Today, we lift the beautiful Spirit of #WakieshaWilson, whose life was stolen 8 years ago by guards inside LAPD Metro Detention Center. Wakiesha was a loving mother, daughter, niece and community member. Authorities never bothered to inform the family of Wakiesha’s death, leaving her mother searching for her for four days before she learned that she was dead.
Since 2016, BLMLA has been working alongside the family to demand justice in Wakiesha’s name. This afternoon, join the demonstration in her honor and plug in to the work to pass “Wakiesha’s Law,” a federal family notification policy, being introduced to Congress.
All month long, be inspired by Divine Black Women honored daily on IG @blmgrassroots, and plug in to do the righteous work of Black liberation.
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The life of beautiful Black healer, daughter, niece, loved one, and ray of sunshine - #BreonnaTaylor - was stolen by police in Louisville, Kentucky on March 13, 2020. As word slowly spread around the world, Black women, especially, felt a collective piercing wound. We were reminded of the words of honored Ancestor Zora Neale Hurston who stated that “Black women are the mules of the world.” But Divine Spirit and Breonna Taylor reminds us that…the world may try to make us into mules, but BLACK WOMEN ARE DIVINE.
Since 2020, Black Lives Matter Grassroots has called for a reclamation of Black women’s divinity. This has taken shape in the form of community honors, celebrations, and acts of love. Black Lives Matter - Los Angeles will host our annual arts, healing and love festival on Sunday, March 17th at Norman O. Houston Park…with performances by Aloe Blacc, Aja Monet, our own Yazmin Monet Watkins, and Kayo, and more, healing services, including: reiki, massage, acupuncture, and spiritual counseling, healthy delicious lunch, gifts, and outpourings of love…all free for Black women, girls, and femmes. People who are not Black women are invited to show their love by bringing gifts, volunteering, and spending the month loving up on the Black women in your own lives.
All month long, be inspired by Divine Black Women honored daily on IG @blmgrassroots, and plug in to do the righteous work of Black liberation.
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For some of us, Tuesday’s election results were not so super…
While Black Lives Matter doesn’t endorse candidates and we know that no oppressed people have ever won their freedom solely through the ballot box, we also know that electing leaders who are in line with our values is important.
While our beloved Baba Akili didn’t win his Assembly race, he won a formidable 10% of the vote while holding true to a people-powered, vision-based campaign facing opponents who had much deeper pockets and political machines behind them. And while racist, violent, disgraced City Councilman Kevin De Leon was the top vote-getter in Council District 14, 73% of district residents voted against him. DEEP THANKS to Michael Williams and the #KDLMustGo crew for holding it down for years - educating the community about the harm that Kevin brings.
As we move towards a general election in November, let’s continue to #VoteAndOrganize!
All month long, be inspired by Divine Black Women honored daily on IG @blmgrassroots, and plug in to do the righteous work of Black liberation.
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We make Black history by fighting for Black lives. That means using every tool in our toolbox to upend systems of violence and harm and building systems of care. This looks like standing in these streets on Wednesdays, to #EndPolice Associations, pounding the pavement to say #KDLMustGo, and continuing to make it known that we want to #DefundThePolice by completing the People’s Budget survey. This sounds like continuing to say #BlackLivesMatter, even when it’s no longer popular. This feels like wrapping our arms around our children, our elders, our community, and offering spaces of love and care, even as we heal our own selves. Let’s use our voices, our bodies, and our resources to make Black Lives Matter. Do something tangible for our people every single day.
This February, be inspired by following our #BlackHistoryMatters daily political education installments on Instagram @blmgrassroots, and plug in to do the righteous work of Black liberation.
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On Wednesday February 7, a new interim LAPD Chief was named. As we celebrate the people’s victory in our #NoMoreMoore effort, we also know that Interim CVhief Dominic Choi represents more of the same. This is why BLMLA has refused to play the game of naming a new chief preference. It is indisputable that policing descends from slave-catching and paddy rollers. Just as it doesn’t bring freedom to change the roller in charge, neither does it bring peace to change the name behind the police chief title. What we need, in the words of our own, “Mama” Paula Minor, is a “fundamental change” in the way we do public safety. We must be abolitionists! Let’s divest from violent policing and invest in the resources that actually build safe communities.
This February, be inspired by following our #BlackHistoryMatters daily political education installments on Instagram @blmgrassroots, and plug in to do the righteous work of Black liberation.
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Happy Black History Month! Black History Month was initiated by Dr. Carter G. Woodson as Negro History Week in 1926 and taken as an entire month by the Black Student Union at Kent State University in 1969. For Black Lives Matter Grassroots and BLMLA, Black History Month offers an opportunity for us to reflect on the powerful history of Black people and the principled struggles that have gotten us this far down freedom’s road. It serves as a reminder that “when we fight, we win,” and compels us to continue to do the righteous work necessary to get to full and complete freedom. This February, be inspired by following our “Black History Matters” daily political education installments on Instagram @blmgrassroots, and plug in to do the righteous work of Black liberation.
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Greetings BLMLA Family…
Black Lives Matter - Los Angeles Has Been Calling for Moore’s Dismissal Since the Los Police Department’s Murder of Albert Ramon Dorsey at a 24-Hour Fitness in Hollywood in 2018.
In 2023 alone at least 25 people were killed by LAPD on Chief Moore’s watch – more murders than the LAPD has ever committed since the start of the Black Lives Matter movement. Under Moore’s supervision, officers blew up an entire South LA neighborhood (and claimed the lives of two community elders), viciously brutalized Black Lives Matter protesters, garnered rampant harassment and corruption charges, and most recently launched an investigation into LA Mayor Karen Bass.
On January 12th. Moore announced his departure, just 6 months in to his second term. We say he didn’t “retire,” he was fired by the people.
As the mayor and police commission contemplate the next police chief following Moore’s departure, we’re encouraging Angelenos to challenge Mayor Bass to #ReimaginePublicSafety by investing more deeply in community resources.
Make your voice heard by completing the People’s Budget survey at peoplesbudgetla.com/survey.
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We are two weeks into the new year and BLMLA has already won two major victories. 1. #NoMoreMoore is now a reality. We’ve spent the last three years rallying, petitioning,
advocating, and protesting to get rid of LAPD’s murderous, corrupt police chief, Michel Moore. On Friday, the soon-to-be former chief was fired by the people! Just 6 months into his second 5-year term, Moore announced his “retirement.” Like former Chief Beck before him, Moore also claimed he needed to spend more time with his family. (Haley, his only “child,” is well into adulthood.) BLMLA has run two petitions - one to former mayor Garcetti and another to Mayor Bass and the LA Police Commission, made public comment at police commission meetings every single Tuesday, run a #NoMooreMondays weekly social media campaign, flyered communities, and pushed for more than 3 years. It is this critical work that has forced his resignation. We say good riddance!
In a second major victory, Andrew Lyons, the former sheriff’s deputy who murdered Black unarmed father of three #RyanTwyman in 2019, is now a convicted felon. Lyons is the first cop in Los Angeles County to get jail time for an “officer-involved shooting” in 22 years. Lyons was also decertified and can never be a cop or own a gun again. Our relentless marches, calls to action, court support, and community organizing was so worth it. We are blessed to stand with the Twyman family and have won an incredible step forward that contributes to accountability and real public safety.
Our chant couldn’t ring truer -
WHEN WE FIGHT, WE WIN!
Let’s keep fighting!
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On December 4, 2023, #NianiFinlayson, called 911 in an act of desperation after her daughter had been physically abused by her partner. Los Angeles County sheriffs entered her home and shot the 27-year-old Black mama to death within 4 seconds and in front of her 9-year-old daughter. Deputy Ty Shelton also killed 62-year-old Black father #MichaelThomas inside his own home in 2020. As we rage and mourn the theft of Black life, we must also take action. While justice would be Niani living her life, raising her two children, and growing into the beautiful human being she was becoming, justice in her name means the firing and prosecution of the cop who stole her life, comfort and support for her family, and the fundamental transformation of public safety systems. Go to linktr.ee/justice4nianifinlayson for concrete action steps.
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In 2023 LAPD killed three people in the first three days of the year. Black Lives Matter - Los Angeles has been fighting for justice, alongside the families, in the names of #KeenanAnderson and #TakarSmith. In November we won rare “out-of-policy” rulings in both cases. As we move into the new year, we are demanding the firings and prosecutions of the cops who stole their lives and working towards policy change that would bring non-police response to mental health crises…and would have saved Takar’s life, and remove police from traffic…which would have spared Keenan Anderson. We need you in this fight! Let’s make 2024 a year when Black fathers, like Takar and Keenan, get to live, raise their children, and thrive in this world.
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Heri za Kwanzaa, BLMLA Family!
Happy first day of Kwanzaa!
Kwanzaa is an African American holiday celebrated from December 26th through January 1st. It was founded in 1966 by Dr. Maulana Karenga and the Us Organization. With roots in African harvest festivals, Kwanzaa means “first fruits” and is a celebration of the work that Black people have done throughout the year and the harvest that we reap. Anchored by the Nguzo Saba (7 principles), we reflect on one principle essential to Black liberation each day.
On this day, we build first from the first principle - Umoja (unity). Tonight, Black people the world over will light the center black candle on the kinara (candleholder) and reflect on how to build togetherness within our community as an imperative for Black freedom.
Join us in the streets on Wednesday for the second day of Kwanzaa - Kujichagulia (Self-Determination). Let’s vision and build a public safety system that doesn’t rely on police!
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