In multiple ways, West Hollywood isn’t your typical American city. The loudly liberal locale is a land unto itself, but it’s not beyond addressing the ills of the wider world.
Therefore, last week, protests took place to address notions of racial inequality.
Tomorrow. WeHo. Prepare…#WeHo #WestHollywood #hollywoodprotest #Hollywood #BlackLivesMatter @lizzo @elijahdaniel @sza @thatonequeen @BLMLA pic.twitter.com/RrgSXT8tzj
— WeHo #BLM (@OccupyWeho) June 3, 2020
Across the nation, I’m glad justice is being hailed.
As for WeHo, in order to ensure everything went wokefully well, recently-sworn-in Mayor Lindsey P. Horvath took to Twitter to export some “important” guidelines for guys and gals of the pale persuasion.
That’s right: Lindsey laid out the rules for those lighter-skinned rallyers ready to raise the bar for racial rightness.
Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the mayor’s “Guidelines for White People Showing Up at Black-Led and People of Color-Led Protests.
Rule #1: This is a Black issue, the call needs to be “Black Lives Matter,” not “All Lives Matter.”
Rule #2: Sometimes the best way to ensure that All Lives Matter is to give Black people room to own a space.
Rule #3: Protest from our position.
- For example, don’t join in on the chant “Whose streets? Our streets!” — these streets are not “Our Streets.”
- Instead, carry signs and participate in chants that challenge white supremacy.
Rule #4: Call in/collect white folks who are causing harm.
Rule #5: Meet level of escalation with police, and/or try to de-escalate, do not exceed it.
Rule #6: Do not start chants yourself, and do not grab the mic.
Rule #7: Be mindful that the action is being organized and led by Black-led organizations. Follow the leadership of the organizers as it relates to the march route, and direct people who may have more questions (e.g., press, police) to the identified point(s) of contact. Unless you have been directly asked, your role is not to be a spokesperson or liaison with the police or press.
Rule #8: Become familiar with the target and goals of each action, especially reading any sources reommended by the organizers.
Some important tips for protests in #WeHo today pic.twitter.com/c84HVkNZhP
— Lindsey P Horvath (@LindseyPHorvath) June 3, 2020
If you were wondering about demographics, The Daily Wire reports West Hollywood is made up of nearly 80% white residents and 4% black. Furthermore, as per WeHoVille, 33% identify as gay men.
And on Wednesday afternoon, in support of LGBTQ+ and Black Lives Matter, an estimated 3,000 gathered.
See the social distance:
Vey powerful video of our peaceful protest in #WestHollywood when we all laid on the hot asphalt in the middle of one of the busiest intersections in LA. https://t.co/AArtreYCYh
— Kim Webster (@itskimwebster) June 3, 2020
That image, by the way, documents a “die-in” in memory of 46-year-old Minneapolis police brutality victim George Floyd.
Here’s some media of the moving-pictures sort:
Current images from #WestHollywood #protests. We are met by the police, national guards – but this is a peaceful protest. Here, laying down at the intersection & chanting…” #GeorgeFlyod #ICantBreathe pic.twitter.com/Bb35B34CE7
— oby (@goldmanorah) June 3, 2020
West Hollywood peaceful protest in support of #BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/LSQCAdovRk
— Existential Distancing (@jeremyforeshew) June 4, 2020
We’re living in sensitive times, with what seems to be an ever-longer list of rules to recall.
For those European Americans fighting for fairness in West Hollywood, thankfully, the mayor’s happy to help.
So don’t forget, you privileged protestors, you rich revolutionaries…you chalky Che’s, you bleached Black Lives Matterers: Follow the march route, be choosy of your chants, and don’t expect to “drop the mic” — you won’t be holding one. So implore the important edicts.
Now go make the world a better place. Very, very carefully.
-ALEX
See 3 more pieces from me:
Philadelphia Man Shoots a Looter in the Head After an Armed Crew Breaks Into His Gun Shop
Black Lives Matter Protestors Deface Statue of Abraham Lincoln
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