Statement of Protest from the About Face Youth Theatre
We believe it is our responsibility to speak out because so much of our art comes from Black people, if we don’t speak up for them, all of it is exploitation. If you aren’t there when it’s time to be on the picket lines, then you are just exploiting the culture and appropriating their struggle.
It’s June. The best way to act in this Pride Month is to stand with the protests. Stonewall started with a riot led by Black trans women. This is our history and we stand with protestors. We can’t say that we stand for the queer community if we do not stand with our protestors. If we’re not fighting for BLM, we’re not fighting for queer people. BLACK LIBERATION IS QUEER LIBERATION.
In Solidarity
To all of our Black siblings who are living in this time; you are doing enough. Even when you unplug from the world and take time for yourself that is enough. You are enough. Finding peace, rest and joy is a form of resistance. Never forget that the same system who tries to break you does not have the right to tell how to react to their injustice.
We stand with the victims: (Black Trans People to the Front) Muhlaysia Booker, Zoe Spears, Marsha P. Johnson, Layleen Polanco, Bailey Reeves, Paris Cameron, Ashanti Carmon, Brooklyn Lindsey, Chynal Lindsey, Tracy Single, Nina Pop, Tony McDade, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, Atatiana Jefferson, Philando Castile, Trayvon Martin, Mike Brown, Laquan McDonald, Walter Scott, Botham Jean, Freddie Gray, Stephon Clark, Eric Garner, Sandra Bland, Natasha McKenna, Tamir Rice, David McCatee, George Floyd. And all the names not listed. And everyone we don’t know.
Call to Action for Individuals
- Donate to Brave Space Alliance and Chicago Freedom School. Defend and protect Black queer youth.
- Donate to the Chicago Community Bond Fund
- Do your own research and limit relying on the Black community to combat their own oppression. Allyship is earned, not given (we shouldn’t have to wade through white tears in order to march).
- Mobilize your community out of complicity
- Amplify Black voices and create physical barrier between them and the police
- Donate snacks, medical supplies and other essential items to protesters
Demands for the City of Chicago
- We demand for the release of all protestors and their records expunged
- We demand the conviction of killer cops
- We demand that Lori Lightfoot de-weaponizes the CPD AND OPEN PUBLIC TRANSIT.
- We demand BADGE VISIBILITY on cops. And turn ON the body-cams.
- We demand the health and safety of Black lives to be prioritized over capital.
In Closing
Please know that this is not an attack. Please know that we are not here to say other people do not matter. When we say Black Lives Matter, we are not excluding the lives of non-black individuals. However, all lives can’t matter until black lives matter. All lives matter is an untrue statement created to silence black voices to keep us oppressed. The system does not include us. The system was built to destroy us, to dehumanize us, to keep us on the bottom. We are simply demanding equal rights and equal treatment. If you are homophobic, transphobic, ableist, everything in between, then you are not pro-Black. You are picking and choosing what narratives matter. All Black lives matter, not just the ones you deem worthy. If you believe in this cause, speak up. Silence and being neutral means you are siding with the oppressor. IF YOU ARE SILENT, YOU ARE PART OF THE PROBLEM.
XOXO,
The About Face Youth Theatre Ensemble