The five types of violence waged against people of color

[madokie]

This is an email from Bernie

Bernie Sanders for President

Dear David,

Earlier this year, I was violently slammed to the ground by three police officers near my college campus at the University of Virginia. At that moment I had no freedom, no autonomy and no say in what was happening to me.

When the officers stopped me, they did not see a student out with his peers. They saw a young black male with a high-top fade, a gold chain, some tennis shoes, and a hoodie.

My encounter with police that night left me with cuts, bruises, and gashes -- including a head injury that took 10 stitches to close. Why was I subjected to such violence when so many other students in similar circumstances were left alone?

It is way past time that we confront the epidemic of police brutality in this country which disproportionately affects people of color. Bernie Sanders released a plan to address the structural racism and inequalities that people of color face, and I'm proud to support his plan. Can you support it to show the world you stand with Bernie?


Bernie's racial justice plan is based on the five types of violence waged against people of color: physical, political, legal, economic and environmental.

Physical violence in the form of police brutality and racist acts of terrorism must come to an end. We should look closely at how and whom we recruit to become law enforcement officers, while also maintaining positive and transparent relations between police departments and the communities they serve.

The political disenfranchisement of people of color through voter suppression and lost voting rights is unacceptable. We must restore voting rights for those who have served time in prison, as well as make it easier to vote by declaring Election Day a federal holiday and automatically registering citizens to vote when they turn 18.

Legal violence against people of color is perpetuated by implicit bias, an unfair criminal justice system and a for-profit prison system. Some steps we can take include eliminating mandatory minimum sentences, investing in resources to medical and mental health interventions for those with substance abuse issues, and creating opportunities for formerly incarcerated people to find work and reintegrate into society after they have served their time.

The stark levels of income and wealth inequality are evidence of the economic violence that many experience each day. We must grant all people the ability to support their families and make ends meet. Bernie's plan will do this by supporting pay equity for women, tuition-free public universities, and a federally-funded jobs program to grant employment opportunities to young people of color.

Lastly, it is communities of color that are all too often exposed to the harmful effects of pollution and climate change. We must advance environmental justice by creating renewable energy systems, adopting cleaner manufacturing processes, and ensuring that all people can live in areas that are not contaminated by chemicals, pesticides or other toxins.

Bernie's racial justice plan is a crucial step towards confronting the structural inequalities that still exist in our country. As long as innocent civilians continue to be abused or murdered at the hands of police, we must strive to do better.

Add your name to stand with Bernie and support his racial justice plan.

Growing up on the South Side of Chicago, I know firsthand how law enforcement officials treat black people and members of low-income communities.

I grew up with the belief that education and success would be my sanctuary. But there are no suits I can wear, words I can say, or achievements I can earn that will eliminate the centuries of fear and propaganda that have told this nation and the world that people who look like me are inherently a threat.

Yet I am determined to be the first in my family to graduate successfully from a four-year university, and I believe that this generation of Americans can take proactive steps in our communities to create a country that is safe and welcoming towards all people.

While I am one of many people who have become victims of police brutality, it is important that we acknowledge the many other ways in which people of color experience discrimination each day. By adopting Bernie's comprehensive approach to achieving racial justice, we can create a society where all people are treated with dignity and respect.