Greetings!

For those of us who are black/of African descent, it can feel like the universe refuses to let us be. To those privileged to not be impacted by these tragedies: your complacency costs us our lives. Whether you're starting your journey into racial justice work or have been at it for years, there is a role for everyone. Keep reading to find out how you can get involved.

-Kina Thorpe, Educational Program Manager
In This Issue (in order)
  • Responding to Racial Injustice
  • From the Blog: Women & Modern Slavery
  • Action Highlights: Money for Black Vermonters, Divest from Policing and Address Use of Force
Click here to for the quarterly Peace & Justice Center Newsletter
June 9, 2020
-Kina Thorpe, PJC Educational Program Manager

These are difficult times. For those of us who are black/of African descent, it can feel like the universe refuses to let us be. From a disproportionate amount of us dying from COVID, to murder after murder at the hands of police (rest in peace George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Tony McDade and the countless others)... living life painlessly as a black person in America is hard. Nearly impossible.

Things are bleak, but one thing that gives me hope is the overall reaction to these events. An ABC News Poll shows that 74% of Americans view George Floyd's murder as a sign of underlying racial injustice-- a 30% increase from a similar poll 6 years ago. This attitude shift is important, but a shift in thought is not enough. We need action.

We need everyone to join the black community in saying "enough is enough." We have started to see this in the last few weeks and that's great... we need it to continue. Real change requires sustained power. It take a continued fight in the face of hatred and brutalization; it takes following the lead of impacted communities; it takes those who are comfortable in their privilege and silence speaking up to do what the black community has been doing for generations.

Last week the PJC hosted a webinar with other groups across Vermont doing this critical racial justice work. You can watch the webinar below. Groups shared what they're working on and how you can get involved. You can also click here for the list of panelist and other relevant resources. Now is the time. There is no more being a passive ally. It's time to get active.
-Hannah Stump, former PJC Intern

Content Warning: Sexual assault, abuse.

Though slavery’s existence precedes written records, it is not a thing of the past. It is a dehumanizing practice still prevalent in societies across the world today, and most often exists as forced marriage, forced labor, and forced sexual exploitation. As of 2016, there were approximately 40.3 million people enslaved worldwide, and “71% of overall victims of modern slavery — nearly 30 million — are estimated to be women and girls.” (1)

Why is it that women and girls are disproportionately enslaved? The simple answer is that many societies in both the Global North and South are socially and systematically patriarchal. Women across the world, regardless of class or age, face discrimination based on their gender– treated as second class citizens in comparison to their male counterparts; this is incredibly disempowering. 

From a young age, girls are victims of oppression that existed for thousands of years before they were born. Girls are less likely to receive a secondary education than boys. Due to a lack of education and autonomy, it is harder to get a well-paying job (or any job in some cases) which in turn makes financial self-sufficiency and independence nearly impossible. This forces women to work in factories, on farms, and in private residences where sexual assault, violence, and harassment are commonplace. This push into non-consensual labor can be state-imposed, family-imposed, or happen as a result of trafficking.
All of the events listed below are happening online unless otherwise stated. This is a partial listing of event. See more in our public  calendar . The PJC is not directly involved in all of these events. If you have questions about a non-PJC event, please reach out to the organization listed. 

Tuesday, June 9

Wednesday, June 10

Thursday, June 11

Friday, June 12

Saturday, June 13
  • 12-3:00 We Demand Change! protest, Randolph
  • 12:00 Boycott Hoagie Hut Protest, Colchester, details pending

Sunday, June 14

Monday, June 15

Saturday, June 20

Monday, June 22


Please  email  us events for our  google calendar  and enews
Upcoming Events

Toxic Whiteness Discussion Groups, Wednesday, June 24, 12-1pm OR 5:30-6:30pm, ONLINE. This space is held specifically for white people to help process how white supremacy culture is toxic to them. Having a separate space to process the pain of racism will help white people allow the emotional needs of people of color to take priority in multi-racial spaces. Register here for 12:00 and register here for 5:30. FREE

Fair Trade 101: Global Trade & Racism Sunday, June 27, 2-3pm, ONLINE. Explore the history of global trade: how it has come at the expense of native nations and how the Fair Trade Movement became an alternative -- ensuring producers in the Global South have access to the global market and provided with basic human rights. Register here for Zoom call info . FREE.

Community Voices for Immigrant Rights , Monday, June 22, 6-7:30pm. Join us to amplify local organizing in support of immigrant rights. Click here to register and join the call. Co-hosted by PJC. FREE

For more info on these events visit our website or contact  program@pjcvt.org
Want to see more of the PJC more often?

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VT Racial Justice Equity Task Force

The State of VT is seeking community members to serve on their Racial Justice Equity Task Force. The deadline to apply is Friday at 5pm. For more information and to apply click here.
Virtual Lavender Commencement

Outright VT is hosting a virtual Lavender Commencement this year on Tuesday, June 23, 7pm. Whether you're part of the LGBTQ+ community and have something you want to celebrate or want to support a loved one, you can sign up by clicking here.
Palestine Stands in Solidarity with Black Americans
Art by @shirien.creates

The Palestinian  BDS  
National Committee ( BNC ), the largest coalition in Palestinian society that leads the global BDS [Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions] movement, stands resolutely in solidarity with our Black brothers and sisters across the US who are calling for justice in the wake of the latest wave of insufferable police murders of Black Americans, including George Floyd in Minneapolis, Tony McDade in Tallahassee, and Breonna Taylor in Louisville.

The  growing protests  by “ the unheard ” against police brutality in the US are fundamentally an  uprising  
against an entire  system of racist exploitation and oppression , exacerbated and nakedly exposed by the Covid-19 pandemic and its  disproportionate toll on African Americans . This system is organically connected to the crimes perpetrated by US imperialism against peoples of color worldwide and rooted in the violent, racist and colonial foundation of the US.

Center Hours 
(reached via email or phone)
Monday-Friday: 10am-6pm
  
Store Hours
CLOSED
 
Location
60 Lake Street, Suite 1C
Burlington's Waterfront
(Next to Skinny Pancake)  
Action Highlights:
Money for Black Vermonters
Resist Layoffs and Wage Cuts
Money for Black Vermonters
Vermont is a vicious place to be Black. If you are white, and trying to understand how to be “helpful”/engaged/supportive/not completely co-signing white supremacy in all areas of your life, one of the easiest ways to support Black life/joy/safety/community is to give your money to Black people.

Non-poor white friends: it's time to redistribute some WEALTH to the people who are OWED it in a community, country, and world that conspires at literally every level to prevent them from being emotionally, socially, financially, systemically safe and secure. This is a requirement. To give generously, regularly, and with humility. 

Moirha Smith and Jas Wheeler have compiled payment information of Black folks, mostly women, trans & non-binary, queer, and/or disabled people. Most of these folks are in Vermont or have left due to the hostility and deep isolation too many Black people experience in this state.  

Know that you have not completed the task, will actually never “complete the task” because whiteness is a forever-refilling cup of privilege and safety and there is always more to give and do and be. Give to ALL of these people. GENEROUSLY. And then do it again.
Divest from Policing and Address Use of Force
In Burlington, the Racial Justice Alliance had created a list of demands to City Government. To get on the email list to find out these demands and join the effort toward divesting from police and investing in community, email rachel@pjcvt.org. The next steps are turning out for tonight’s (zoom) police commission meeting and then next Monday’s City Council meeting.
 
On the statewide level, there is the possibility of meaningful Use of Force legislation passing this week! Please email Senate Pro Tempore Tim Ashe and Speaker of the House Mitzi Johnson as well as the chair and staff member of the Government Operations and Judiciary Committees in the House and Senate to say the following.

Subject: Use of Force

To: mjohnson@leg.state.vt.us, tashe@leg.state.vt.us, rsears@leg.state.vt.us , pdelaney@leg.state.vt.us, mgrad@leg.state.vt.us , mbailey@leg.state.vt.us, AHussey@leg.state.vt.us, scopelandhanzas@leg.state.vt.us, gcarrigan@leg.state.vt.us, jwhite@leg.state.vt.us

Body: “I demand that you pass meaningful use of force policies THIS session. Do not create a task force. Pass meaningful use of force legislation and fully fund it this session. Please forward this email to the full committee.”  (You can add specific things you want to see in the policy or leave it open.)
Peace & Justice Center | 802-863-2345 |  info@pjcvt.org  |  http://www.pjcvt.org
60 Lake St, Ste 1C
Burlington, VT 05401