April 20th marked 3 months that United Against Systemic Racism has been around. We've had many rough times, but we are becoming stronger as a team as time continues. Our origins began with a meeting where the original organizer didn't arrive. We all decided that we want to have a structured and focused organization dedicated to addressing racism in the Seattle Area. We started with over a dozen people in the very beginning. Over the next couple weeks our numbers decreased as people went on to other projects. The dedicated eight of us did hard work creating a Collective Vision, Principles, and a basic plan before we even did our first action.
Time would pass and our membership would decrease to three people; all of whom are part of the original people in the pic above and are co-founders.
We've managed to have five successful protests that have helped to spread the word about how important centering black and trans*issues are to fighting for liberation. Our latest was #BlackTransLivesMatter: #BlackShutdown Round 2. Even though police managed to push us out of the streets, we did manage to shut down Westlake Center and stores surrounded them. They locked their doors and refused to let people come in or leave.
Our next steps now to start making demands based on the needs of people of color in Seattle. Efforts are also going to be made this spring and summer to increase our membership. We are going to reach out to the groups of people who are usually cast out of mainstream organization. People who are black women, trans*, homeless, disabled, queer, sex workers, and other groups are the people we really feel need to be at the forefront of anti-racists organizing. That is why we are constantly making efforts to reach these groups, and our membership partially represents these groups as well. We know we can win and succeed and we will. All we need is a plan and dedication.
We've managed to have five successful protests that have helped to spread the word about how important centering black and trans*issues are to fighting for liberation. Our latest was #BlackTransLivesMatter: #BlackShutdown Round 2. Even though police managed to push us out of the streets, we did manage to shut down Westlake Center and stores surrounded them. They locked their doors and refused to let people come in or leave.
Our next steps now to start making demands based on the needs of people of color in Seattle. Efforts are also going to be made this spring and summer to increase our membership. We are going to reach out to the groups of people who are usually cast out of mainstream organization. People who are black women, trans*, homeless, disabled, queer, sex workers, and other groups are the people we really feel need to be at the forefront of anti-racists organizing. That is why we are constantly making efforts to reach these groups, and our membership partially represents these groups as well. We know we can win and succeed and we will. All we need is a plan and dedication.