To ask how you are supporting BLM?

[JFSB]

I have asked this question on a few threads now but I've yet to get an answer so here I am.

AIBU to question those who claim to support the BLM movement but instead spend more time discussing protesting at this time than actually supporting the movement?

A virtual protest to took place on Sunday evening as part of the Black Lives Matter movement, on the fifth anniversary of the burial of Sheku Bayoh.
The move came after Mr Bayoh’s sister, Kadi Johnston, who is a staff nurse, urged people to protest digitally due to the pandemic.

However getting the news of this virtual protest out there was difficult because instead it seems many people would rather argue about what went wrong at the protests in public that did take place.

I keep reading you support the cause and peaceful protests but what are you actually doing to support the cause and peaceful protest?

//www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/sister-death-custody-victim-sheku-22139467

For those who missed it

[Dyrne]

I completely missed the Virtual protest.

It’s odd as I was researching quite a lot over the weekend and even asked around social media specifically how we can show support remotely.

I of course am looking into how much of that is because of my insular friend group etc etc; but I think it must have been buried by the debate over the protests which were organised for in-person attendance.

[Microwaveoven]

I am helping by not being a racist twat.

[GinDaddyRedux]

As a mixed race (black Afro-Caribbean, white) person....look, the fervent, hectoring, preachy nature of this stuff just makes my eyes roll. I can't be doing with it. People who insist "you need to be doing something" - nah, this is Britain. People don't respond well to that tone. You are doing more damage than good.

"what are you actually doing to support the cause and peaceful protest?"

I volunteer with one of my best uni mates' charities that deals with helping to give young black boys a real focus beyond the road and the economy of the road. Have done pre the horrendous George Floyd incident.

I don't want to be involved in some of these protests because they are not, and will not, change anything. They are unfocused and largely virtue-signalling for people that have misspent or unused energy during lockdown and now want to "belong".

RIP George Floyd, RIP Smiley Culture, RIP Dalian Atkinson. I have been on petitions to leaders calling for justice for all of these men. I continue to support organisations who are campaigning for those men.

[GinDaddyRedux]

*justice for these men.

[londonscalling]

If nothing else, people need to be calling out racism and reporting any on social media! I've deleted numerous friends again on FB this week for "subtle" racism!

[Soubriquet]

I’m pulling up anyone, friends included, who say shit like “but all lives matter” “where was the outcry when lee rigby was killed” “he was a criminal anyway”

That’s what I’m doing

[GreytExpectations]

@Microwaveoven

I am helping by not being a racist twat.

Not being racist isn't actually helping as it's just passive. In order to help you need to be anti-racist. There is a difference.

[JFSB]

@GinDaddyRedux Maybe you missed it AIBU to question those who claim to support the BLM movement but instead spend more time discussing protesting at this time than actually supporting the movement?

[user8558]

What on earth do you want me to do?

Seriously.

The lack of any manifesto is a massive problem.

[GinDaddyRedux]

Nah I didn't miss it.

I saw this: "I keep reading you support the cause and peaceful protests but what are you actually doing to support the cause and peaceful protest?" and I think it's fair to say I and others do support the cause.

Perhaps some people aren't supporting your particular cause regarding Sheku Bayoh, but may I politely and respectfully suggest that in this instance, you find a better way of cutting through with your story and your PR, because hectoring people to ask them whether they're "supporting the cause" won't automatically translate into them supporting your cause.

RIP to all black people who have suffered unjust deaths due to institutionalised racism.

[GreytExpectations]

@user8558

What on earth do you want me to do?

Seriously.

The lack of any manifesto is a massive problem.

Such a typical, ignorant "it's not my problem" reply. If you actually wanted to help, you'd educate yourself.

[Lifeisgenerallyfun]

By not joining any stupid protests where the actual
Message is obscured by civil disobedience and spreading diseases.

By treating everyone in my life according to my own moral compass.

By not jumping on a #bandwagon and living my life based on love not a popularity contest played out on social media.

[WaitingForSeptember]

As a mixed race (black Afro-Caribbean, white) person....look, the fervent, hectoring, preachy nature of this stuff just makes my eyes roll. I can't be doing with it. People who insist "you need to be doing something" - nah, this is Britain. People don't respond well to that tone. You are doing more damage than good.
I don't want to be involved in some of these protests because they are not, and will not, change anything. They are unfocused and largely virtue-signalling for people that have misspent or unused energy during lockdown and now want to "belong"

Well said

[022828MAN]

Educating myself, family, children. Having open discussions with friends, watching some documentaries and reading novels centering the experiences of POC.
Although most of these things I was doing in my everyday life anyway. I don't feel a have a great amount of power at the moment whilst everyone is isolating, but I would carry on challenging blatant racism as well as negative stereotypes of and when I see them.
I do believe the vast majority of people do these things anyway and I dislike the finger pointing at those that 'aren't quite doing enough'. With my friends and family I see everyone doing their best to be decent human beings. Some people will have more power to change things than others. For some people being 'not racist' is enough and that shouldn't be something to now be ashamed of.

[Grasspigeons]

So i am a campaigner for SEN. I meet regularly with MPs, help on advce lines, attend focus groups etc. With the focus on BLM i have looked at what i am doing in this area. i have kept with my "area of expertise" but have emphasised the impact race has on SEN education provision and access to healthcare.
So for the record black children are much less likely to receive a diagnosis and an afro carribean child with SEN is 168 times more likely to be excluded. The education select committee met to discuss these issues prior to lockdown. I will be writing to the chair to ask what is happening to these children.

[CuriousaboutSamphire]

These days? Not much, other than continuing not to be a racist twat. And working part time in a local community charity and food bank.

Previously? Worked full time in a community charity offering free advice and support to people with a wide variety of socio economic issues. Clients were initially Afro Caribbean. Then the demographic changed to mainly Pakistani. Then to Eastern European. These days it's a racially diverse area, still has a variety of socio economic issues.

But I won't march in these days of pandemic, injure people or horses, destroy property, etc.

[JFSB]

I don't believe I ever referred to people supporting only the Justice for Sheku Bayoh campaign, this was a virtual protest for BLM and not just Sheku as per the links.

The speakers involved felt it is their duty to ensure that what is happening now is not just a moment of anger and solidarity. Rather their duty is to make this a beginning of an examination of our response to racism and our commitment to stamp it out.

RIP to all black people who have suffered unjust deaths due to institutionalised racism Absolutely

[GreytExpectations]

By not jumping on a #bandwagon

So fighting for human rights is just a bandwagon and you are discouraging people from joining that cause, really? @Lifeisgenerallyfun I'm sure the people who have been oppressed for the last 400 years really appreciate your "advice"

[LastTrainEast]

Maybe it would work better OP if you interviewed people individually to determine if they qualify?

[SharedLife]

Standing order for a monthly donation. £5 per month is the best I can do financially right now.

[JFSB]

I am genuinely pleased to see so many examples of support and feel like I've been given some new ideas for how I can do more.

[SharedLife]

@GinDaddyRedux I'm gutted to read about Smiley Culture. My dad had one of his LPs and I listened to it a lot when I was a kid. 'Police Officer ' taught me about black men being stopped by the police. I didn't know how he'd died' just wikipediad it. Stabbed himself in the heart during a police raid. The coroners report not made available to the family let alone the public. Awful.

[Coronabored]

Nothing