BLACK LIVES MATTER DC RAPID RESPONSE
What is police terror?
While no universal definition of terrorism exists, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) defines terrorism as the unlawful use of force and violence against persons or property to intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population, or any segment thereof, in furtherance of political or social objectives. Police terrorism is not only the actual acts of killing by police but also the fear and anxiety it causes amongst our community.
For Black communities within the United States of America, the use of force and violence is seldom, if ever, deemed “unlawful,” as attested to by the lack of accountability and punishment for police officers when they kill. This use of force and violence, which is in furtherance of the political and social objective of containment of Black and Brown peoples, is in actuality, state-sanctioned violence (government): violence that is on behalf of, serves the interest of, and/or is conducted by the state.
What do first responders do?
We are the First Responders team of Black Lives Matter DC and we support families impacted by various forms of police terror and community violence. After an incident, we connect impacted families and community members with resources, mutual aids support, and legal referrals.
Why do we need First Responders for police violence, terror, and murder?
First Responders are needed in our communities when the police are called because:
No resources currently exist for communities and families when the police commit these murders
Police NEVER tell the truth about their actions
Trauma to the community by the actions of the police rarely gets addressed
The presence of First Responders puts the police on notice that they can no longer get away with business as usual — that business being the killing of our loved ones with no accountability
The presence of First Responders empowers our communities by giving them a model to emulate, a formation they can join, and an opportunity to build actual power
First Responders are able to secure a modicum of justice for the families of police murder victims
Why do we need First Responders when our loved ones lose their lives in the streets?
First Responders are needed in our communities when someone in our community loses their life because:
Very few, if any resources currently exist for communities and families that are community led and do not involve the police.
Police do not prevent or deter violence, they are purely reactionary and punitive.
Police do not keep us safe. WE KEEP US SAFE.
Trauma to the whole community impacted by loss of life to community violence rarely gets addressed, is generational, and is hard to access
The presence of First Responders reaffirms the power of community to build strength through for coming together to support families of loved ones who are lost
Building community builds the power needed to demand the things that create real, sustainable safety such as safe and affordable housing, ending the food apartheid, ensuring high quality maternal health systems, schools dedicated to the health, safety and wellbeing of the whole child and their families, real
The presence of First Responders empowers our communities by giving them a model to emulate, a formation they can join, and an opportunity to build actual power
*Our First Responders team is modeled after the Anti Police-Terror Project in Oakland, CA. We are greatful for the tremendous work APTP does and for the experience and wisdom they have provided. https://www.antipoliceterrorproject.org/resources