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	Black Lives Matter by OHCHR, PBS, UN News, agencies   June 2021 (UN News)   UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet has issued an urgent call for States to adopt a “transformative agenda” to uproot systemic racism, as she published a report casting a spotlight on the litany of violations of economic, social, cultural, civil and political rights suffered by people of African descent – on a daily basis and across different States and jurisdictions.   The report states that the worldwide mobilization of people calling for racial justice has forced a long-delayed reckoning with racism and shifted debates towards a focus on the systemic nature of racism and the institutions that perpetrate it.   “The status quo is untenable,” High Commissioner Bachelet said. “Systemic racism needs a systemic response. There needs to be a comprehensive rather than a piecemeal approach to dismantling systems entrenched in centuries of discrimination and violence. We need a transformative approach that tackles the interconnected areas that drive racism, and lead to repeated, wholly avoidable, tragedies like the death of George Floyd.”   “I am calling on all States to stop denying, and start dismantling, racism; to end impunity and build trust; to listen to the voices of people of African descent; and to confront past legacies and deliver redress.”   The report details the “compounding inequalities” and “stark socioeconomic and political marginalization” that afflict people of African descent in many States.   Across numerous countries, most notably in North and South America and in Europe, people of African descent disproportionately live in poverty and face serious barriers in accessing their rights to education, healthcare, employment, adequate housing and clean water, as well as to political participation, and other fundamental human rights.   http://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/HC-report-systemic-racism.aspx   June 2020   Black Lives Matter (PBS, Reuters, agencies)   Civil rights activist Reverend Al Sharpton has told a memorial for George Floyd that the African American man's death was symbolic of four centuries of struggle for black people in America.   Mr Floyd died in police custody after former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin knelt heavily on his neck for over eight minutes.   Video from the incident shows bystanders demanding Mr Chauvin to get off Mr Floyd.   Mr Floyd repeatedly cried "I can't breathe" while calling out for his mother. He died in handcuffs with his face pressed to the street.   Delivering the eulogy at a memorial service inside a university chapel in Minneapolis, Sharpton said Floyd's fate - dying at the hands of police, pinned to the ground under the knee of a white officer - symbolized a universal experience of police brutality for African Americans.   "When I stood at that spot, the reason it got to me is that George Floyd's story has been the story of black folks," Reverend Sharpton said.   "Because ever since 401 years ago, the reason we could never be who we wanted and dreamed of being is you kept your knee on our neck'.   "What happened to Floyd happens every day in this country, in education, in health services and in every area of American life. It's time to stand up in George's name and say get your knee off our necks."   "George Floyd should not be among the deceased," Reverend Sharpton said. "He did not die of common health conditions. He died of a common American criminal justice malfunction. He died because there has not been the corrective behaviour that has taught this country that if you commit a crime, it does not matter if you wear blue jeans or a blue uniform, you must pay for the crime you commit'.   Sharpton led mourners in eight minutes and 46 seconds of silence, the amount of time Floyd lay on a Minneapolis street with a knee pressed into his neck.   Mr. Floyd's wife, Chirlane McCray, the mother of their two children, said her husband's killing was a reminder of the fear that black families in the country endure on a daily basis.   'We fear for their lives, and we also fear for their ability to live with dignity', she said.   Mr Floyd's brother Philonise shared memories of growing up together. "All these people came to see my brother," he said.   "And that's amazing to me that he touched so many people's hearts. Because he's been touching our hearts. Everybody wants justice. We want justice for George. He's going to get it."   Mr Floyd's attorney told mourners he would find justice for the 46-year-old. "It was not the coronavirus pandemic that killed George Floyd," said Benjamin Crump, who is representing Mr Floyd's family. "It was that other pandemic. The pandemic of racism and discrimination."   Mr Floyd's death has reignited long-felt anger over police killings of African-Americans and unleashed a nationwide wave of civil unrest unlike any seen in the US since Dr. King's 1968 assassination.   With demonstrations for racial justice sweeping through dozens of US cities and around the world, Reverend Sharpton said Mr Floyd's death would not be in vain.   "You changed the world George," the 65-year-old Baptist minister said. "We're going to keep fighting George." "We're going to keep going until we change the whole system of justice'.   In addition to hundreds who gathered inside the North Central University chapel, a crowd of hundreds more clustered outside, listening to the service broadcast over loudspeakers. One was Zsa-Vona Williams, 36, who knew Floyd from his days working at the homeless shelter where she once lived, recalling him as a caring, friendly soul.   'He gave to and fed a lot of people. He was a gentle, peaceful person', Williams said, adding that in death, 'He has changed the world'.   The day of remembrance capped 10 days of protests, accompanied by civil unrest across more than 100 cities. The size and scope of disturbances seemed to ebb after prosecutors in Minneapolis on Wednesday elevated 2nd degree murder charges against Derek Chauvin the police officer jailed last week and arrested the three others officers accused of aiding and abetting the crime.   The four former officers, all dismissed from the Minneapolis police department the day after Mr. Floyd died, each faces a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison if convicted of the most serious charges against them.   http://www.pbs.org/newshour/series/race-matters-america-in-crisis   June 2020   US protests: Deep-seated grievances must be addressed. (UN News)   The grievances at the heart of the protests that have erupted in hundreds of US cities need to be heard and addressed if the country is to move on from its tragic history of racism and violence, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet said on Wednesday.   'The voices calling for an end to the killings of unarmed African Americans need to be heard. The voices calling for an end to police violence need to be heard. And the voices calling for an end to the endemic and structural racism that blights US society need to be heard', Bachelet said.   'At all times, but especially during a crisis, a country needs its leaders to condemn racism unequivocally; for them to reflect on what has driven people to boiling point; to listen and learn; and to take actions that truly tackle inequalities', she said.   The protests, which began in response to the killing of an African American man, George Floyd, while in police custody on 25 May, have continued, spreading to more than 300 US cities.   There are credible reports of unnecessary and disproportionate use of force by law enforcement officers, including indiscriminate and improper use of less-lethal weapons and ammunition. Tear gas has been used to disperse peaceful demonstrators and rubber bullets and pepper balls have been fired at demonstrators and journalists who did not pose an imminent threat of serious injury. These tactics have been used in some instances in which many victims were retreating.   There have been at least 200 reported incidents of journalists covering the protests being physically attacked, intimidated or arbitrarily arrested, despite their press credentials being clearly visible.   'What has been happening is an unprecedented assault on journalists. In some cases they have been attacked or even arrested while on air. It is all the more shocking given that freedom of expression and of the media are fundamental principles in the US, central to the country's identity', Bachelet said.   'I call on the authorities at all levels to ensure the message is clearly understood - reporters must be able to do their important work free from attacks or repression'.   Several people, including a federal law enforcement agent, have died in the unrest, dozens have been injured and numerous properties destroyed. Police officers have been targeted and injured in a number of locations.   'As I have said before, violence, looting and the destruction of property and neighbourhoods won't solve the problem of police brutality and entrenched discrimination. I repeat my calls to protesters to express their demands for justice peacefully, and for the police to take the utmost care not to enflame the situation through the use of excessive force', the High Commissioner said.   Bachelet called for all actions by the authorities and protesters that have led to death or injury, including of law enforcement officials, to be subject to independent, impartial and transparent investigations.   She also voiced deep concern at statements that have sought to label protesters as terrorists, or to delegitimize the mass outpouring of grief and peaceful protest by pointing to violence or destruction of property that has occurred in many locations.   'There can be no doubt as to what or who is behind these protests. We have seen thousands upon thousands of peaceful protesters, of diverse backgrounds, taking to the streets to demand their rights and to call for change. Many police officers, as well as National Guard troops, have also responded peacefully to those gathered on the streets', Bachelet said.   'Structural racism and police violence are of course found across the world', the High Commissioner said. 'The anger we have seen in the US, erupting as COVID-19 exposes glaring inequalities in society, shows why far-reaching reforms and inclusive dialogue are needed there to break the cycle of impunity for unlawful killings by police and racial bias in policing'.   'In addition, there must be a profound examination of a wide range of issues, including socio-economic factors and deep-seated discrimination. To move forward, communities must be able to participate in shaping decisions that affect them and be able to air their grievances', Bachelet said.   28 May 2020   UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet on Thursday condemned the killing of George Floyd, an African American man whose death in police custody on Monday was captured on video and has led to serious ongoing protests in Minneapolis, and a number of other U.S. States.   'This is the latest in a long line of killings of unarmed African Americans by US police officers and members of the public', Bachelet said.   'I am dismayed to have to add George Floyd's name to that of Breonna Taylor, Eric Garner, Michael Brown and many other unarmed African Americans who have died over the years at the hands of the police -- as well as people such as Ahmaud Arbery and Trayvon Martin who were killed by armed members of the public'.   'The US authorities must take serious action to stop such killings, and to ensure justice is done when they do occur. Procedures must change, prevention systems must be put in place, and above all police officers who resort to excessive use of force should be charged and convicted for the crimes committed.   I welcome the fact that the Federal authorities have announced that an investigation will be prioritized, she said. But in too many cases in the past, such investigations have led to killings being deemed justified on questionable grounds, or only being addressed by administrative measures.   The role that entrenched and pervasive racial discrimination plays in such deaths must also be fully examined, properly recognized and dealt with, she added.   While saying she understood the anger unleashed by Floyd's killing, Bachelet urged people in Minneapolis and elsewhere to protest peacefully.   'Violence and destruction of property won't solve the problem of police brutality and enshrined discrimination', she said. 'I urge protestors to express their demands for justice peacefully, and I urge the police to take utmost care not enflame the current situation even more with any further use of excessive force'.   May 2020   The Congressional Black Caucus Condemns Killing of George Floyd by Police   The Congressional Black Caucus, released the following statement on the murder of George Floyd by officers of the Minneapolis Police Department:   This time his name was George Floyd. His crime, being a Black man in America. On Monday evening, George Floyd was killed at the hands of racist police officers, who insisted on using unnecessary force, which included kneeling on his neck, until he could no longer breathe. Within minutes and despite his cries out because he could not breathe, Floyd lost consciousness and died.   How many times will the police officers be the judge, jury, and executioner towards our people? How many times will our human rights be violated? It is unacceptable to threaten and take our lives because you feel threatened by the color of our skin.   The Congressional Black Caucus is calling on the Minneapolis Police Chief Medaria Arradondo to conduct a full investigation of all officers involved and that all participating officers are immediately fired, arrested, and charged with murder. Our community can no longer be targeted, attacked, and killed with impunity. Being Black in America should not be a death sentence. http://bit.ly/30c0nyp http://bit.ly/370Aanv http://cbc.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2195   http://m4bl.org/ http://nationalactionnetwork.net/newnews/we-are-on-the-brink-of-real-change-rev-sharpton-interviewed-before-delivering-eulogy-at-george-floyds-memorial/ http://www.naacp.org/latest/joint-statement-naacp-links-incorporated-collective-outrage-regarding-police-murder-george-floyd-victims-law-enforcement/ http://www.naacp.org/about-us/game-changers/ http://www.freep.com/story/opinion/contributors/2020/05/30/rev-wendell-anthony-america-must-not-fail-black-americans-again/5287170002/ http://www.vox.com/2020/6/3/21279759/barack-obama-george-floyd-racism-police-brutality http://medium.com/@BarackObama/how-to-make-this-moment-the-turning-point-for-real-change-9fa209806067 http://bit.ly/2U9r56N   http://www.pbs.org/newshour/tag/black-lives-matter http://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/how-response-to-george-floyds-death-reflects-accumulated-grievance-of-black-america http://www.msnbc.com/the-last-word/watch/protests-are-the-final-expression-of-outrage-84116037857 http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/05/29/my-fellow-brothers-sisters-blue-what-earth-are-you-doing/ http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/watch/naacp-president-there-s-a-level-of-police-violence-against-our-community-that-must-be-addressed-84097093757 http://www.npr.org/2020/05/29/865261916/a-decade-of-watching-black-people-die http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/jun/02/outrageous-christian-leaders-reject-trump-use-of-church-as-prop-during-george-floyd-protests http://www.politico.com/news/2020/06/03/protests-congress-lawmakers-299291   http://www.hrw.org/news/2020/06/02/us-address-structural-racism-underlying-protests http://www.hrw.org/news/2020/06/02/george-floyds-killing-and-black-lives-lost http://www.globalr2p.org/publications/atrocity-alert-no-206-united-states-iraq-and-sudan/ http://cpj.org/2020/06/at-least-125-press-freedom-violations-reported-over-3-days-of-us-protests/ http://www.vox.com/2020/5/29/21274364/george-floyd-minneapolis-uprising http://wapo.st/3gHGZPr http://www.americanprogress.org/press/statement/2020/05/28/485521/statement-violence-week-past-400-years-demonstrate-systemic-racism-americas-underlying-disease/   http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2020/06/james-mattis-denounces-trump-protests-militarization/612640/ http://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2020/06/american-nightmare/612457/ http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/podcast/dispatch/race-police-the-pandemic/ http://www.nybooks.com/daily/2020/05/29/after-george-floyd-a-nation-in-search-of-justice http://www.nybooks.com/daily/2020/06/06/what-black-america-means-to-europe/ http://fra.europa.eu/en/news/2020/stop-racist-harassment-and-ethnic-profiling-europe http://www.hrw.org/news/2020/05/05/china-covid-19-discrimination-against-africans http://qz.com/africa/1836510/africans-in-china-being-evicted-from-homes-after-lockdown-ends/   http://www.naacp.org/latest/naacp-issues-statement-events-surrounding-murder-george-floyd/ http://www.naacpldf.org/ http://act.colorofchange.org/sign/state-emergency-black-people-are-dying/ http://www.splcenter.org/news/2020/06/01/george-floyd-tony-mcdade-sean-reed-and-breonna-taylor http://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/analysis-opinion/statement-president-michael-waldman-recent-police-killings-and-civil http://www.interaction.org/blog/statement-regarding-the-tragic-death-of-george-floyd/ http://www.cartercenter.org/news/pr/2020/statement-060320.html http://www.aclu.org/press-releases/aclu-responds-minneapolis-police-killing-george-floyd http://www.amnestyusa.org/press-releases/minneapolis-police-should-be-accountable/ http://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2020/05/30/865413079/what-do-coronavirus-racial-disparities-look-like-state-by-state http://en.unesco.org/inclusivepolicylab/analytics/covid-19-inequality-our-pre-existing-condition http://www.thenation.com/article/archive/historical-amnesia-about-slavery-is-a-tool-of-white-supremacy/ http://lithub.com/the-war-on-the-poor-is-only-getting-worse/ Visit the related web page
	Narratives and their impact on inequality by Diana Kallas Senior Inequality Policy Advisor - Oxfam   How often have you felt the frustration of trying to explain in vain to someone that an idea they’re embracing is flawed because it’s based on a false or biased premise? For instance, why is it taken for granted that a person is “successful” because they are a self-made millionaire? Why is it generally accepted that someone isn’t a success if they’re simply doing their best, living an ordinary life and managing to keep their household going? Why is an average life considered “average” in the first place? Who decides what is a success, what is a failure, and why it matters?   What is the narrative?   At a policy debate level, similar questions come up. Who came to decide that achieving economic growth is more important than ensuring basic rights and reducing inequality? Who sets these indicators, and when and how did those indicators become an uncontested norm that frames the policy debate?   Why do economic experts often feel they need to provide a disclaimer such as “not that I am a communist, but…” before they suggest a tax on wealth or real estate gains? Why is the public sector considered to be inherently bad at doing business in many regions of the world?   These types of questions help us understand what dominant narratives are, how they are shaped, and how they affect our lives. Dominant narratives set a storytelling framework – a ‘regime of truth’ – that determines what kind of discourse is accepted as true, and who can be an accepted authority figure on that truth. Critically, they are an instrument of power.   Narratives help promote ideologies that favour the interest of elites, allowing them to then impact the political process by ensuring their ideas are widely accepted as legitimate and are received by the public with very little resistance.   Recently I dove into narratives researching the report The Magic Potion of Austerity and Poverty Alleviation: Narratives of political capture and inequality in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). The idea behind this report was to study the role of dominant narratives in promoting an austerity-driven neoliberal ideology that is causing high levels of inequality in the MENA region, and is often supported by the economic discourse and financial assistance programs of the IMF.   This narrative generally supports reducing the size of the public sector, promoting private-sector-led economic growth, and looking at poverty as a necessary byproduct of economic recovery.   By exploring how dominant narratives are shaped and what they consist of, the aim was to provide a toolkit for change actors – activists, change movements, civil society organizations, influencers, alternative media – to help them work on shifting the narrative towards a new social contract.   Who owns the narrative?   This subject cannot be studied separately from the issue of political capture, which is the main driver of inequality in the MENA region and elsewhere. Political capture is the abusive influence over public policies by a network of political and business elites, to favor their interests at the expense of the public good.   Beyond their control over resources, extractive elites also control knowledge and cultural production, through schools, universities, research and, of course, the media. (See Oxfam’s report The Capture Phenomenon: Unmasking Power, Guidelines for the analysis of public policy capture and its effect on inequality).   It is important to look at the political economy of narratives. For instance, we can’t look at how dominant narratives are amplified by mainstream media without looking at who owns the media in the first place, and how media financing affects the political and economic content on TV or newspapers.   Nor can we look at the impact of narratives on the policy process without examining how free and able civil society are to produce new narratives, or how many wealthy business people are in government or parliament.   When storytelling is so intangible, the challenge is to pin down the frameworks that shape public discourse and expose the mechanisms through which dominant narratives both serve and result from political capture. How do you prove that a story, a myth, or a widespread cultural belief, can be so powerful that it can influence the outcome of public policies?   The research shows striking similarities in the economic models that prevailed in five MENA countries that were examined, as well as the underlying discourse around public debt, austerity, taxation, trade policies, economic growth, and the role of private sector in job creation, and finally how poverty alleviation was considered the only option rather than aiming towards universal social protection.   This discourse is powerful both because it prevails in mainstream media and cultural institutions and because it relies on myths and beliefs that have become ingrained in the collective psyche. It’s time for this narrative to be contested. With the right tools, change movements can start to shift the narrative and tell a new story.   http://www.oxfam.org/en/blogs/narratives-and-their-impact-inequality http://www.oxfam.org/en/research/magic-potion-austerity-and-poverty-alleviation Visit the related web page
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