Girl Be Heard Demands Justice

First and foremost, our deepest thoughts and prayers are with the families of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Manuel Ellis, Modesto Reyes, Jamel Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Tony McDade, David McAtee, Maurice Gordon, Shali Tilson, and the countless Black lives that have been mercilessly taken due to racism and prejudice in our country. Right now, and always, we honor those that have fallen victim to egregious police brutality that is only one manifestation of perpetually failing and broken systems.

The recent vivid illustration of racism, and the violent policing culture that furthers it, has both figuratively and literally ignited fires in our streets. As we fight to dismantle white supremacy, patriarchal systems, and structural racism that have deeply infected our country and world for far too long, our hope is that this fire sparks great action, dedication and movement building to effectuate immediate and long term change.

Girl Be Heard demands urgent action for justice. Justice for the victims of anti-blackness. Justice for the heartbroken families, friends and communities of these victims. Justice for peaceful protestors wrongly arrested and attacked by police. Justice for Black communities far and wide that our governmental systems have continuously failed. Justice that ensures true freedom and liberation. Justice for the next generation. 

Our commitment to social justice is reflected in our mission and vision of a world where Black voices are heard clearly and powerfully to influence and effect change. We are demanding justice through swift and judicious legal reform and policy-making across all facets of our society.

We must continue to say their names.

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Inspired by the Black Panthers’ 10 Point Program, Girl Be Heard staff members have created “10 Items of Dissent” a list of things that we, as an organization, condemn.

Girl Be Heard condemns...

1. The killings of unarmed Black people and other American citizens by law enforcement officials

2. The weaponization and militarization of law enforcement to cause harm to BIPOC, of all gender identities and sexual orientation

3. The abuse enacted from law enforcement officials toward peaceful protestors

4. Bigotry, white supremacy and anti-blackness; the centering of white feelings and agendas

5. Inflated budgets that prioritize and lionize police departments/unions and mass incarceration

6. Violence against Black women, girls, and LGBTQIA+ individuals and communities 

7. Racial profiling, victim blaming, and invalidating Black victims truths

8. Dehumanization and appropriation of black voices, culture, and experiences

9. Paternalism, colorblindness, denial of racism or belief in a post-racial society

10. Covert and overt racist spaces that deflect accountability and reflection

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We invite you right now to commit to radical change with us. 

We invite you to engage in uncomfortable conversations across all spaces that ask questions of yourselves and how you are implementing anti-racist practices, and continue to, far beyond this moment. 

We invite everyone to denounce and challenge overt and covert racist practices. 

We invite everyone to use their power to effect change with local politicians, family members, colleagues and with ourselves to abolish all forms of oppression in our speech and in our actions, so that we all can live in the free and just society we all deserve. 

We invite you to use your voice and agency more powerfully and intentionally than ever before. 

Speak out and BE HEARD. We cannot afford to be silent.

#BLACKLIVESMATTER