COLOR OF CHANGE (U.S) : WE HAVE NO WORDS.

BREAKING: 

Alleged white supremacists 

shot and critically injured 

5 Black Lives Matter protesters 

demanding 

justice for Jamar Clark.

Tell President Obama 

to address white supremacist violence

 in Minneapolis and nationwide:

TAKE ACTION

Dear friend,

Last night, five protesters sustained serious gunshot wounds after a group of alleged white supremacists opened fire on an encampment of Black Lives Matter (BLM) protesters in Minneapolis.¹ It is being reported that for several nights white supremacists have shown up in bulletproof vests to threaten and taunt protesters, with no response from local police.²

It is crucial that we call on the Department of Justice to investigate the shooting as a hate crime and to investigate the Minneapolis Police Department’s negligent response to the threats and shooting. Activists have repeatedly called on Attorney General Loretta Lynch to investigate similar crimes, but during her tenure she hasn't done enough.³ We must demand that President Barack Obama intervene.

Click here to demand President Obama do more to address white terrorism, starting with telling Attorney General Lynch to do her job and investigate the Minneapolis Police Department and this latest act of violence as a hate crime.

Minneapolis police have failed to take seriously and address the violent threats that white supremacists have made against Black Lives Matter protesters, including last night's shooting.⁴ Last week, police brutally killed 24-year-old Jamar Clark. Eye-witnesses say police "shot him execution-style."⁵ Since the day Jamar was killed, Black Lives Matter protesters have camped outside the 4th precinct police station demanding officials release all video of the killing.⁶ Instead of releasing the videos, police have ramped up their violence against protesters, pepper spraying and unjustly arresting peaceful activists.⁷Over the past few days, white supremacists have begun visiting the encampment and threatening protesters, while police did nothing. Last night, a group of white men in masks approached the encampment and there was a scuffle. Protesters peacefully escorted the men out of the encampment when suddenly the men began to open fire.⁸

There is a long history of police departments with ties to the KKK and other white supremacist groups.^{9 The violent and neglectful response of the Minneapolis police force toward protesters supports the reality that there is deeply-rooted white supremacy within the department. Recently, the FBI released a warning on this very issue, revealing a growing number of white supremacists infiltrating police departments across the country.10Minneapolis residents have even exposed the current police union president’s participation in racist activity and white supremacist organizations.11}

While our nation and our President have directed their full attention to terrorism happening overseas, we are turning a blind eye to the racist terrorism that is playing out in our own backyards.¹² President Obama must insist that Attorney General Lynch and the Department of Justice combat white supremacy within our country and police departments before even more violence harms our communities. Minneapolis police are incapable of protecting peaceful demonstrators from the violence of their own department and white supremacist vigilantes. If enough people take action, we can hold President Obama and the Department of Justice accountable for ending the policies and practices that create these tragedies time and time again.

Tell President Obama and Attorney General Lynch to investigate the Minneapolis Police Department and recent violence against Black Lives Matter protesters as a hate crime.

Thanks and peace,

Rashad, Arisha, Scott, Enchanta, Josh, Lyla and the rest of the ColorOfChange team.

November 24th, 2015

References :

1. "Five Black Lives Matter protesters shot in Minneapolis; police searching for white suspects," Washington Post 11-24-2015
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/5560?t=6&akid=5097.1942551.P5gjVY

2. "Three white male suspects sought after Black Lives Matter activists shot at protest," NYPost 11-24-2015
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/5561?t=8&akid=5097.1942551.P5gjVY

3. "Patterns of Racial Bias and Overcriminalization Show Urgent Need for Reform: Blacks and Native americans Disproportionately Affected," ACLU 05-28-2015
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/5535?t=10&akid=5097.1942551.P5gjVY

4. "The Latest: Some Minneapolis protesters vow to stay despite overnight shootings," Associated Press 11-24-2015
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/5562?t=12&akid=5097.1942551.P5gjVY

5. "How Did Jamar Clark Die?" The Atlantic 11-18-2015
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/5536?t=14&akid=5097.1942551.P5gjVY

6. "Protesters, police have tense night outside 4th Precinct HQ," Star Tribune 11-19-2015
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/5534?t=16&akid=5097.1942551.P5gjVY

7. “Minnesota Congressman Shares ‘Agonizing’ Photo of Son’s Protest,” Time 11-19-15
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/5563?t=18&akid=5097.1942551.P5gjVY

8. "Two men arrested in shooting of Black Lives Matter protesters in Minneapolis," Washington Post 11-24-15
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/5560?t=21&akid=5097.1942551.P5gjVY<

9. “White Supremacy and Terrorism” Slavery By Another Name, PBS 2015
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/5564?t=23&akid=5097.1942551.P5gjVY

10. “FBI’s warning of white supremacists infiltrating law enforcement nearly forgotten,” The Grio 5-12-15
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/5566?t=25&akid=5097.1942551.P5gjVY

11. “The current president of the MN police union has a long history of racist brutal behavior,” City Pages 03-14-2007
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/5565?t=27&akid=5097.1942551.P5gjVY

12. "Homegrown Extremists Tied to Deadlier Toll Than Jihadists in U.S. Since 9/11," NY Times 06-24-2015
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/5568?t=29&akid=5097.1942551.P5gjVY

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