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Showing Up for Racial Justice

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Showing Up for Racial Justice
Formation2009 (2009)
Websitesurj.org

Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ) is a network organizing white people for racial and economic justice. SURJ was founded in 2009 amidst the backlash to election of Barack Obama as the first black President of the United States. SURJ seeks to bring more white people into racial justice work and to find mutual interest with movements led by Blacks and persons of color.

History

Black activists and intellectuals from Malcolm X to Toni Morrison have argued for decades that white people bear the primary responsibility for rooting out racism. Carla F. Wallace, SURJ co-founder, said the aim is to engage white people in a larger racial justice movement led by people of color.[1] She asks "what is our mutual interest in working for a different society? ... We must move from it being something that we do when we have time on a Saturday to something that we do because our lives depend on it."[2]

Tactics

One SURJ tactic is deep canvassing, using the power of personal narrative in lengthy non-judgmental conversations to build white support for racial justice.[1] SURJ focuses on “calling in” White people to support racial justice grounded in the vision of Black leaders.[3] SURJ says it’s White people’s responsibility to do anti-racism work and not rely on persons of color to teach White people about racism.[4]

Criminal justice reform

Following the George Floyd protests against police brutality, some have had challenging conversations with family members. SURJ developed a toolkit for discussing protests and police violence.[5] Anger towards the criminal justice system can be used to bring about change if people speak up.[6] Other actions include electoral work, where sheriffs can address reforms in the criminal legal system and mass incarceration.[7] SURJ also works to end cash bail.[8]

Police accountability

SURJ called for police accountability and strengthened oversight in the San Diego County jail.[9] SURJ was part of the Citizens for a Safer Cleveland coalition,[10] whose police accountability initiative created a new Community Policing Commission composed of 13 civilians with final decision-making power regarding discipline in police misconduct cases.[11] In the debate over license plate readers, Melissa Cherry from Nashville chapter of SURJ said she was suspicious of private funding for law enforcement with discussion of defunding the police.[12]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Scharfenberg, David (June 12, 2020). "Here come the white people — a new antiracist movement takes flight - The Boston Globe". BostonGlobe.com. Retrieved 2022-01-09.
  2. ^ "Dear white people: Being an ally isn't always what you think". Associated Press News. June 13, 2020.
  3. ^ "One group's unique approach to putting words into action in the fight for racial justice, equality". WRBL. 2020-07-06. Retrieved 2022-01-09.
  4. ^ "Your big questions about race, answered". www.cnn.com. Retrieved 2022-01-09.
  5. ^ Halpert, Madeline (2020-06-13). "Talking With Relatives Across the Political Divide". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-01-09.
  6. ^ Archie, Ayana. "Kyle Rittenhouse verdict sparks Louisville protests. Here's what they said". The Courier-Journal. Retrieved 2022-01-09.
  7. ^ Lipsitz, Raina (2021-10-19). "The Erie County Sheriff's Race Is a Matter of Life or Death". The New Republic. ISSN 0028-6583. Retrieved 2022-01-09.
  8. ^ "Racial justice group canvasses community in hopes of removing cash bail from Louisville". whas11.com. October 10, 2021. Retrieved 2022-02-12.
  9. ^ "Voices on San Diego County jails audit". San Diego Union-Tribune. 2022-02-04. Retrieved 2022-02-12.
  10. ^ Fields, Cameron (2021-04-20). "Citizens for a Safer Cleveland coalition aims to address police accountability". cleveland.com. Retrieved 2022-02-12.
  11. ^ "Yes on Issue 24, which would provide community police oversight, passes". WEWS. 2021-11-03. Retrieved 2022-02-12.
  12. ^ Wadhwani, Anita (2021-04-20). "Debate over license plate readers returns to Metro Council Tuesday". Tennessee Lookout. Retrieved 2022-02-12.
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