Exactly 99 years ago, on May 31-June 1 of 1921, hundreds of Black Americans were brutally attacked, interned, and murdered in Tulsa, Oklahoma in what now politely gets called the "Tulsa Race Massacre." It is shameful that we have made such little progress.
George Floyd was not an exception. And we, those of us born into white privilege, can no longer be silent bystanders as people of color continue to fight for their lives.
This is not, or should not, be a political issue. This is a human rights issue. This is our humanity -- and we’re failing.
The officers in Minnesota are not a few "bad apples" souring the state of race relations. The establishment has a long history of slavery, ownership, hatred, and abuse of power of people of color. It is time to stop pretending and stop turning a blind eye to what we can be,—a better nation—a better example for our children. The injustices against George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery need to be a wake up call for all of us to do better.
It matters what we do now. Kudos to the leaders who've simply said - STOP. And let's recognize that real leadership comes from these moments. Killer Mike - a rapper from Atlanta far outside my consciousness until this weekend - stated: "A new generation must take leadership."
And we must invest in it now.
On behalf of Nonstop, we want to announce two $10,000 donations.
The first - to the KNOW YOUR RIGHTS CAMP: "The future demands that all people be empowered to exercise their fundamental rights. The mission of the Know Your Rights Camp eloquently speaks to this future: Our mission is to advance the liberation and well-being of Black and Brown communities through education, self-empowerment, mass-mobilization and the creation of new systems that elevate the next generation of change leaders."
The second - to the SOUTHERN POVERTY LAW CENTER: "The future demands that all people be protected by the rule of law, not just the privileged who can afford to buy this protection. The mission of the Southern Poverty Law Centers makes a brighter future possible: The SPLC is dedicated to fighting hate and bigotry and to seeking justice for the most vulnerable members of our society. Using litigation, education, and other forms of advocacy, the SPLC works toward the day when the ideals of equal justice and equal opportunity will be a reality."
Nonstop cannot match the massive financial investments of Nike, Peloton, and other large corporations. We can and will do that which we can. We will invest and we will continue to focus on Community Wellness through our core mission of bringing access to equitable healthcare to all communities.
This is just the start -- we all have much work to do. We humbly ask that those that are able to support these organizations, and others like them, do so. Please stand up -- use your privilege, your financial resources, your voice, and your time. It is long overdue.
David Sloves
David Sloves, Founder/CEO
