by Alexander Schell
a writer, essayist, and poet from Brooklyn, New York who is currently attending the University of New Paltz for a degree in Creative Writing. His work has previously been featured in publications such as The Long Island Literary Journal and Typehouse Magazine.
Written in response to the recent protests at the Barclays Center.
Art has the power to connect us, teach us, and heal us. Quaranzine believes that artists are at the forefront of social change.
We love our community and the artists we have the privilege of working alongside.
Now is the time to use your voices and power to enact change.
In particular, please make sure to support creatives of color.
Methods to help the Black Lives Matter movement
The expansion of police authority is inconsistent with community empowerment, social justice—even public safety. Do your part to help defund police, and learn why it is necessary.
Here are steps to help. Thank you to @wenevernever for your insight and research.
Find your Council member:
Council.nyc.gov
Financial Division of NYCC
(212)-788-6921
Save the number and call/email once a day.
On your calls, ask for our council members and representatives to call an emergency council meeting & deny the Mayor's proposed budget. Redirect money away from NYPD into social service programs. Police are being paid overtime for the current protests.
Sample email script:
It is CRUCIAL that you edit these scripts to include specific facts + data - where to take from, and where to give to.
Visit budget.council.nyc, @changethenypd, and joincampaignzero.org before sending your emails.
My name is [x] and I am a resident of [borough]. Last April, NYC Mayor Bill De Blasio proposed major budget cuts for the Fiscal Year 2021, especially to education and youth programs, while refusing to slash the NYPD budget by any significant margin. I urge you to consider pressuring the office of the mayor towards an ethical and equal reallocation of the NYC expense budget, away from NYPD, and towards social services and education programs, effective at the beginning of FY 21, July 1st.
I am emailing to ask for an emergency council meeting among city officials regarding this matter. Governor Cuomo has doubled NYPD presence effective tonight. I am asking that city officials lobby the same amount of attention and effort towards finding sustainable, long term change.
Thank you.
[x]
June [x], 2020
Melanie Hartzog, NYC Budget Director
https://www1.nyc.gov/site/omb/contact/send-a-message-to-budget-director.page
Call: (212)-788-5800
Daniel Dromm, Chair of Committee on Finance
Twitter @Dromm25
ddromm@council.nyc.gov
Donovan Richards, Public Safety Chair
Twitter @DRichards13
drichards@council.nyc.gov
Jumaane D. Williams, NYC Public Advocate
Twitter: @JumaaneWilliams
jwilliams@council.nyc.gov
Scott Stringer, NY Comptroller
(212)-669-3916
action@comptroller.nyc.gov
Communities United for Police Reform @changethenypd
www.changethenypd.org/NYCBudgetJustice
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Please continue to educate yourself. Below is a free Ebook that discusses the tainted origins of modern policing as a tool for social control.
The End of Policing:
Free Ebook
https://www.versobooks.com/books/2426-the-end-of-policing
(click the tab “Ebook”)
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Repeal 50-a
50-a is a NYS statute routinely used to shield police misconduct and failed police disciplinary processes from public view.
Visit brooklynnaacp.org to learn more, and tell your Senator and Assemblymember to vote to support the full repeal of 50-a.
Visual artist Ashleigh Alexandria shows her self-camouflage body paint process
with video art project "Chameleon" , shot by Jean-Andre Antoine for Souldega
At this time, we ask that you spend a few moments to visit these websites in honor of George Floyd and all the black lives that have been affected and lost in the fight for equal rights.
The Bail Project, Inc. is an organization aimed to combat mass incarceration at the front end of the system. They pay bail for people in need, reuniting families and restoring the presumption of innocence. Because bail is returned at the end of a case, donations to The Bail Project™ National Revolving Bail Fund can be recycled and reused to pay bail two to three times per year, maximizing the impact of every dollar. 100% of online donations are used to bring people home.
Campaign Zero takes deliberate action towards policymakers at every level of government to end police violence. They break down a clear 10-point plan to end police brutality, help you find your local rep, and provide an infographic on state-by-state legislation. Campaign Zero is continuously updating the site in response to the ideas and insights of activists, organizers, and concerned citizens.
If you have the means, please consider donating to either or both of these causes.