Signed by nearly 80 professors and law experts, open letter of support for Black Lives Matter Minneapolis issued, urging City of Bloomington to drop charges. Standing in unity with law professor and community leader Nekima Levy-Pounds, and all the organizers charged, the statement agrees that the charges are political persecution and a waste of tax payer dollars. #BlackLivesMatter Statement of Support for Black Lives Matter Movement The recent activities and aspirations of the Black Lives Matter movement have shown the country and the world how we can truly honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his non-violent work toward a just and equitable society. As educators and researchers, we understand the hard work that is currently needed to overcome the many challenges and obstacles that prevent every community and every person from being treated with dignity and respect, from having racial justice, and from living in safe and peaceful conditions. We the undersigned therefore strongly support the aims and actions of the Black Lives Matter movement. We support their courageous work toward a world where all people live securely, with freedom and justice. At the same time, those who are privileged enough to have resources and power in our society should put them to use to move our country in the direction of achieving the goals that Dr. King and countless other activists have struggled towards. This is the work that the Black Lives Matter movement carries on today. It is for this reason that we are deeply disappointed in the City of Bloomingtons decision to use its considerable power to actually add to the obstacles that are blocking the movement toward a better, more peaceful, and more just society. We urge the City of Bloomington to drop all charges against those who participated in the recent peaceful protest at the Mall of America. We stand united with University of St. Thomas Law Professor Nekima Levy Pounds, one of the protesters charged by the City of Bloomington, when she writes in the Star Tribune (1/16/15): #BlackLivesMpls organized a nonviolent, peaceful demonstration at the Mall of America (MOA) in Bloomington, one of the most visible locations in the country. On December 20, 2014, 3,000 people from all walks of life descended upon MOA to sing, chant, and to remind the world that #BlackLivesMatter. Rather than welcome the demonstrators into MOA, we were met by police in riot gear. In spite of the demonstration being peaceful, roughly two dozen people were arrested, stores were shut down by mall security and police, and exits were sealed. What started as a demonstration of Dr. King’s vision of the beloved community, became a reminder of what Dr. King warned could destroy our nation: The triple giants of racism, militarism, and extreme materialism. All three of those giants were present that day at MOA and they set out to crush the spirits of the little guy. And we fully agree with Prof. Levy-Pounds conclusion about the City of Bloomingtons charges: This amounts to political persecution and is a gross misuse of prosecutorial discretion and a waste of taxpayer dollars. Thankfully, these intimidation tactics will not be effective in shutting down our movement. Our voices will only grow stronger in the process. We urge each and every person who supports the goal of creating a peaceful and just society to raise their voice in support of the protesters. All institutional affiliations below are provided solely for identification purposes and do not imply institutional support or endorsement. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morgan Adamson, Macalester College Cara Anthony, University of St. Thomas Peter Balaam, Carleton College Katharine Bjork, Hamline University Kristin Bloomer, Carleton College Bruce Braun, University of Minnesota Kathleen M. “Kate” Boyle, University of St. Thomas Rose Brewer, University of Minnesota Arnab Chakladar, Carleton College Anita Chikkatur, Carleton College Anna Clark, University of Minnesota Stephanie Cox, Carleton College Erik W. Davis, Macalester College Jigna Desai, University of Minnesota Bob Dobrow, Carleton College Paul Dosh, Macalester College Louise Edwards-Simpson, St. Catherine University Adriana Estill, Carleton College Pamela Feldman-Savelsberg, Carleton College Cynthia J. Fraction, University of St. Thomas Shelley Neilsen Gatti, University of St. Thomas Ruthann Godollei, Macalester College Teresa Gowan, University of Minnesota Mari Ann Graham, University of St. Thomas Arjun Guneratne, Macalester College Laura Anne Haave, Carleton College K.C. Harrison, University of Minnesota John Holst, University of St. Thomas Sharon M. Howell, University of St. Thomas Colette A. Hyman, Winona State University Annette Igra, Carleton College Allen Isaacman, University of Minnesota Leola Johnson, Macalester College Helena Kaufman, Carleton College Mike Klein, University of St. Thomas Mary Jo Klinker, Winona State University Brendan LaRocque, Carleton College David Todd Lawrence, University of St. Thomas Jessica Leiman, Carleton College Rebecca Lowen, Metropolitan State University Jason McGrath, University of Minnesota Richa Nagar, University of Minnesota Annette Nierobisz, Carleton College August H. Nimtz, University of Minnesota William North, Carleton College Constanza Ocampo-Raeder, Carleton College Jeff Ondich, Carleton College Susannah Ottaway, Carleton College Lon Otto, University of St. Thomas Arjendu Pattanayak, Carleton College Lori Pearson, Carleton College Yansi Y. Pérez, Carleton College Stephen Philion, St. Cloud State University Lucia Pawlowski, University of St. Thomas Paula Rabinowitz, University of Minnesota Peter Rachleff, Macalester College Gloria Goodwin Raheja, University of Minnesota Matthew Rand, Carleton College Doug Rossinow, Metropolitan State University Salvatore Salerno, Minneapolis Community and Technical College Noah Salomon, Carleton College Gerald W. Schlabach, University of St. Thomas Meera Sehgal, Carleton College J. B. Shank, University of Minnesota Shana Sippy, Carleton College Ajay Skaria, University of Minnesota Sarah Schmalenberger, University of St. Thomas Buffy Smith, University of St. Thomas Marguerite L. Spencer, University of St Thomas Clay Steinman, Macalester College Martha Stortz, Augsburg College James Brewer Stewart, Macalester College Sheneeta W. White, University of St Thomas Craig Upright, Winona State University Virgil Wiebe, University of St. Thomas Daniel Williams, Carleton College Harry Williams, Carleton College Thabiti Willis, Carleton College Cathy Yandell, Carleton College
Posted on: Tue, 20 Jan 2015 15:34:22 +0000
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