Tag: Racism

WTH, Olympics? Four issues we want to talk to the manager about…

  • Action #1: “Natural form of the head.” Whose head are we talking about exactly? #BlackGirlsDon’tSwim
  • Action #2: Ask the US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) to find their heart for Sha’Carri Richardson
  • Action #3: Ask the President of the International Olympic Committee to do better for Brianna McNeal.
  • Action #4: Have Gwen Berry’s back.
  • Action #4a: New petition to IOC sponsors from Color of Change – Companies must denounce IOC Rule 50

Not all the actions below target our usual suspects of state and federal legislators. But, like the actions of our politicians, international events like the Olympics can have profound effects that empower or disaffect Americans. So, being “indivisible,” when something bad, or really dumb occurs, we try to figure out what we can do about it.

Action #1: “Natural form of the head.” Whose head are we talking about exactly? #BlackGirlsDon’tSwim

We are pretty sure that the International Swimming Federation (FINA), which casually declined to certify a swim cap that accommodated Black hair, is now searching desperately for a face-saving exit strategy. In fact, by the time you read this, they may have already done so, as they just issued a statement: “FINA is committed to ensuring that all aquatics athletes have access to appropriate swimwear for competition where this swimwear does not confer a competitive advantage. FINA is currently reviewing the situation with regards to ‘Soul Cap’ and similar products, understanding the importance of inclusivity and representation.”

Although FINA will allow these caps for recreational and teaching purposes, not seeing Black athletes wearing this inclusive accommodation in competition and on the medal podiums, continues the disenfranchisement of Black children and adults from swimming pools, and the literally life-saving benefits that learning to swim conveys.

Contact: If they don’t figure out how to reel this back in soon, write FINA here: sportsdep@fina.org

Continue reading “WTH, Olympics? Four issues we want to talk to the manager about…” →

Monday 3/8: “This is a democracy issue!” Call out corporations who fund voter suppression.

Quote from this LaTosha Brown. Update: The Georgia state Senate just voted along party lines on Monday to REPEAL no-excuse absentee voting after the state sent to Democrats to the Senate and voted for a Democratic presidential nominee for the first time in decades. All because 35 people out of 4,935,487 (or .0007% of the total) wrongly voted during the 2020 election. The bill would need to pass before March 31

Action: Write/email to these corporations – contact information below. Here are some points you can use.

You can write your own comment customized per company and/or use this sign-on form from the New Georgia Project here to send a message to eleven corporate heads. Mix it up a bit so your own voice comes through. You can add personal experiences of discrimination you’ve seen or been the subject of, as well.

Continue reading “Monday 3/8: “This is a democracy issue!” Call out corporations who fund voter suppression.” →

Mon 9/9: Show solidarity with Simi Valley City Councilwoman Ruth Luevanos TODAY! – 2 actions!

Action #1 – Stand with Ruth Luevanos Against Simi’s Racist Censure, Monday Evening at Simi Valley City Hall!

(Shared from Indivisible Conejo)
Background: “The hard-right majority on the Simi Valley City Council has finally gotten its ducks in a row to carry out its ridiculous censure of Councilwoman Ruth Luevanos — and it will consider the motion during its meeting on Monday evening beginning at 6:30 p.m. (Here’s Ruth’s uplifting election video)

If you’ve been following this story since it first boiled over in late July/early August, you know that both a censure effort and a recall petition have been touted as responses to the know-your-rights video Ruth made for immigrants concerned about July’s promised ICE raids. The recall is an uphill battle — supporters will need to raise and spend money to gather legitimate signatures on their petition — but censure is a considerably easier lift. And councilman Mike Judge, whose politics fall somewhere to the right of Attila the Hun, clearly has won over at least one of his colleagues in order to get the measure onto the agenda.

Continue reading “Mon 9/9: Show solidarity with Simi Valley City Councilwoman Ruth Luevanos TODAY! – 2 actions!” →

Mon – 3/11: We are Tucker-ed out. Put on your super hero capes, pull out your keyboards and phones and ask corporate America to step up.

(Quote from here.)

Action #1 – Use your power for good. Stop the financial machine behind the privitization of imprisonment.

Good news for resistors! You have power in the commercial world. Constant public pressure has caused JPMorgan Chase to announce that the bank would no longer finance private-prison and immigrant-detention companies. Others, like Wells Fargo, Bank of America and SunTrust are now up to bat.

Thank JPMorgan Chase, and have a email chat with the others here at backersofhate.org.

Action #2 – Use your power for good. Stop the financial machine behind the voices of hate.

In December of last year, Tucker Carlson, climate-change denier, Trump-apologist and “open-minded” racist, went on an anti-immigrant rant that included “immigrants make the United States country poor and dirtier and more divided.” He lost at least 26 advertisers over it. (For comparison, Bill O’Reilly left after 60 advertisers pulled out due to public pressure over his sexual harrassment settlements.)

Media Matters has recently released a full transcription of Carlson’s misogynistic and statutory rape-positive discussions with Bubba the Love Sponge, a popular shock jock radio program, that occurred between 2006 to 2011. His comments even shocked his hosts at the time, and now we can all read them, inspiring the next FOX toxic personality boycott.

UPDATE: more audio here, with racist and homophobic language. Truly a man for all seasons.

Continue reading “Mon – 3/11: We are Tucker-ed out. Put on your super hero capes, pull out your keyboards and phones and ask corporate America to step up.” →

Show some love, California! Stand Indivisible. #StandwithFrederica.

Quick recap for those who missed this whole stupid excuse to beat on a successful black woman…
Rep. Frederica Wilson contradicted Trump’s story when he attacked Myeshia Johnson’s account of his “condolence” call regarding the death of her husband La David. Now Trump’s revenge against Wilson has spiraled out of control. WH Chief of Staff John Kelly has jettisoned his honor and dignity  to defame the legislator, lying about an incident in which contrary video evidence exists.

Now to Trevor Noah for the rest of the story…

Meanwhile, a storm of hate has hit Wilson’s office.

(from Chop Wood, Carry Water)

“I heard and read about the awful, racist phone calls coming in to Rep Frederica Wilson and picked up the phone to give her my support today. The guy who answered the phone sounded really overwhelmed. He said it’s mostly hate mail and phone calls from all over the country but a few people have called in support.

If you have a minute, pick up the phone and let them know it’s not all racists and Trump supporters out there. Sounds like Wilson’s staff needs a hug.”

Call DC office: 202-225-4506
Call local offices: (305) 690-5905, (954) 989-2688, ext. 4

Email: https://wilson.house.gov/contact/email-me

Postcards to: 

Washington DC: 2445 Rayburn HOB, Washington, DC 20515
Miami Gardens: 18425 NW 2nd Avenue, Suite 355, Miami Gardens, FL 33169, (305) 690-5905
Pembroke Pines: Pembroke Pines City Hall, 10100 Pines Blvd, Building B, Third Floor,  Pembroke Pines, FL 33026
West Park: West Park City Hall, 1965 South State Road 7, West Park, FL 33023 Phone: (954) 989-2688, ext. 4

More info:  Continue reading “Show some love, California! Stand Indivisible. #StandwithFrederica.” →

How much of our money did you just waste, Mr. Vice President?

Minimal script: I’m calling from [___] to ask Rep./Sen. [___] to demand that the Republic National Committee reimburse American taxpayers for all costs incurred by Vice President’s pre-planned protest at the NFL game on Oct. 8th against fellow Americans peacefully and respectfully protesting in accordance with our 1st Amendment rights.

Senator Feinstein: DC (202) 224-3841, LA (310) 914-7300, SF (415) 393-0707, SD (619) 231-9712, Fresno (559) 485-7430

Senator Harris: DC (202) 224-3553, LA (213) 894-5000, SAC (916) 448-2787, Fresno (559) 497-5109, SF (415) 355-9041, SD (619) 239-3884

Rep. Julia Brownley: (CA-26): DC (202) 225-5811, Oxnard (805) 379-1779, T.O. (805) 379-1779

Rep. Salud Carbajal: (CA-24): DC (202) 225-3601, SB (805) 730-1710 SLO (805) 546-8348

Other Rep Contacts: http://www.phoneyourrep.com

More Info:

On taking a knee…

Continue reading “How much of our money did you just waste, Mr. Vice President?” →

This Week in Resistance – “Our Army of Bronze and its Silent War” Edition

(Picture from newspaper record of the  Cornerstone Speech, by Confederate Vice President Alexander Stephens.)    

“When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time.” (Maya Angelou)

“Slavery’s twin legacies to the present are the social and economic inferiority it conferred upon blacks and the cultural racism it instilled in whites. Both continue to haunt our society. Therefore, treating slavery’s enduring legacy is necessarily controversial. Unlike slavery, racism in not over yet.“ (James W. Loewen)

“History, despite its wrenching pain,

Continue reading “This Week in Resistance – “Our Army of Bronze and its Silent War” Edition” →