We at Sneaker News stand as allies with those fed up with systematic oppression and brutalization of the black community by law enforcement. We understand and support the principles behind the protests. There is an urgency for full reformation of basic protocol on how to handle human situations on the job so that unarmed black men and women stop dying at the hands of the police. The refusal of law enforcement to hold itself accountable and to properly police itself is the reason why protests will not and should not end. To ignore these realities of police brutality is to be complicit with their actions. The “middle ground” that many in today’s society want to safely reside in simply does not exist. You’re either for change and for safe and fair treatment of blacks, or you’re not.
Shop owners who have been affected by looting have been defiantly steadfast in their support of the protest. “Even if you bring the fire to my doorstep, I will stand in it with you” said Bobby Hundreds, co-founder of The Hundreds. Chris Gibbs of Union reminds us: “Please don’t let the looting side show that’s going on distract your attention from the main stage”. Ben Strauss, the face behind Minneapolis-based sneaker consignment shop Ptownkickz, had his shop completely ransacked. He remained his usual energetic self as he sifted through the trash inside his shop, giving his followers a first-hand look at the damages. “Ptownkickz is not a building.”
The sad reality is that nothing will change in a day. This level of reform will take years, just as the Civil Rights movement is still underway after it began in the 1950s. Sneaker News employees have supported and/or taken the time to contribute to the causes below, and we hope you can do the same if you yearn for change. You can be part of that change by signing a petition or donating funds. Anything is better than nothing.
The following is a list of petitions you can sign; the goal is to get attention of Mayor Jacob Frey and District Attorney Mike Freeman to demand proper justice for all officers involved in the death of George Floyd.
Change.org
#WeCantBreathe
#WeAreDoneDying
Color Of Change
The following is a list of funds you can donate to help the cause. Please email us at [email protected] to include more.
NAACP Legal Defense Fund
Minnesota Freedom Fund
BlackLivesMatter.com
The Bail Project
ACLU
Ahmaud Arbery GoFundMe
George Floyd GoFundMe
Black Visions Collective
Reclaim The Block
Northstar Health Collective
Campaign Zero
Justice For Breonna Taylor
The following is a list of funds you can donate to help small businesses rebuild. If there are more you’d for us to include, please email us at [email protected].
PtownKickz GoFundMe
Stolen Skateshop
Sole Classics (link in their bio)