Meeting Notes: 08-02-2020

DEFUND THE POLICE: Mariah stepped up to be the lead for this sub-group. Kaitlin said she would send Mariah contact information and resources associated with Grassrootslaw.org. Mariah reccomended the book The End Of Policing by Alex S. Vitale. Discussion of Sheriff Coverly and the August 8th Minden protest.

LOCAL LAW/KEY PLAYERS: Discussion of AB3 - restricts police use of chokeholds. Bills banning police chokeholds, rolling back 2019 law protecting police under investigation clear Senate hurdle - The Nevada Independent

Sisolak Signs Police Reforms, Including Chokehold Ban - KNPR

PRESSURE POLICE UNIONS: This sub-group is being folded into the DEFUND THE POLICE / REIMAGINE THE POLICE sub-group.

REMOVE ICE: Believe in Nevada will follow the lead of Project Unity. The Believe in Nevada REMOVE ICE sub-group will discontinue until a Believe in Nevada member steps up to lead this sub-group.

JUSTICE FOR MICIAH LEE: This sub-group is being folded into the DEFUND THE POLICE / REIMAGINE THE POLICE sub-group.

VISUAL PROTESTS: This sub-group identified a need for discussions with BIPOC community members before any art gets generated that depicts the accomplishments of BIPOC historical figures. Interviews with BIPOC historians, teachers and community members will be pursued. The sub-group discussed that some artists are finding it difficult to participate in a collaborative setting. Some artists became disinterested when they learned that non-profits and businesses favor certain messages over others. We discussed that some messages prioritize education about and celebration of BIPOC figures, while other messages prioritize condemning racism and police brutality. There is room in our community for both types of messaging, and any attempt to force any type of messaging on a non-profit or business is not a constructive use of time and resources. The group also discussed the prioritization of BIPOC artists to create and/or lead the creation of BLM / Racial Justice / BIPOC Historical Figure murals. In the event that BIPOC artists and leaders do not wish to participate, the next steps remain open for discussion. The group asked questions such as:

• Is it appropriate for non-black artists to paint black historical figures or interpretations of the accomplishments of black historical figures?

• Should indigenous people and people of color paint black historical figures or interpretations of the accomplishments of black historical figures?

• Should black artists paint indigenous historical figures, Latino / Latina / Latin X historical figures?

• Does extensive research and community outreach better justify a non-BIPOC person painting a depiction of a BIPOC person?

• Is it necessary in all cases to pay the contributing artists for their time? Is it appropriate to ask an artist to donate their time to a mural project for a non-profit?

• If we apply a multitude of different efforts towards inclusivity for our mural projects, how do we choose to respond to those who remain unsatisfied with our inclusivity efforts?

• What types of documentation and transparency should we pursue when it comes to community involvement and community outreach?

• We discussed pairing blog content and educational resources with the murals to ensure that all historical figures are well-represented.

ART:

This sub-group will be folded into the VISUAL PROTEST sub-group.

COMMUNICATIONS:

This sub-group asked the in-person group at large on 8/2 if anyone wished to step up to lead digital meetings on Tuesdays. No one was available to lead the digital meetings. Digital meetings will be discontinued until a BIN member wishes to step up and lead them.

GENERAL DISCUSSION:

• PERCh members attended this meeting. We discussed the benefits of partnering with sister organizations / like-minded organizations. PERCh stands for: People Enacting Radical Change. They support movements and causes using a diversity of tactics. Their primary focus at this moment is on social and racial justice. They support Black Lives Matter. They also support: animal rights, arts and culture, community development, education, environment, health, human rights and civil rights. Follow them on social media at the following handles.

• @PeopleEnactingRadicalChange - Facebook

• @PERChReno - Twitter

• @PERChReno - Instagram
  

• Discussion of the Bring Mother Hug Home protest, the MLK Jr. Caravan and the Protest to End Oppression. Many BIN members attended one or more of these demonstrations. All three demonstrations remained peaceful.

UPCOMING EVENTS: Aug. 8th Minden Protest - Discussions of protest organization and how to ensure public safety. Commitments made all around for no destruction of property and no violence.