ART THAT INSPIRES US TOWARDS JUSTICE & STRONG ALLIANCES FOR CHANGE
“Nobody’s free until everybody’s free” - Fannie Lou Hamer
“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere” - Dr. Martin Luther King Jr
MAY 2021 ISSUE
“Time for a Change: In Memory of George Floyd”
I wanted to express my appreciation for the countless murals, evident throughout the world, dedicated to, and depicting the essence of, the human dignity of the now heroic figure of George Floyd. I sought, in particular, to symbolize the common theme among all of them. Namely, the outpouring of love and lament by so many artists, in so many countries. If, indeed, the time for change is now, art is indispensable for mobilizing it.
By Tania L. Abramson, MFA
A YEAR AGO
Today I Mattered
by Melinda d'Ouville
Struggling to work through my emotions regarding the soulless murders permitted, if not endorsed, by our country's justice system, I realized today that I, like many others, have been holding my breath. Along with sanctioned murders and centuries of apathy from those with the power to shift this system, April 20, 2021 is an exhale. I'm a white woman. I'll never be able to stand in the shoes of a person of color, particularly a black person. But I recognize murder when I see it. It deeply scars me. I question those who are now saying "be patient", this has been going on for centuries and it will take time to make the needed changes. How much time, I ask? It took 9 minutes and 29 seconds to murder George Floyd, that's all it should take to correct injustice and instill accountability. Arrogance and apathy in our power structures must be erased. For me George Floyd was taken by these structures and the contact point where Mr. Floyd's neck and Mr. Chauvin's knee meet may well birth a stand for rectitude.
Melinda d'Ouville
A racist joke by my father is a powerful memory. It was the 1950’s, I was in fifth grade. The punchline included a bus, a cliff, and dead people. I started to laugh, because it was my dad. I stopped. The joke wasn’t funny. Years of friendships, acquaintances and travel have given me an evolving perspective of our shared humanity. Through pieces of art I work to share my journey of appreciation for our humanness.
NOW - GUILTY OF ALL CHARGES!
People celebrate as the verdict is announced in the trial of former police officer Derek Chauvin outside the Hennepin County Government Center in Minneapolis.
Chandan Khanna / AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES
“Now I can breathe”
Response of an indigenous woman outside the courthouse
after the verdict was announced - Seen on MSNBC
A celebration at George Floyd Square in Minneapolis after Derek Chauvin, a former police officer, was found guilty of murder on Tuesday. Victor J. Blue for The New York Times
END ALL RACIAL VIOLENCE
COME TOGETHER TO END IT NOW
Adam Toledo is pictured with his cousin's 7-year-old daughter Kaylah's dolls, Jan. 1, 2021. Adam would play with them to make Kaylah laugh, his cousin told ABC News
Daunte Wright with son
from NYTimes article
According to ABC News, Adam Toledo, 13, was shot by Chicago police with his hands up after a chase. ‘ Body camera footage shows an officer yell at him to stop, show his hands and "drop it," then shoot the teen in the chest after he puts both of his hands up.’
According to NBC News, Daunte Wright, 20, who died Sunday after being shot by police in a suburb of Minneapolis, was driving an SUV with expired license plates, and he also ran afoul of a Minnesota law that prohibits motorists from hanging air fresheners and other items from their rearview mirrors.
"When will this tyranny against the black woman,
and the black man end?"
From Wendy McBurney’s poem in this issue, Ambush of a black woman.
BLACK LIVES MATTER
INDIGENOUS LIVES MATTER
ASIAN & PACIFIC ISLAND LIVES MATTER
WHO GOVERNS MATTERS
ART MATTERS
SUBSCRIBE FOR MONTHLY NOTICES
Email us at breatheeveryone@gmail.com to subscribe for monthly updates with the word SUBSCRIBE and your first and last name. We respect your privacy and will only use this list for BREATHE updates.