Young, Gifted and Black Coalition

press release:

YGB Honors Mother's Day and the Anniverary of Tony's Death

As we watch the protests in Baltimore and remember Tony Robinson in Madison who was killed 2 months ago, we are reminded of the many mothers who mourn the deaths of their children to police brutality and racial injustice. This Mother's Day weekend YGB will be collaborating with others to take action to remember and demand an end to state violence in our community.

On Saturday, May 9, we will be part of 2 events.

1) 10:00- 12 noon: On the State St steps of the capitol, we will be collaborating with Families for Justice and the family of Tony Robinson for sign making, political education and art as protest. While mothers and supporters gather in Washington, D.C. for the Million Moms March against police violence and racial injustice, we will gather in Madison in a family-friendly action for justice. #blacklivesmatter #justicefortony #millionmomsmarch #mothersforjustice

As Ella Baker, a civil rights activist, said, “Until the killing of black men & black women, black mother's sons and daughters, become as important to the rest of the country as the killing of a white mother's son, we who believe in freedom cannot rest until this happens.”

2) Following the morning action, YGB and others from the morning event as well as the No New Jail Group, will be knocking on doors in DA Ismael Ozanne's neighborhood to put pressure on the DA to honor Tony's life and charge Matt Kenny. It has been 2 months since Tony Robinson was killed, and while we know the whole “Criminal Justice” System is broken, we believe Kenny should be charged for killing Tony Robinson. We will be collecting signatures for the petition calling on the UN to do an independent investigation into his death and into the racial disparities here in Dane County.

While we are still calling for DA Ozanne to bring about charges, we are not hopeful due to the lack of charges in most officer involved shootings across the country. With the recent decision by the DA in Baltimore Ozanne may follow in her foot steps. However, we are continuing to focus on our request for a Dual Track Independent Investigation conducted by the United Nations and Organization of American States. Because local and federal officials have demonstrated the inability, or unwillingness, to protect or bring justice to our communities, the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) and the Organization of American States Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) must conduct the independent investigation on dual tracks. First, the killing of unarmed 19 year old Tony Robinson by Madison police officer Matt Kenny, and second, the gross racial disparities in employment, education, wealth, arrest rats, and incarceration rates in Madison and Dane County.

We'll meet at Sunset Park (300 E. Sunset Ct) at 12:30 PM this Saturday May 9th for a training and then door knocking.

View the petition here: http://iam.colorofchange.org/petitions/a-un-investigation-into-the-killing-of-tony-robinson-and-racial-disparities-in-madison-wi

ALL POWER TO THE PEOPLE