Via https://feminisminindia.com/
Digital Activism
Like most things, digital activism has a good side and a bad side. On the good side, spreading information about the injustices that are happening on the other side of the world is has never been easier.
With one tweet, Facebook post, or hashtag you can be exposed to the struggles of another and show your support. And with a global pandemic changing the shape of life as we know it, digital activism has enabled the immunocompromised and cautious to start and sign petitions, participate in text banks, and create infographics that will educate their fanbase.
The dangerous side of digital activism comes when one uses the one tweet they were exposed to, to act as the research that should ensue after learning about a particular event. It is healthy to engage in some discourse about your beliefs online—sure, but it is ignorant to think that the one viewpoint you read is the end all be all.
As we jump into these next few topics, please take the time to click on the links provided and expose yourself to even more information regarding the topics highlighted.
#SARSMustEnd #EndSARS #EndPoliceBrutality
Image Via Feminist Coalition
What is SARS in Nigeria?
SARS stands for: Special Anti-Robbery Squad
This is a federal police unit that was formed in 1992 to help combat violent crime in Nigeria, specifically, armed robbery and kidnapping, and then evolving into fraud and cultism, and hate crimes.
The contributing factor to SARS effectiveness is their ability to use the element of surprise. Their lack of uniform and “official presence” on the scene is their secret weapon.
What is the issue?
Somewhere down the line, the Nigerian federal police unit that was supposed to be protecting people, stopping robberies and criminal activity, began committing those same crimes against civilians. Searching phones with out warrants, profiling youth with certain hairstyles or tattoos, extortion, hangings, mock executions, and beatings—Amnesty International reported at least 82 cases of torture, ill treatment and extra-judicial execution by SARS towards Nigerian citizens/civilians between January 2017 and May 2020.
For the last two weeks, the people have taken to the streets to protest this mistreatment.
Nigerian artist, Omah Lay, explained the situation to rapper Saweetie on IG Live:
“The SARS are killing innocent Nigerian youths who are being profiled for our hairstyle, for tattoos, for having an i-phone, for having it locked up, for having a car.
We’re being killed.
We are being harassed. Women are are being harassed. Women are being raped, um—and nobody’s doing anything about it, the government isn’t doing anything about it. And now the people are talking, the people are trying to speak up for themselves.”
Image Via: https://guardian.ng/
Wasn’t SARS disbanded on October 11th?
Technically, SARS was dismantled 2 weeks ago, but it was all lip service. Days later the unit was renamed SWAT. This is why the people of Nigeria are calling out the fraudulent behavior of the government.
SARS has been “disbanded” a few times (3 to 5) over the last few years. We can specifically point to the reforms in early 2015 and disbandment in August 2018.
Yet here we are in 2020, and the world is now watching.
**In this article Aljazeera breaks down the pay structure of public servants in Nigeria and why the low amounts lead to extortion and theft by the SARS officers. This is also why SARS will never really be disbanded. As long as the government refuses to increase their wages, any formation of this unit will result in the continuation of behavior against citizens, behavior that does not protect them, but robs them. And oddly enough, nothing will be able to keep the innocent citizens of Nigeria safe, certainly not fame, click here for the story of Remo Stars FC player Kazeem who was murdered by SARS while visiting his father—getting gas for his car.
Slain Remo Stars: Kazeem Tiamiyu
What happened in Lekki, Lagos?
After Lagos Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu imposed a 24 hour curfew Tuesday evening, reports are saying riot police and Nigerian soldiers were deployed on peaceful protesters.
These peaceful protests were taking place to protest the SARS unit and the information circulating that the unit was still functioning despite the name change and the promise of retraining and reforms. The PEACEFUL protest consisted of sitting, singing the Nigerian national anthem, and prayer.
Then, upon cutting the lights of the Lekki tollgates, the troops opened fire into the crowd of civilians killing and injuring many. Ambulances were unable to get to the wounded due to barricades created around the protestors by the soldiers.
Unfortunately, the Lagos government has denied any fatalities from Tuesday’s massacre. However, families and friends of the victims have come forward via social media to mourn their losses from Tuesday night. The number of lives lost is unknown at this time.
What are the demands?
These protests are organized, peaceful, and are complete with real demands. Including:
1. The Immediate release of all arrested protesters.
2. Justice for all deceased victims of police brutality and appropriate compensation for their families.
3. Setting up an independent body to oversee the investigation and prosecution of all reports of police misconduct (within 10 days).
4. Psychological evaluation and retraining (to be confirmed by an independent body) of all disbanded SARS officers before they can be redeployed.
5.Increase police salary so that they are adequately compensated for protecting lives and property of citizens.**
We are dealing with police brutality here in America, why should we be sympathetic, empathetic, and activated?
With raw emotions bubbling up, so many of us took to the streets after the murder of George Floyd this past summer. So many of us signed petitions for Breonna Taylor and the ban of no knock warrants. And through the highs and low lows that have ensued from those cases, we’ve learned something very important: Until all of us are free, none of us are free, and humanity should not have a price.
A lot of people think that because the hiphop culture borrows so much from African culture directly, that we should help them. But I don’t think that is the case. We shouldn’t help them because we borrow from them and enjoy their takes on culture.
We should help them and amplify their message because we are them. We intimately know the despair and hopelessness that they are feeling, due to our own mistreatment by the police. We should step in because we are all fighting for the same thing, the right to breathe.
How can we help?
Share this newsletter. Amplifying the message #EndSARS is one thing, but amplifying the research is another. Educate those who want to be educated.
Donate! If you have anything to spare, donate a few dollars (appreciated in bitcoin) to go directly to the young organizers on the ground. The money would go towards raincoats, water, and supplies to those on the frontline.
If you are a lawyer you can even donate your time. The Feminist Coalition is looking for legal aid as well.
Go here to donate directly: feministcoalition2020.com
You Should Watch…
Image Via: Sportingnews.com
CJ McCollum, Donovan Mitchell, and Tobias Harris sat down with Kamala Harris in what looks to be like an airplane hanger.
It was really cool to see these younger men— a generation or so removed from Lebron, sit with the VP candidate and talk about the Biden/Harris plan and actionable items that they can push to be involved after the election.
Hearing about their education plans really stuck out to me. Look out for the explanations on:
Title 1 school funding
Addressing trauma in schools by providing more counselors
Representation in teaching. (Question: when did you have your first teacher of the same race? I was in the 8th grade—and he wasn’t my teacher…he led my homeroom.)
If you missed it, President Obama held an amazing drive in rally for Biden in PA, yesterday. Click here to see it!
The Final Debate
Image Via: Washington Post
First thing’s first, we have a Black woman from Philly moderating the debate tonight. And I am hype. There has been a lot of talk about the Black agenda and why we are not spoken to on the big platform. This may be our chance. Granted, it probably won’t be, but could you imagine if Kristen flipped the script on each topic?
Tonight at 9pm EST we are headed to Nashville, TN! Who else is ready to see a Black woman get these candidates together? Click here to stream the debate live if you do not have cable you can pick your favorite news outlet and watch it FREE!
Image via: NBC News shows
Kristen Welker, a Philadelphia bred NBC News White House correspondent, co-anchor of “Weekend Today,” and the first Black woman since 1992 to moderate a debate alone; is going to get us some real answers to the questions that are pressing each and every American citizen.
The debate will center around these topics below:
Fighting Covid-19
American Families
Race in America *I am curious to see if Trump will talk about his Platinum Plan during this debate. When the Platinum Plan was first introduced, a major criticism was its connection to Ice Cube’s Contract With Black America. Trump’s administrations modified its Platinum Plan after consulting Cube and the CWBA.
Climate Change: Expect to hit on The Green New Deal and Fracking.
National Security and Leadership: Here we are expecting a conversation about our two adversaries China and Russia. Which, after yesterday’s FBI presser might be fitting. However, I am hoping that with a Black moderator we can do a spin on national security and include domestic threats/terrorism issues here in the United States. The white supremacist groups like The Proud Boys or Antifa could be a great subtopic for that question.
>>ICYMI, yesterday the FBI is reported that Iran and Russia are tampering in our election process. Allegedly the two countries have hacked our databases and stolen registered voters information. However, it is important to note, any reports of an unfair election could lead to some sort of weird do-over Supreme Court ruling in favor of Trump.
Now, if you remember the first Presidential Debate aka “the shit show” consisted of the candidates talking over each other, interrupting their opponents major points, and taking up time. It was a joke.
Check out The Commission on Presidential Debates and the major rule change that will change the course of tonight’s event, press release to follow:
"The only candidate whose microphone will be open during these two-minute periods is the candidate who has the floor under the rules."
I’ll be back in your inboxes tomorrow, fact checking the final presidential debate. But if you want to hear from me before then, head over to my IG @chaystyle. I think I might do a recap of the shenanigans TONIGHT and I definitely want to hear from you!