it.
Alright, here are some cute photos from my shoot with Esther and Zack. I love this couple to pieces and they were such a joy to be around!