BMSG statement on police violence and the fight for racial justice
Wednesday, June 03, 2020When BMSG opened our doors in 1993, violence was the number one killer of youth in California, and too many Black and Brown families were grieving the premature deaths of their children.
Too little has changed.
As we watch events unfold across the country in response to the horrific and preventable police killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Tony McDade, it pains us that, once again, much of our country is focused on the details of specific demonstrations rather than the reasons why people are taking action. As the Los Angeles Times columnist LZ Granderson recently wrote, “For those of you who are tired of reading about racism, I’m tired of black and brown bodies being killed by it. I’m tired of watching some white people be more upset by those who are protesting racism as opposed to the racism itself.”
It angers us that news coverage of the civil unrest that follows police-involved killings too often fails to fully report the reality of police violence, with many reports using euphemistic language — such as “scuffle” or “skirmish” — that obscures the truth and fuels division. It also outrages us that as most types of violent crime continue to decline, budgets for police remain inflated, with an increased focus on militarization. Adding to the problem, many people may not even realize that crime is decreasing because the media tend to focus on extreme and unusual events, while neglecting to report the outstanding prevention-oriented work happening in communities directly affected by violence.
Still, we see glimmers of hope: An increasing number of media outlets are working to shift the narrative by reporting on the structural and systemic racism at the root of police violence; health and medical groups have banded together to publicly identify police brutality as a public health issue; and, despite some distorted coverage, the ongoing protests signal an enormous act of solidarity. They offer a powerful, visible reminder of the anguish and indignities that Black Americans have experienced for generations and send a message to our leaders that change is long overdue.
Behind each of these examples of progress is the work of advocates. Publications are improving their reporting in large part because people like you have helped to educate them about the history and legacy of racism. And public health and medical groups have labeled police violence a public health issue after years of strong case-making from within their ranks. The data on the health risks of racism and violence are not new, but change only occurred after people repeatedly demanded it. The lesson here? Persistence pays off. Each time you take a call from a reporter, testify before decision-makers, or even have difficult conversations with your own friends and colleagues about racial and health equity, you are helping to advance social justice.
We know our communication is more effective when we demand solutions and name who is responsible. At all times, and especially in this moment, it is critical that we turn to recommendations created by communities of color, who know their own needs better than anyone. One oft-heard chant in the movement for racial justice is, “We have a duty to fight. We have a duty to win.” Our duty now is to listen and align both our actions and our words with those at the forefront of efforts to eliminate police violence. After all, our language matters to the movement — we have a responsibility to choose our words wisely.