To: United Nations Human Rights Council, United Nations Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent, and Organization of American States Inter-American Commission on Human Rights
5 protesters shot: We stand against white supremacist terror
Local police and federal authorities have proven unable- or unwilling- to protect Black communities from police violence and protesters from state repression and white backlash.
In order to protect Black communities and protesters from the police and racists, Freedom, Inc. calls on the United Nations and Organization of American States to 1. launch an independent investigation into police violence against Black communities AND police repression of the democratic rights of protesters supporting Black rights; and 2. send international peacekeepers to protect Black communities and protesters from state violence, state repression and white supremacists.
In addition, we call on white allies across the country to stand up and condemn white racist violence against protesters.
Why is this important?
4 white supremacists terrorized an ongoing protest in support of a victim of police violence, shooting 5 protesters Monday night.
Jamar Clark, an unarmed 24-year-old Black male shot and killed by Minneapolis police on November 15th. Eye witnesses say Clark was handcuffed and not resisting at the time of his execution-style shooting. [1] Because the entire incident was caught on police dashcam, Black Lives Matter Minneapolis (BLM-MN) began camping out in front of the 4th Precinct police station to demand the release of the video.
White supremacists showed up in ski masks and as protesters chased them out, they shot into the crowd hitting 5. When police arrived on the scene in riot gear, they pepper-sprayed protesters before attempting to pursue the shooters. [2]
From racist backlash against civil rights workers to support for racist attacks by leading presidential candidate Donald Trump, this act of terror is an attempt to stop Black communities from organizing for their rights. We call on white allies, and all people of good conscience, to condemn and mobilize against these attacks and on the United Nations and Organization of American States to lead an international effort to protect the democratic rights of protesters.
SOURCES
[1 ] Jamar Clark shooting: Witness says he was in handcuffs, CNN.com, November 21, 2015, cnn.com/2015/11/21/us/minneapolis-jamar-clark-police-shooting/
[2] Five people shot near Black Lives Matter protest site, Star Tribune, November 24, 2015, startribune.com/several-people-were-shot-near-black-lives-matter-protest-site/353121881/