Equality & Justice

Long Beach Area Peace Network (LBAPN) is a grassroots network of community organizations and individuals who are dedicated to serving the cause of world peace at home and abroad. We also support local and national organizations that fight for social, economic and environmental justice.

The murder of George Floyd has finally hit a nerve in the body politic of the American people. It happened in the midst of a pandemic. Because of the incompetence of our central government, the pandemic has unnecessarily caused the deaths of over 100,000 residents. Many people of color. The disparities between rich and poor have become clearer than ever.

As long-time activists, we are grateful to be marching and protesting with mostly young people. We are outraged by the unequal treatment of black and brown people. We are outraged by the lack of living wage jobs and the high cost of housing. We are outraged by the lack of health care and the crushing debt of education that should be free.

LBAPN strives for peace and justice. We have seen the disastrous effects of imperialist wars in the middle east.

According to Politico, “Despite recently closing hundreds of bases in Iraq and Afghanistan, the United States maintains nearly 800 military bases in more than 70 countries and territories abroad – from giant “little Americas” to small radar facilities.”

The military budget for 2020, if passed, will be a whopping 57% of the total U.S. budget. This money should be redirected to rebuild the public health care system, provide health care for the millions of uninsured, educate our children, rebuild the crumbling infrastructure and provide housing for the homeless and the poor.

In the past 20 years, police departments have militarized. In Long Beach 48% of the budget goes to the police. This is unacceptable. As an organization, we condemn looting and violence. But peaceful protests must continue.

The public health system in our community is overwhelmed. We have seen how unprepared the health department is to meet the challenge of this pandemic. The budget for human services and health care must be increased.

LBAPN stands with the brave people confronting the system of racial hatred, inequality that benefits the banks and the hedge funds, the exploiting and polluting corporations, and the billionaires who plunder our country at our expense.

Marshall Blesofsky

 

I agree with writer Craig Miller [Letters 5/19/20] to a large extent. I’m African American. BLM is a farce itself. The only time BLM comes out to protest is when a white officer is involved whether or not the officer was justified. But black lives couldn’t possibly matter too because we don’t see BLM marching and protesting daily black on black murder in places like Chicago.

Protesting only when a white police officer is involved is a form of racism itself. We are all certainly very sorry about Mr. George Floyd and as writer Craig Miller points out, those officers in Minnesota will face justice.

Let’s not destroy and burn our communities down because three or four police officers screwed up.

Let’s remember all the store owners that serve our community should not have to pay or be made to be responsible for the murder that was committed by several irresponsible police officers in Minnesota.

Let’s focus only on where the crime was committed and by whom.

Let’s not hold every other police officer or police department responsible for the poor judgement of a few bad apples.

Mark A. Mcglothern

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