The Richmond Neighborhood Center is committed to anti-racist practices, dismantling white supremacy, defunding the police & reallocation of monies for supportive community services, and abolitionist teaching methods that result in the creation of equity in educational spaces. We categorically condemn the state-sanctioned murder of Black/African American people, the recent resurgence of lynching, and the underreported, under-acknowledged murders of Black trans women.
We stand firmly with our Black colleagues, staff, students, families, volunteers and community partners and support the Black community at large as they mourn these most recent attacks on their personhood. The Richmond Neighborhood Center will be closing operations today (Friday, September 18) and Monday, September 21 in solidarity to mourn, process, and engage in civic action to demand justice for Breonna Taylor, Aja Raquell Rhone-Spears, Elijah McClain, Jacob Blake, and the ever growing list of Black people whose lives were cut short by anti-Black racism. As such, all school day, after school, and food security programs will be cancelled, with the exception of our Monday pop-up food pantry, which will be operated at its normal time by our partners at the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank.
We understand that this is disruptive to our community and we do not take this action lightly. We invite you to join us in our efforts to secure justice for the aforementioned by taking action outlined in the links below, and getting active in local campaigns to defund the police and redistribute their resources to community support services.
Justice for Breonna Taylor
Contact state and local officials in Kentucky to demand that the officers who murdered Breonna Taylor be fired, arrested, and charged:
- State Attorney General Daniel Cameron: 502-696-5300, attorney.general@ag.ky.gov
- Mayor Greg Fischer: (502) 574-2003, Greg.Fischer@louisvilleky.gov
- Commonwealth’s Attorney Thomas Wine: JCooke@louisvilleprosecutor.com
- LMPD Chief Steve Conrad: (502) 574-7660
- Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear: (502) 564-2611
Justice for Aja Raquell Rhone-Spears
Aja Raquell Rhone-Spears was the 26th known transgender person murdered in the US in 2020. Her killer has not been apprehended, and her story has received only limited coverage in mainstream news. Sadly, this is the norm for Black transgender and gender non-conforming people, who face horrifying discrimination and violence every day. Approximately 80% of anti-transgender homicides are committed against women of color.
Taking action in Aja’s name means taking action that supports all trans and gender non-conforming people of color. We suggest donating to or volunteering with the SF LGBT Center, which provides housing programs, employment and financial services, arts and culture events, youth resources, and more to San Francisco’s LGBTQ community.
Justice for Elijah McClain
Make calls to the Governor and Attorney General of Colorado to demand that the officers who murdered Elijah McClain be indicted and convicted.
Justice for Jacob Blake
Donate to the GoFundMe set up by Jacob Blake’s family to help with medical bills and other expenses.
Contact state and local officials in Kenosha, WI to demand that the officers who shot Jacob Blake be fired, arrested, and charged:
- Kenosha District Attorney: 262-653-2400, Michael.Graveley@da.wi.gov
- Kenosha Mayor and City Administrator: 262-653-4000, mayor@kenosha.org, cityadministrator@kenosha.org
- Wisconsin DOJ: 608-266-1221