Black Lives Matter Greater New York Rally in Times Square

Times Square, NYC- Jun 7, 2020

Thousands gathered on Sunday afternoon filling the iconic Times Square to support a Blueprint for change presented by Black Lives Matter New York (BLMNY). This Blueprint calls for members of New York State legislators and members of Congress to bring an end to the systemic racism against the black community in the United States.
As the country continues to grieve over the death of George Floyd, the large group gathered peacefully at 42nd Second Street and Broadway at the base of Times Square for nearly three hours to listen to speakers calling out for social justice. Among the speakers was Chairperson of BLMNY, Hawk Newsome, who at one point rallied the crowd's cheers and support, stating, “We stand at a critical point in history, and what I say to you all is progress or perish. Give black people their rights, or we will burn this country to ashes.”
The Sunday rally’s purpose went beyond a protest of police violence against blacks, and people of color, it was to present the Blueprint, a policy framework to reform failed statutes and regulations. According to a statement provided by BLMNY, the Blueprint is: “Drafted as a local, state and federal policy framework to advance solutions to build strong Black communities, and to end the institutional racism and (the) militarized police state responsible for the unjustified killing of Black persons.”
The statement continued to outline the details of the Blueprint:

• Require police to provide immediate assistance to persons in custody in medical distress – I Can't Breathe Act
• Eliminate qualified immunity protection for law enforcement officers
• Authorize prosecution of officers who knowingly file false reports – The Blue Wall Act
• Disband police unions to reduce wrongful protection of bad cops
• Disarm and defund police departments to build stronger, safer communities
• Create a Special Prosecutor for police misconduct
• Repeal New York's 50-A statute to increase police transparency and accountability
• Ban cruel and unusual punishment of incarcerated persons, including solitary confinement
• Enact the Judith Clark Law to release aging people in prison who pose little risk
• Support education reforms that are community leaders and provide critical curriculum
• Enact housing reform policies to protect access to affordable housing
• Call for reparations for descendants of enslaved during colonization
• Provide right to counsel for victims of police brutality
• Implement fair and timely parole for incarcerated persons
• Create the Child and Family Equity Freedom Policy

Chivona Renee Newsome, BLMNY co-founder and Congressional candidate stated, "This Blueprint is a call to action for those we've elected to office to serve us. Laws are created to provide structure for our society and institutions, but they must be changed when they no longer serve the welfare of the governed. For far too long our institutions have protected the abusers and victimized the innocent while trapping people of color in the quicksand of racism, poverty, and despair.”
She added, "Today marks a new beginning, a beginning that mirrors the evolution of our great country's first days. The protests occurring here today in New York and around the world are symbols of our hope, power, and belief in a better and more just society.
"As our nation's founding father Patrick Henry so famously proclaimed as he fought against the slavery of British rule, 'Give me liberty or give me death!' We've seen enough death. We now fan the flames of revolution and march onward to liberty."

Photos and article by Nadezda Tavodova Tezgor