March 12th National Day of Action: #FreeTheBlackPride4
On March 12th we are mobilizing to #FreeTheBlackPride4!
On June 17th, 2017, several Black queer and trans people gathered with their allies at the Columbus Pride Festival in Columbus, Ohio with the intent of silently blocking the parade for seven minutes. This action was to protest the murders of Henry Green and Tyre King, both slain by Columbus Police Department in 2016, as well as to shed light on the lack of safe spaces for Black and Brown people in Columbus LGBTQIA+ community.
Though the protesters’ method was a silent and nonviolent demonstration, Columbus Division of Police officers attacked protesters with mace, bicycles, and brute force less than two minutes after the protest began.
Four Black protesters –– now known as the #BlackPride4––were targeted and arrested. On March 13th, three of the four, Wriply, Deandre and Ashley are scheduled to be sentenced after being found guilty for simply standing up to police violence and racism in their community.
We are calling on folx around the country to organize to help plan local actions against police brutality and help uplift the dangerous implications of this heinous verdict of the #BlackPride4.