Gwero: Labor Network for Sustainability
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We are in the midst of the largest mass uprising in half a century. It is a response to the killing of an unarmed Black man named George Floyd by a Minneapolis policeman. But it challenges a pattern of Black oppression that goes far beyond one cop killing one Black person, indeed, far beyond the issues of police abuse of the Black community.
Racial inequality reaches every dimension of American life. Median household income is 70 percent higher for whites than for Blacks. White families have five times the liquid assets of Blacks. Inequality in health, housing, education, and longevity is comparably extreme. This deadly inequality has been compounded in the COVID-19 era. Black people are dying at nearly twice the American average. As of April more than half of the adult Black population was unemployed.[1]
Systematic discrimination against African Americans goes back to slavery. The abolition of slavery did not free African Americans, or other Black Americans, from systemic domination and exploitation – it continued as subjugation to racial terrorism, lynch law, poverty, and discrimination in jobs, education, housing, and every other sphere of life. And it was not ended by the civil rights legislation of the 1960s – indeed, even those gains have been rolled back in the Trump era.
Racial inequality is part of the broader picture of inequality in America. The richest four hundred Americans own more of the country’s wealth than the bottom 60% of the population, and their share has tripled over the past forty years.[2] Fighting racial inequality benefits everyone in the 99%. The uprising against racial domination provides an opportunity to challenge the broader domination of all working people by the tiny minority we are all forced directly to work for.
Kodi gulu lomwe limayamba ndi zionetsero za m'misewu zotsutsana ndi kupha apolisi lingakhale bwanji njira yothetsera kusalingana kwa mitundu ndi kusalungama? Limenelo ndi funso limene liyenera kuyankhidwa ndi zochita za anthu mamiliyoni ambiri zimene zikusintha. Kuti tiyankhe funso limenelo, tiyeni tione chitsanzo cha njira imene ingatsogolere ku zipolowe zamasiku ano n’kuloŵetsa m’malo mwa dongosolo lamakono la ulamuliro wa mafuko ndi chitaganya cha anthu ofanana.
People’s Budget – LA
On May 24, 2020 more than three thousand Los Angeles residents took part in an on-line “participatory budgeting process” organized by the People’s Budget Coalition convened by Black Lives Matter-Los Angeles.[3] Based on previous research and surveys, they developed an alternative budget that radically reversed the city’s priorities. It allocated 44% of the city’s budget to Universal Aid and Crisis Management; 26% to the Built Environment; and 24% to Reimagined Community Safety. It allocated 6% to Law Enforcement and Police — about one-tenth of the 54% in the city’s proposed budget. It happened to be the day before George Floyd was murdered.
The uprising in the days that followed Floyd’s killing was massive. An estimated 3,000 people were arrested in Los Angeles County.[4] The People’s Budget proposal to reallocate funds from the police to community needs was a widespread demand. Actions included rallies outside the mayor’s home calling for such a change. Although he had previously added $600 million to the police budget, the Mayor unexpectedly announced he would now cut the department by more than $100 million dollars.[5]
Pali zambiri ku People's Budget LA kuposa kungobweza ndalama za apolisi. Imafotokoza mwatsatanetsatane mapulani osintha moyo mumzinda. Cholinga chake chachikulu ndi "Universal Aid and Crisis Management." M'kanthawi kochepa zomwe zikutanthauza kukwaniritsa zofunikira monga nyumba, chakudya, chithandizo chamankhwala, chithandizo chachuma ndi chithandizo chadzidzidzi. Kukhalitsa kumakhudzanso "nyumba za nthawi yaitali, chithandizo cha lendi ndi nyumba zadzidzidzi, chithandizo cha chakudya, chithandizo kwa omwe akufunafuna ntchito, kuthandizira mabizinesi ang'onoang'ono, kupereka chithandizo chamankhwala kwa anthu, kupereka mapulogalamu a chitukuko cha achinyamata ndikuthandizira malo a achinyamata, kulimbana ndi zotsatira za kusintha kwa nyengo. komanso kuonetsetsa kuti chilengedwe cha mzinda wathu chikutetezedwa.” Imayikanso ndalama zogwirira ntchito zakuthupi monga "zoyendera za anthu onse, nyumba zosungiramo mabuku, mapaki, ntchito za anthu onse ndi dipatimenti yozimitsa moto."
Bungwe la People's Budget LA cholinga chake ndi "kuganiziranso zachitetezo cha anthu" popanda kutsata malamulo. Madera angadziwe zomwe akufunikira kuti akhale otetezeka, monga uphungu wa mabanja, ndondomeko za chilungamo chobwezeretsa, kubwezera kwa ozunzidwa ndi mabanja awo, mapulogalamu okhudzidwa ndi mavuto omwe amatsogozedwa ndi anthu ammudzi, kupewa zigawenga / kulowererapo / kuchira popanda apolisi kutenga nawo mbali, komanso kupewa nkhanza zapakhomo / kuchitapo kanthu / kuchira popanda kukhudzidwa ndi apolisi.
Platform for Black Lives
Defunding the police and using the money to fund community needs has rapidly emerged as a core demand of the Black Lives Matter uprising that has spread over the last two weeks to hundreds of cities in every state in America. A petition circulated by the Movement for Black Lives and more than 100 other black rights organizations asks local officials to
- Voterani kuti ayi paziwonjezeko zonse za bajeti za apolisi
- Voterani kuti muchepetse ndalama zomwe apolisi amawononga komanso bajeti
- Vote yes to increase spending on health care, education and community programs that keep us safe.[6]
In New York City, 48 city council candidates are calling for a $1 billion cut to the NYPD’s $6 billion budget over four years to help fund programs like summer employment for youth. Minneapolis, Dallas, Philadelphia, Nashville, and are witnessing similar campaigns – and the number is growing every day.[7] Most dramatically, following calls from activists to ‘defund the police,’ the Minneapolis City Council voted to disband its police department and invest in community-based public safety.
The call to “defund the police” is only one piece of a far wider comprehensive program advocated by the Movement for Black Lives.[8] The Movement for Black Lives had its origin in 2016, when fifty organizations that had been involved with the Black Lives Matter uprising issued a Movement for Black Lives Policy Platform that included scores of concrete proposals to reverse structural inequality.[9] Its “Economic Justice” program, for example, calls for:
- Kukonzanso pang'onopang'ono kwa malamulo amisonkho m'madera akumidzi, maboma, ndi feduro kuti awonetsetse kuti chuma chigawidwa mokhazikika komanso mokhazikika.
- Mapulogalamu antchito aboma ndi aboma omwe amayang'ana makamaka anthu akuda omwe amasalidwa kwambiri pazachuma. Mapulogalamu a ntchito ayenera kupereka malipiro amoyo ndikulimbikitsa thandizo kwa malo ogwira ntchito, mabungwe, ndi mabizinesi a anthu akuda omwe ali ndi udindo kwa anthu ammudzi.
- A right to restored land, clean air, clean water and housing and an end to the exploitative privatization of natural resources — including land and water. We seek democratic control over how resources are preserved, used and distributed and do so while honoring and respecting the rights of our Indigenous family.
- Ufulu woti ogwira ntchito azipanga bungwe m'mabungwe aboma ndi aboma.
- Thandizo lazachuma ku mabungwe ena akuda akuda kuphatikiza mfundo zomwe zimathandizira ndikupereka ngongole za chiwongola dzanja chochepa, zopanda chiwongola dzanja kapena zotsimikiziridwa ndi boma kuti zilimbikitse chitukuko cha ma cooperative (zakudya, zogona, ndi zina zotero), zikhulupiliro za malo ndi zipatala zomwe zimathandizira pachikhalidwe. zosowa zamagulu athu.
Ndipo pulogalamu yake ya "Invest-Divest" imayitanitsa:
- Kugawidwanso kwa ndalama ku federal, boma ndi dera lanu kuchokera ku upolisi ndi kumangidwa (JAG, COPS, VOCA) kupita ku njira zachitetezo chanthawi yayitali monga maphunziro, ntchito zobwezeretsa chilungamo m'deralo, ndi mapulogalamu a ntchito.
- Chisamaliro chenicheni, chatanthauzo, komanso chofanana chaumoyo wapadziko lonse lapansi chomwe chimatsimikizira: kuyandikira pafupi ndi zipatala zapafupi, ntchito zachikhalidwe za anthu onse, ntchito zapadera, zosagwirizana ndi amuna kapena akazi, komanso anthu osagwirizana, kudziyimira pawokha kwathupi, ntchito zoberekera, chithandizo chamankhwala oganiza bwino, tchuthi cholipiridwa cha makolo, komanso chisamaliro chabwino cha ana ndi akulu.
- Ufulu walamulo ku boma ndi boma ku maphunziro olipidwa ndi ndalama zonse zomwe zimaphatikizapo kufotokozera momveka bwino za ufulu wa: maphunziro aulere kwa onse, chitetezo chapadera kwa ophunzira a queer ndi trans, kukulunga mautumiki, ogwira ntchito zachitukuko, chithandizo chaulere chaumoyo ( kuphatikiza kudziyimira pawokha kwa thupi laubereki), maphunziro omwe amavomereza ndikukwaniritsa zosowa za ophunzira pazakuthupi ndi chikhalidwe, kuchita masewera olimbitsa thupi ndi zosangalatsa, chakudya chapamwamba, chisamaliro chaulere, komanso kumasuka kukusaka popanda chifukwa, kugwidwa kapena kumangidwa.
- Kusiya kugwiritsa ntchito mafuta oyambira m'mafakitale osiyanasiyana komanso kuyika ndalama pazayankho zamphamvu zokhazikika m'madera.
- Kuchepetsa ndalama zomwe zimagwiritsidwa ntchito pankhondo komanso kugawanso ndalamazo kuti agwiritse ntchito zomanga zapanyumba komanso moyo wabwino wa anthu.
Kusintha kwa anthu aku America aku America kumafuna kusintha kwadongosolo pachuma cha America. Mapulogalamuwa amafotokoza mitundu ya zosintha zomwe ziyenera kuchitika ngati tikufuna kuwonetsetsa kuti moyo wa Black ndi wofunika.
Black Lives ndi Green New Deal
The Movement for Black Lives Policy Platform is strikingly similar to the goals laid out in the Green New Deal resolution submitted last year by Rep. Ocasio-Cortez and Sen. Ed Markey. That relationship is made explicit in a recent statement by the Movement for Black Lives which demanded
A Green New Deal that advances comprehensive structural reform toward national climate resiliency and preparedness; ensures public control of key industries, utilities, and natural resources; and catalyzes people-oriented public spending that transforms the national economy to one that is just, equitable, and sustainable.[10]
The Green New Deal Resolution lists five goals to be accomplished through a 10-year national mobilization:
- Kupeza mpweya wowonjezera kutentha kwa net-zero kudzera mukusintha kwachilungamo komanso koyenera kwa madera onse ndi ogwira ntchito;
- Pangani mamiliyoni a ntchito zabwino, zolipira kwambiri ndikuwonetsetsa kuti zinthu zikuyenda bwino komanso chitetezo chachuma kwa onse;
- invest in the infrastructure and industry to sustainably meet the challenges of the 21st zaka;
- kutetezedwa kwa mpweya ndi madzi aukhondo, kupirira kwa nyengo ndi dera, chakudya chathanzi, mwayi wopezeka ku chilengedwe, ndi malo okhazikika kwa onse ku mibadwomibadwo; ndi
- promote justice and equity by stopping current, preventing future, and repairing historic oppression of indigenous communities, communities of color, migrant communities, deindustrialized communities, depopulated rural communities, the poor, low-income workers, women, the elderly the unhoused, people with disabilities, and youth.”[11]
Kusamutsa ndalama za People's Budget kuchoka paupolisi kupita ku zosowa za anthu ammudzi zitha kukhala poyambira kukwaniritsa zolinga za Movement for Black Lives Policy Platform ndi Green New Deal. Ndipo Green New Deal ikhoza kukhala njira yopangira mayendedwe otakata akusintha kwamapangidwe kofunikira kuti miyoyo ya Akuda ikhale yofunika.
[1] “Analysis: George Floyd, coronavirus and inequality stealing Black lives,” Center for Public Integrity, June 5, 2020. https://publicintegrity.org/inequality-poverty-opportunity/george-floyd-coronavirus-and-the-inequality-stealing-black-lives/
[2] Christopher Ingraham, “ ‘Wealth Concentration Returning to Levels Last Seen during the Roaring Twenties,’ According to New Research,” Washington Post, February 8, 2019.” https://www.washingtonpost.com/us-policy/2019/02/08/wealth-concentration-returning-levels-last-seen-during-roaring-twenties-according-new-research/
[3] “The People’s Budget: Los Angeles 2020-2021” https://peoplesbudgetla.files.wordpress.com/2020/05/peoplesbudgetreport_may26.pdf
[4] James Queally, Ben Welsh, “Arrests during George Floyd protests swell to near 3,000 in L.A. County; many are locals,” LA Times, June 2, 2020. https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-06-02/george-floyd-protests-los-angeles-arrests-locals
[5] Jack Brewster, “LA Mayor Slashes LAPD Budget As Calls To ‘Defund Police’ Slowly Pick Up Steam” Forbes, June 4, 2020. https://www.forbes.com/sites/jackbrewster/2020/06/04/la-mayor-slashes-lapd-budget-as-calls-to-defund-police-slowly-pick-up-steam/#3e75c86b1ba3
[6] “SIGN: Celebrities & Community Are Calling to Defund the Police and Invest in Black Communities.” https://www.defendingblacklives.org/defund-police-sign-on/
[7] Jack Brewster. http://19thwardchicago.blogspot.com/2020/06/defund-policewhat-great-way-to-cut-taxes.html
[8] “Movement for Black Lives Policy Platform.” https://m4bl.org/policy-platforms/
[9] Jeremy Brecher, “The Living Legacy of Black Lives Matter,” Labor Network for Sustainability, June 3, 2020. https://www.labor4sustainability.org/strike/the-living-legacy-of-blacklivesmatter/
[10] Movement for Black Lives, “National Demands for CPVOD-19,” p. 14. https://m4bl.org/covid-19-platform/
[11] “House Resolution Recognizing the duty of the Federal Government to create a Green New Deal” https://cleantechnica.com/2019/02/08/heres-the-full-text-of-congress-green-new-deal-resolution-introduced-by-rep-alexandra-ocasio-cortez/
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