Black Lives of UU endorses #Vision4BlackLives Policy Platform
from the Black Lives of Unitarian Universalism Organizing Collective
Today The Movement for Black Lives released it’s #Vision4BlackLives Policy Platform which we whole heartedly endorse as an Organizing Collective. This truly visionary platform seeks to restore Black humanity and dignity through Black political will and power. It features as set of six demand categories each of which are deeply explored & researched on the policy platform website: https://policy.m4bl.org/
In response to the sustained and increasingly visible violence against Black communities in the U.S. and globally, a collective of more than 50 organizations representing thousands of Black people from across the country have come together with renewed energy and purpose to articulate a common vision and agenda. We are a collective that centers and is rooted in Black communities, but we recognize we have a shared struggle with all oppressed people; collective liberation will be a product of all of our work. — from #Vision4BlackLives Policy Platform
While we certainly see a direct link between this policy platform and our own 7 Principles of Black Lives, the grounding of the #Vision4BlackLives in the goal of affirming Black humanity & dignity also show a clear connection to our Unitarian Universalist Principles.
The Movement for Black Lives is asking individuals and organizations to formally endorse the #Vision4BlackLives. Black Lives of Unitarian Universalism has already taken that step as an Organizing Collective. We encourage all UUs and all UUA entities to read, digest and endorse this critical step towards collective liberation.
#Vision4BlackLives Policy Platform Demands
End the war on Black people
We demand an end to the war against Black people. Since this country’s inception there have been named and unnamed wars on our communities. We demand an end to the criminalization, incarceration, and killing of our people.
Reparations
We demand reparations for past and continuing harms. The government, responsible corporations and other institutions that have profited off of the harm they have inflicted on Black people — from colonialism to slavery through food and housing redlining, mass incarceration, and surveillance — must repair the harm done.
Invest-Divest
We demand investments in the education, health and safety of Black people, instead of investments in the criminalizing, caging, and harming of Black people. We want investments in Black communities, determined by Black communities, and divestment from exploitative forces including prisons, fossil fuels, police, surveillance and exploitative corporations.
Economic Justice
We demand economic justice for all and a reconstruction of the economy to ensure Black communities have collective ownership, not merely access.
Community Control
We demand a world where those most impacted in our communities control the laws, institutions, and policies that are meant to serve us — from our schools to our local budgets, economies, police departments, and our land — while recognizing that the rights and histories of our Indigenous family must also be respected.
Political Power
We demand independent Black political power and Black self-determination in all areas of society. We envision a remaking of the current U.S. political system in order to create a real democracy where Black people and all marginalized people can effectively exercise full political power.
