In the last year, Black Lives Matter activists have changed the consciousness of a nation. And all along the way they have vocally advocated for concrete policy changes. And now four activists — Johnetta "Netta" Elzie, Deray McKesson, Samuel Sinyangwe, and Brittany Packnett — have collected their demands into a website designed to inspire activists and provoke officials.
Many critics have complained that Black Lives Matter activists lack proposals for real change. Just last week, video was released of Hillary Clinton telling Black Lives Matter activists in New Hampshire:
"I don't believe you change hearts. I believe you change laws, you change allocation of resources, you change the way systems operate.
…[Y]ou're going to have to come together as a movement and say, 'Here's what we want done about it.' Because you can get lip service from as many as white people as you can pack into Yankee stadium and a million more like it, who are going to say, 'Oh, we get it, we get it. We're going to be nicer.' That's not enough — at least in my book."
While some have called Clinton’s tone and demeanor in that meeting condescending and callous, others have echoed her call for concrete proposals.
And now, with the launch of “Campaign Zero,” racial justice activists everywhere can easily point to specific policy proposals they believe are necessary to end anti-black police brutality.
As detailed in the picture below, activists are calling for ten key policy solutions.
CampaignZero.png
Other sections of the website graphically represent the problem of police brutality, what each major presidential candidate has proposed to address these issues, and how local organizers and concerned citizens can petition for change.
Ryan Stewart is a teacher in Springfield, Mass., and graduate of Yale Divinity School. You can find him on Twitter @RyanMcStew.
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