She talks about the importance of creating a sustainable community that can operate independently of the murderous system that oppresses Black bodies About the importance of always asking who is left out of the systems we create
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He talks about the strangers who dragged him out of harms way when be was shot in the head and helpless How he doesn't know who they are but he loves them. "What is the word for that? Why isn't there a word for that?"
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@MacSmiff calls for unity. For coming together as a community and figuring out a way to resolve disputes that isn't just cancelling and ostracism and schism and fury
"Yes, we need to talk about it! But we cannot just send each other home when we have a mission to accomplish!"
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He reminds everyone of the stakes. That every single prominent activist during the Ferguson riots is dead He wants to be there for his kids. The community had to protect itself" Deafening applause
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A Black activist talks about Audre Lorde's famous words: "the master's tools will not dismantle the masters house" The master's tools, he says, are ostracism and cancellation and punishment The tools of the people are deep listening and resolution "All power to the people!"
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A Black activist named Ya-Ya steps forward to speak He tells us the police injured him in June when they rammed his car That the feds in July blew our his windshield with flash bang and sent shards of glass into his passenger's eye
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He gives thanks to God and speaks an invocation
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Letha Winston takes the mic! Letha is Patrick Kimmons' mother and a tireless advocate for racial justice The crowd is on its feet, cheering
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A man who is clearly having a bad time runs through the crowd and screams, "I am your savior!" He is rapidly and peacefully walked out by two strong gentlemen
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Letha tells us that she's been fighting this fight for two long years, ever since she got the news that the police has executed her son
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"I am an angry mother who is looking for and demanding justice!! He got shot down NINE TIMES in the back!!" She talks about the horror of watching the video of her son getting murdered in the DA's office
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I've heard Letha relate the trauma, the unfathomable grief of finding out her son was dead before I will never understand how she has the strength to talk about it day after day, month after month, year after year
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She talks about how her son's death radicalized her. Made her understand that the police aren't here to protect or serve the people. Or at least, not all the people
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"This is a revolution! This is what a democracy looks like! We have over a thousand people out here. This is a beautiful sight to see! Stay encouraged!"
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Letha talks about Patrick Kimmons the man. A good man, despite all the shit they talk How he was a good father, a good provider. How he took classes at PCC. She raised him right, and he raised his kids right too Patrick Kimmons' young child stands next to his grandmother
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Yes, she says, he was gang affiliated. It doesn't mean he was a bad man This is really important, I think. We throw people's souls away, dismiss them as valueless, for all kinds of bullshit reasons We are all human
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Letha talks about her terror that something will happen to her other child. This, not the cops, is what she fears
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"you don't know what I've been going through. There's so many times I've wanted to give up. Two years, I've wanted to give up." She is crying. Her pain is unfathomable "Well I'm not going anywhere and I'm not giving up!!" The crowd roars
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"retraining is no longer the issue! Reform is not the issue! Fire these motherfuckers one by one and don't rehire them!"
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"I'm gonna keep marching! I'm gonna keep chanting! I'm gonna keep fighting!" The crowd chants it with her. Fired up
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Letha Winston urges the crowd to come out and march with her down MLK every Thursday, 10AM to 2PM For more info: https://instagram.com/justiceforpatrickkimmons?igshid=t5i64i65r1yv …
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"God has a mission for me. He has a purpose for me. I will serve that mission by any means necessary. I will fight for justice in the streets of Portland!"
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Letha is wrapping up. She salutes the people here, the organization that went into making this day possible, the safety precautions. It's a good event! But she cautions against people taking the meaning out of Black Lives Matter and about the demonization of the movement
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Patrick Kimmons' son steps to the mic He says, my dad didn't deserve to be killed He talks about how his dad got him ready for school every day, bought him new shoes, took care of him Kimmons' tiny daughter steps forward and leads the crowd in a chant of "Black Lives Matter!"
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Letha talks about how hard it is to see Patrick Kimmons Jr, who reminds her so much of her son She thanks everyone for coming If you want to donate to Letha, her Cashapp is $lethaloc
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As this last bit unfolded, some asshole kept revving their car engine. It's a bit worrisome
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A Black activist announces that the rest of the evening will be a music performance by local artists. It'll start in about 10 minutes
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The live music has started! Live-streaming is probably the best way to enjoy this: @PhrenologyPhun is out here streaming (along with lots of others!)pic.twitter.com/c5RCqlOoen
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Friends this is gonna be a fun night and a long night, but it's an event better watched than described and I have writing I should work on. I'm going to give myself an early night Solidarity with everyone still out here!
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End of conversation
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