We are outraged and grieving at the Black lives taken unjustly by police violence and white supremacy. 

The violence against Black people must stop. Those with power, wealth, and white privilege must end their targeted killings of the descendants of those whom the United States enslaved in order to build this country. The deep trauma of how Blackness has been looted resonates unbearably and constantly. Corporations, museums, and governmental entities have stolen and continue to steal Black culture, Black ideas, and Black votes, all while resisting Black wealth building and healing. Meanwhile, terorrism against Black bodies continues.

While People’s Alliance leadership and activists have changed over time to reflect our multiracial city, we are still a historically white organization. We recognize that white folks have a different role to play in dismantling systemic racism. We urge our white members to follow Black leadership, find out what the needs of local protests are, donate to bail funds like the NC Community Bail Fund of Durham, buy from Black businesses, listen and avoid centering themselves, and generally consider ways they can leverage their privilege and comfort in tangible ways. In the words of Ijeoma Oluo, “be in service to Black liberation”. This is a movement that requires commitment way beyond this moment, including to dismantling white supremacist arrangements of power.

We commit to disrupting cycles of violence against Black people in our city and beyond. Our action teams here at PA have been working hard to reimagine a world with more resources for our community in the face of both viral and racist pandemics. We urge all our members — organizers, doctors, lawyers, abolitionists, educators, activists — to hold elected officials accountable for any unjust actions of police and discriminatory policing tactics.

As we enter Pride Month, we are reminded what we owe to the revolutionaries who “rioted” at Stonewall. We thank those who came before us, whose radical roots led us to the Pride celebrations we enjoy today. We know the trail was blazed by queer people of color, and we hold them close as we protest today. They, too, are in our minds as we say loudly, “Black Lives Matter”. 

Be safe. Be well. You are needed.

In solidarity,

Victoria Bright and Katie Mgongolwa