January 07
|
Dear friend,
YESTERDAY AFTERNOON, the Proud Boys stormed the United States Capitol building with clear intentions of intimidating D.C. residents, starting conflict to advance their racist agenda, and lethally threatening anyone that stood in their way.1 Once again, JP Morgan Chase and Stripe have financed, mobilized, and even profited from these violent acts of white domestic terrorism.
Earlier this week, Enrique Tarrio was arrested and charged with property destruction and possession of two high-capacity firearms.2 On December 12th, the Proud Boys leader torched a Black Lives Matter banner belonging to Asbury United Methodist Church—a historic Black church in Washington, D.C.—and on January 4th returned “armed and ready” to intimidate Black people and incite racial violence at yesterday’s “Overturn the Election” rally.3
Within hours of Enrique Tarrio’s arrest, GiveSendGo—the same crowdfunding site that raised nearly $1 million for Kyle Rittenhouse—translated their deep hatred for Black protestors into fundraising.4 Dear friend, GiveSendGo is actively using JP Morgan Chase (through WePay) and Stripe to process donations for Enrique Tarrio’s legal defense and related white nationalist causes, including but not limited to :
- “Medical Assistance” for any Proud Boys injured while stabbing, fighting, or shooting protestors at the “Overturn the Election” Rally.5
- “Financial Assistance” for Jeremy Bertino—one of several Proud Boys that assaulted a Black man at the #MillionMAGAMarch on December 12th.6
- “Travel expenses” for Proud Boys seeking to attend white nationalist rallies, attack protestors and intimidate Black people in other cities (ex: the “Stop the Steal” Rally in Washington, D.C.).
In the past 48 hours alone, GiveSendGo has raised nearly $300,000 for the Proud Boys. So while GiveSendGo is branded as a “Christian Crowdfunding Site” that prohibits “the promotion of hate, violence, or other forms of intolerance,” JP Morgan Chase and Stripe must acknowledge GiveSendGo’s true motives : to advance their white supremacist agenda and engage white nationalist violence.7
Dear friend, JP Morgan Chase and Stripe have an ethical duty and moral responsibility to shut down cash flow to white supremacists. According to Stripe’s Terms and Conditions any organization that “engages in, encourages, promotes, or celebrates unlawful violence to any group based on race…” must be restricted from using the platform.8 And JP Morgan Chase lists “hate, violence, racial intolerance, and terrorism” as prohibited merchant activities.9 The Proud Boys are a known white supremacist hate group and GiveSendGo is a known white nationalist hate site. So, JP Morgan Chase and Stripe are consciously prioritizing profit over Black lives and public safety.
But it must end here; these corporations cannot continue to build wealth using Blood Money. Color Of Change is calling on JP Morgan Chase and Stripe to immediately cease payment processing for Enrique Tarrio on the crowdfunding site GiveSendGo, ban accounts associated with the Proud Boys or any white nationalist hate group, and desist from further servicing GiveSendGo and other white nationalist hate sites. Black lives depend on it, and their stated commitments to stop profiting from white nationalist hatred and violence command it.
Until justice is real,
Jade, Rashad, Arisha, Johnny, Erica, Evan, Amanda, Imani, Eesha, Marie, Gabrielle, Sam, FolaSade, Jennette, Ciera, Taurjhai, Stasia, and the rest of the Color Of Change team.
References :
- Justin Miller, "Mob of Trump Supporters Seize U.S. Capitol," New York Magazine (January 6, 2021), https://act.colorofchange.org/go/288890?t=7&akid=48815%2E1942551%2EvGwleg
- Peter Hermann and Martin Weil, “Proud Boys leader arrested in the burning of church’s Black Lives Matter banner, D.C. police say,” The Washington Post (January 4, 2021), https://act.colorofchange.org/go/288867?t=9&akid=48815%2E1942551%2EvGwleg.
- Teddy Amenabar and Julie Zuzmer, et. al. “Hundreds storm Capitol barricades; two nearby buildings briefly evacuated; Trump falsely tells thousands he won,” The Washington Post (January 6, 2021), https://act.colorofchange.org/go/288868?t=11&akid=48815%2E1942551%2EvGwleg.
- Kelly McLaughlin, “Nearly $1 million has been raised for Kenosha shooting suspect Kyle Rittenhouse, according to a Christian fundraising site and the teen’s lawyers,” Insider(September 3, 2020), https://act.colorofchange.org/go/288869?t=13&akid=48815%2E1942551%2EvGwleg.
- Matt Keeley, “Man Stabbed as Violence Erupts ‘After MAGA March’ in Washington, D.C.,” NewsWeek (December 14, 2020), https://act.colorofchange.org/go/288870?t=15&akid=48815%2E1942551%2EvGwleg; Laura Koenig, “Several people stabbed and 33 arrested as ‘Stop the Steal’ protestors and counterprotesters clash in Washington, D.C.,” CNN (December 13, 2020), https://act.colorofchange.org/go/288871?t=17&akid=48815%2E1942551%2EvGwleg.
- Christina Morales, “Man Is Arrested in Stabbing at D.C. Election Protest,” The New York Times (December 13, 2020), https://act.colorofchange.org/go/288872?t=19&akid=48815%2E1942551%2EvGwleg.
- EJ Dickson, “Why Is a ‘Christian Crowdfunding Site’ Letting Proud Boys Leader Enrique Tarrio Raise Money ?” Rolling Stone (January 5, 2021), https://act.colorofchange.org/go/288873?t=21&akid=48815%2E1942551%2EvGwleg.
- “Restricted Businesses,” Stripe (October 26, 2020), https://act.colorofchange.org/go/288874?t=23&akid=48815%2E1942551%2EvGwleg.
- “WePay Terms of Service : United States", JP Morgan Chase (November 1, 2020), https://act.colorofchange.org/go/288875?t=25&akid=48815%2E1942551%2EvGwleg.
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Please help keep our movement strong.
Aucun commentaire:
Enregistrer un commentaire