IBON International, a southern-based international non-government organization, stands in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement in the US in demanding justice for all the victims of racist violence and police brutality in the country. We stand with those grieving and protesting against these injustices against Black people and all victims of impunity, inequality, and tyranny around the world.
On May 25, George Floyd, a 46-year old Black American,was killed in broad daylight by the police in the city of Minnesota on May 5. His death, which has sparked massive protests across all 50 states, came on the heels of racially motivated killings of African-Americans by the police and white supremacist groups in the past few months, and a global pandemic that has taken a disproportionate toll on Black people. We condemn the brutal response of the administration of President Donald Trump to the people’s plea for justice. More than 11,000 people have been arrested, 22 killed, and thousands more injured in the last two weeks. We are outraged that amid the shortage in personal protective equipment and medical kits, the government has prioritized spending for teargas, pepper sprays, and rubber bullets to suppress its people.
We condemn the brutal response of the administration of President Donald Trump to the people’s plea for justice. More than 11,000 people have been arrested, 22 killed, and thousands more injured in the last two weeks. We are outraged that amid the shortage in personal protective equipment and medical kits, the government has prioritized spending for teargas, pepper sprays, and rubber bullets to suppress its people.
The slogan Black Lives Matter finds resonance among all oppressed peoples in different parts of the world struggling against resurgent national chauvinism and rising authoritarianism. In Europe, solidarity marches, mostly led by Blacks, migrants, and other minorities, sought to interrogate the continent’s own colonial legacy and enduring racism. In West Papua, the protests in the US have given renewed impetus to the campaigns against Indonesia’s occupation and rights violations committed by Indonesian police and military against the indigenous Papuans. In Australia, marchers emphasize the continuing discrimination against indigenous Australians who make up 2% of the population but 27% of the prison population. In the Philippines, activists protest the human rights abuses committed by the police and military against indigenous peoples, workers, farmers, women, and youth, and oppose President Rodrigo Duterte’s new anti-terrorism bill that seeks to stifle all types of dissent.
The people’s growing resistance against racism, police brutality and impunity, and state terror intersect with a global economic system in deep crisis aggravated by the pandemic. Hundreds of millions of jobs have been put on hold by shutdowns around the world, while about 1.6 billion people are in immediate danger of losing their livelihoods. On the flipside, corporate titans are poised to benefit from generous government bailouts. In the US, Pres. Trump has a signed stimulus plan that includes USD 500 billion bailout for corporations, landlords, and mortgage services and a provision of legal immunity for companies from lawsuits filed on behalf of essential workers – most of whom are Blacks and other minorities – sickened or killed from COVID-19 as a result of unsafe working conditions. Across the European Union, member governments are rolling out bailout packages to rescue large corporations and strategic industries. In the Philippines, the president’s allies in congress and senate are pushing for stimulus bills that will barely provide any economic relief programs for ordinary people, but will generously award equity infusions and tax holidays for corporations and mega pork barrel for favored political allies.
We are one with the people of the United States and all over the world in shouting “Black Lives Matter” and in demanding justice for all the victims of police brutality and killings. It is more necessary than ever to support mass actions and movements to strike in a unified way against the brutality of state-sponsored racism.
We are one with the people of the United States and all over the world in shouting “Black Lives Matter” and in demanding justice for all the victims of police brutality and killings. We refuse any lockdown on people’s right to free expression and dissent, more so in the current context when accountability from our leaders and institutions is most urgent. We reiterate our call for governments to uphold and protect peoples’ rights, especially those who have been historically pushed to the margins. A genuine rescue package must provide for adequate and accessible public healthcare systems, and eliminate reinforcers of disparity and discrimination such as privatized social services.
It is more necessary than ever to support mass actions and movements to strike in a unified way against the brutality of state-sponsored racism. This means uniting the movement for justice for all the victims of the racist police with the struggle of workers on the frontlines and vulnerable communities demanding basic health protection and rights. ###
