RYSE Center provided a statement this morning about the peaceful - TopicsExpress

RYSE Center provided a statement this morning about the peaceful demonstration the group led last Tuesday. -------------------------------- OFFICIAL STATEMENT from the RYSE Center Regarding Tuesdays Action: Tuesday’s action in Richmond was a lifeline for our community to take a breath together as we’ve been suffocating under the immense profiling, targeting and police violence towards young people of color. Aware of the protests happening around the country, we also knew Richmond’s voice needed to be heard, and more importantly, that the message needed to be driven by those most targeted by violence-black and brown youth. Side by side with staff, board and youth from the RYSE Center, were residents, nonprofit leaders, parents, teachers, academics, and elected officials. Together we stood in solidarity for 4 and a half hours -- the time that Michael Brown’s body laid uncovered on the cement in Ferguson. What made this action unprecendented was that the top brass of the Richmond Police Department stood with us. When a young person offered Chief Magnus a “Black Lives Matter” sign he didn’t turn away and that symbolic action sent shockwaves across the nation. Only in Richmond. What happened on Tuesday is what RYSE has been working on for the past decade - a venue where healthy struggle can happen across vastly different power dynamics. RYSE believes risk is where the transformation towards justice is revealed and cultivated. And during those almost five hours many, if not most of us, stood grappling with discomfort and uncertainty, along with genuine camaraderie and care amongst each other. We also know that the discomfort we held for almost five hours pales in comparison to the injustice young people navigate daily, their hands are up ALL the time, in fear that a system meant to protect them targets them. Since the action, the positive responses have been overwhelming. The reactions have everything to do with RYSE’s intention to create a space that allowed the Chief to make a statement, even while knowing there is a lot of work still to be done in building trust amongst young people and the Richmond Police Department. The moment also marked an opportunity to work as a larger community towards the policies and the culture shift necessary to ensure youth of color know their lives matter.