TELL YOUR GOV. + MAYOR: DENOUNCE WHITE SUPREMACY & PROTECT COMMUNITIES FROM VIOLENCE

We watched in horror as President Trump incited his supporters, leading to thousands storming and breaching the U.S. Capitol. The President’s embrace of white supremacists has further fanned the flames of the violence we witnessed. Make no mistake: these are the actions of an instigator, not a leader.

Now, with more demonstrations planned by white supremacists and armed groups in the lead up to Inauguration Day, we must demand our state and local leaders, who oversee police departments, keep our communities safe.

Urge your governor and mayor: I demand you denounce white supremacists, prohibit firearms in Capitol Buildings and public spaces, and take special measures to keep your constituents and communities safe from violence and armed intimidation by white supremacists.

⬇ Make Your Voice Heard ⬇

An Open Letter to All U.S. Governors and Mayors:
 
I am writing as your constituent, deeply concerned by reports that armed white supremacist groups and individuals are planning further disruption across the country in the coming days and weeks. I join Amnesty International to urge you to do everything in your power and within human rights standards to protect people from violence by these armed groups and individuals, and to condemn white supremacy.
  
The widespread availability of and lack of uniform restrictions on guns in this country combined with the incitement to violence and the enabling and abetting of white supremacy at the highest levels of government has left the country dangerously vulnerable to those who prefer inequity to fairness, hate over unity, and impunity over justice.

The US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has already documented political violence at public assemblies across the country by armed groups with ties to white nationalism. In its annual threat assessment, the US Department of Homeland Security also warned in October 2020 that what they call “domestic violent extremists” – particularly white supremacist armed groups – could target elections-related protests and mass gatherings with political violence.

I call on you to meet your obligations under international law to respect, protect, and fulfill the human rights of all people, including by taking the following steps:
 
- Publicly condemn and demand accountability for incitement to violence and the enabling and abetting of white supremacy at the highest levels of government, including by President Trump and other government officials;

- Publicly condemn armed groups and individuals as a threat to public safety and human rights, and speak out against white supremacy, discrimination, xenophobic rhetoric and incitement to violence by such groups and individuals;

- Issue executive orders, emergency orders, or other temporary special measures to prevent armed white supremacist individuals or groups from intimidating or threatening people;

- Temporarily prohibit the open and concealed carry of firearms in Capitol buildings and in public, including parks, recreational areas, religious institutions, schools  and other gathering spaces;

- Direct police departments to adopt and follow Amnesty International’s best practices on the policing of demonstrations, and ensure that all law enforcement agencies facilitate freedom of peaceful assembly, without discrimination, particularly in the context of volatile counter-protest situations, with commitments to ensuring transparent investigation and prosecution of unlawful use of force, and vigilantism by armed groups: http://www.amnestyusa.org/good-practice-for-law-enforcement-officials-policing-demonstrations;
 
Your constituents are watching. The world is watching. Thank you for reading this, I look forward to your response. 
 
Sincerely,

{user_data~First Name} {user_data~Last Name}

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