We, at the Charlotte Women’s Movement, are outraged and deeply saddened by the senseless death of yet another Black man. George Floyd’s death in Minneapolis is another reminder that the system doesn’t work for everybody. Whether deaths occur at the hands of rogue police or “concerned neighbors”, it is clear parts of our system are broken. We must ALL work to systematically dismantle a long-standing system that continues to be built on the backs of Black and Brown people.
We are acutely aware of the need for ALL of us to raise our voices to honor the lives of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery. And we want to bring to light conditions and challenges in our local community. Our goal continues to be to work together to make change.
In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, we want to be sure that all members of our community can be heard safely and remain healthy. While we are hesitant to promote mass gatherings of protest during this pandemic, we understand the anger and outrage that many of us are feeling. We at CWM are in strong support of freedom of speech. Our group was founded on that notion. We believe the right to protest is a deeply personal one. We encourage anyone taking to the streets to protest to take caution with regards to safety for themselves and others by wearing masks and observing social distancing.
For those not taking to the streets, we encourage you to reach out via phone call, email, social media or letter to your local city or county representatives, your state senators and representatives, your US representatives and senators, and yes, the White House.
If there has ever been a time to let our politicians know we are watching them and demand leadership, it is NOW!
NOW is the time to let our leaders know we see them and we demand leadership. Our power is in our vote, and we join the many other organizations that continue to fight for fair elections. We believe we can make change through electing politicians who lead our country in an inclusive direction. #UseYourPower by becoming engaged:
- Filling out CENSUS 2020 so our communities are better represented. We ALL count!
- Check that your voter registration is current
- Order an absentee ballot for the November election
- VOTE!
We encourage everyone to share words from their heart, and challenge ALL of our leaders to enact legislative and policy reforms to ensure equal treatment for all who live in our communities.
If you’d like to reach out to your elected representatives these links can help you find contact information:
Charlotte City Council: Click here
Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners: Click here
NC State House of Representatives: Click here
NC State Senate: Click here
US House of Representatives: Click here
US Senate: Click here
White House Contact form: Click here
They ALL need to hear from us.
Way to go! Wish we could do more right now, but we can’t afford a health care relapse. Supporting free elections and protesting with care are sensible and hopeful. Thank you for being reasonable about the public’s health.
What is the position of this group towards the Republican National Convention in August?
Yes, we must VOTE in all our elections. Our elected officials must protect and expand voting rights. We may be staying at home but they can hear our voices by phone and mail. There are 7 ‘”fair redistricting bills” being held up in NC legislative committees. The state courts have forced a redraw of the maps that predetermine our election results. This ruling only applies to the 2020 elections. Let your NC legislators know these ‘”fair redistricting bills” need to be heard in both the houses.