Weekly Email 3/4/25-3/11/25

Happy #BlackWomenAreDivine Month! We’ve reclaimed the month of March in the name of #BreonnaTaylor, whose life was stolen on March 13, 2020 by Louisville police as she slept in her bed. Despite this act of violence and theft, Breonna’s legacy and spirit lives on through her family and those she inspires. We remember that the divinity of Black women can never be stolen.

Through #BlackWomenAreDivine we honor Breonna’s Spirit and the lives of the thousands of Black women who’ve been stolen by by police and white-supremacist violence in Los Angeles and around the nation, like #WakieshaWilson, #RedelJones, #MeaganHockaday, #MitriceRichardson, #MichelleShirley and so many more. As we honor them, we also celebrate the divinity of the Black women and girls who still walk among us. Visit @blmgrassroots on Instagram every day in March to get a daily dose of Black women’s divinity. The first honoree of 2025 was none other than our very own Jan “Boo” Williams, who is part of our Core leadership team for Black Lives Matter-Los Angeles.

Mark your calendars for our Los Angeles Black Women Are Divine celebration on Sunday, March 16th at Norman Houston Park! Come out for a delicious meal, massage, reiki, music, poetry, gifts, and LOVE. Aloe Blacc will sing to us. Breonna’s family will join us. Dominique DiPrima hosts. We’ll dance together, play cards, laugh, and celebrate Black women’s divinity. Everything is absolutely free for Black women and girls. Everyone else is invited to come out and make a love offering of gifts and labor. You’ll want to be there! Wear purple!

BLMLA Actions/Events (03/03/2025 – 03/10/2025):

  • Wednesday, 3/5/2025 4-6PM - #EndPoliceAssociations Rally at 1313 W. 8th St - Join families of those killed by police, BLM organizers and allies, and community partners for the #EndPoliceAssociations rally to bring down the police associations that bully and bribe elected officials, pilfer the public purse, and shield even the most murderous and corrupt cops. Bring your voice, your energy, and a few friends as we chant down the Los Angeles Police Protective League. Project Knucklehead drums and leads this week’s action!

  • Sunday, 3/9/2025 at 7 PM - Monthly Organizing Meeting at BLMLA’s Center for Black Power, 3423 W 43rd Place in AfricaTown (Leimert Park)  - This month’s meeting will focus on Black Women Are Divine and the best way to honor Black women. All are welcome, including new folks, returning BLM members, non-Black allies, elders, youth, and families. There will be a free hot dinner and produce bags to take home. No police, media, elected officials, their staff and haters allowed.

Upcoming:

  • Sunday, 3/16/2025 11AM-4PM - Black Women Are Divine! At Norman Houston Park, 4800 S. La Brea Ave. (La Brea & Stocker) - Join the celebration honoring Black women in the name of #BreonnaTaylor! This is a reclamation honoring the divinity of Black women…a day of joy, art, healing, and sisterhood. Come out for good food, phenomenal music, art and healing. Aloe Blacc will sing! Phenomenal poets and dancers will make offerings. Free massage, reiki, sound baths and more. Dominique Diprima hosts. Everything will be free for Black women and girls. People who are not Black women, please come to volunteer and/or make a love offering.

Recap:

  • On Monday, WE PLAYED! The BLMLA Arts and Culture team hosted a night of Black Improv and JOY at the Barbara Morrison Theater in AfricaTown. It was standing room only as we full-belly laughed…even as the world wants to keep us crying. Grateful to Yazmin Monet Watkins and the team for pulling it all together.

  • Last Wednesday, families of those killed by police, BLMLA organizers, and allies gathered for our weekly #EndPoliceAssociations rally. In celebration of Black History Month, we continue to honor our Ancestors and those who have fought before us and those whom we continue to fight for. We stood in solidarity to demand an end to police associations like the Los Angeles Police Protective League, raising our voices against their role in enabling state violence. 

  • Last Wednesday, BLMLA and We Love Leimert hosted Liberatory Session: Poets Fundraising for ‘Dena at Ora Urban Cafe in Leimert Park. Eight poets came together to fundraise for the Black people of Altadena who have been impacted by the Eaton Fires. It was a beautiful night of art, love and collective care.

  • Last Saturday, BLMLA, the BLM Pasadena Team, and allies volunteered to support more than 300 seniors displaced and impacted by the Eaton Fires. The gathering of love was hosted by Sandra Evers-Manly and Tony Wafford. The BLM team provided volunteers to serve lunch, and donated grocery gift cards.

  • Last Saturday, This Is Not a Drill! aired on KBLA 1580AM and was hosted by our very own Dr. Melina Abdullah, with Thandiwe Adbullah of BLMLA’s Youth Vanguard in the co-host chair. Together, they discussed Ramadan and Black Resistance. The #MoreThanAHashtag conversation was held with the family of #AmirLocke. Missed it? Watch here. 

BLMLA in Media and Must-Reads:

Farming -

Altadena Fires -

Black Lives Matter - 

Project 2025 - 

Tune in:

  • Move the Crowd airs every Monday morning at 7AM on 90.7FM KPFK kpfk.org, hosted by our own Sister Melina and co-produced by Sister Tyler Boudreaux. Listener calls around 7:40 at 818-985-5735.

  • Tune in to BLM’s This Is Not a Drill! every Saturday 8-10AM on KBLA Talk 1580, kbla1580.com, facebook.com/blmla, and wherever you get your podcasts. 

Black Lives Matter is truly a labor of love, and our work produces real expenses. To support our work, please donate to gofundme.com/BLMLA and donate here to support the work of Black Lives Matter Grassroots.

For the most updated information and more on our work, please visit our website at blmla.org and follow us on social media: @blmlosangeles on IG, @blmla on Twitter, and Black Lives Matter-Los Angeles on Facebook.

Hannibal Tabu