On August 22nd, Marcellus Williams came within four hours of being executed by lethal injection for a crime he did not commit. More from our partner, MADP:
News
OBS Calls for Investigation into Suspicious Death in Workhouse
The Organization for Black Struggle calls on the Circuit Attorney’s Office to do an immediate investigation in the alleged “suicide” of Andre Jones. He was found hanging in his cell this week at the St. Louis Medium Security also known as the City Workhouse. Jones, like other citizens held at the facility, was waiting for his day in court. He had been arrested for assault of a child in November but also like all those in the City Workhouse, Jones was unable to make his bail.
Inhumane and unconstitutional conditions in the Workhouse have long made it a target for criticism. In the last couple of years, organizations like OBS have called for the permanent closing of this hellhole.
We extend our sympathy to the family of Andre Jones. We demand justice for the Jones Family and answers for a justice-seeking community.
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Memorial for Vinny
Isaiah “Vinnie” Hammett was murdered by St. Louis SWAT June 7, 2017. We must not forget. End Police Terror! Click on Facebook Event Page.
Public City Budget Hearing on June 2
OBS has been a committed partner in the Re-envisioning Public Safety Campaign. The campaign’s goal is to changing the narrative equating only police with community safety and educating the public about re-investing in community safety. Facebook Event Page
OBS Statement on us. Collusion with israeli zionism
The Organization for Black Struggle stands in unconditional support of the Palestinian people for their long-fought liberation against israeli zionism. The collaboration of the trump administration with the israeli government’s violent aggression has only emboldened prime minister benjamin netanyahu. Trump’s decision to move the u.s. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem is a blatant act of aggression. OBS stands in solidarity with Palestinians in their rights to self-defense and to self-determination of their historic land.
From our sister org, Black Workers for Justice– statement on Palestine and self-determination.
No to Big Brother!
“You can conclude that police are using surveillance cameras as an intimidation tactic against First Amendment rights,” says OBS Organizer Kendra Tatum.
Black/Rural Power Building Summit
In the mid-1980s, rural farmers in Missouri experienced a crisis that led them to organize and build a multiracial movement because Missourians all face the same common enemy-the government being controlled by money. During this time foreclosure was rampant and unemployment for blacks was at an all-time high. Rural farmers began to formulate different opinions of thinking unemployment in the black community was due to laziness but realized this was based on systemic issues that plague non-wealthy whites and other communities of color. Narratives of race and class have divided us for so long since it seems impossible to build what we saw in the 1980s here in Missouri, a multiracial movement. Since 2016 it has become more apparent now than ever, we all face issues of housing, drug abuse and even job inequality amongst other issues in our communities; the wealthy 1% is not being affected by awful policies and laws but the 99% is. Thanks to local Missouri grassroots organizations and Missouri Organizing Voter Engagement Collaborative (MOVE) for coming together to develop a Black/Rural Power Building Summit for staff and leaders to think about ways to build a more diverse movement.
Grassroots organizations planned a two day training with one day dedicate to staff and the second dedicated to leaders. On day one staff were able to use tools to strategize and unblock unhealthy habits through having conversations about race and how it now only shows up in our movement but in our communities too. On day two leaders from across 5 organizations were able to come together and discuss what brought them to this moment and why this moment is important to them. Leaders had breakout sessions to think with people they typically don’t work with to work out what was the common enemy and inviting people into the work with us. Leaders and staff agreed on commitments to engage people in their community and come together again 2 more times this year to build a more diverse and multiracial movement.
2018 isn’t a presidential election year but it is an important election year for the communities organizations represent across the state. Right to Work impacts working families by limiting union representation, Raise Up Missouri will raise wages for working families and CLEAN Missouri will help clean up the pay to play that keeps politicians accountable to corporations and not the people who elected them. Just like the staff and leaders representing grassroots organizations, together we must make a commitment to mold and shape our movement to become more of an inclusive democracy for all people. There are people who have stopped complaining and are willing to create a new vision. Will you join OBS this summer to reach out to communities and build a stronger movement?