Defund the police! (Creatively)

Dear troublemakers,

We see you. We love you. We hope that you all are finding the inspiration and support you need in these turbulent, exhausting, and revolutionary times.

From DC to LA, beautiful troublemakers have been in the streets in big ways these last two weeks. We stand and work in solidarity with all those experiencing police brutality, and all those on the frontlines of this growing insurrection in defense of black lives.

As we mourn the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, Sean Reed, Tony McDade, and all too many more of our community, we’re also carrying our righteous rage into a sustained fight against structural racism and police violence.

In these past ten days, with protests in all 50 states, and around the world, we’ve seen people mobilize with fierce militance and inspired creativity:

• A guerrilla projection onto a confederate statue in Richmond, Virginia
• Painting the streets of DC calling on Mayor Muriel Bowser to not only place a BLM street mural but take meaningful action to stop funding the police, (Principle: Do the Media’s Work For Them)
• An airplane flying a banner with George Floyd’s last words (Principle: Make the Invisible Visible)
• Community altar building in defense of black life (Principle: Use the Power of Ritual)
• An aerial image made out of surfboards (Tactic: Human Banner)
• Protesting the murder of 32-year-old Palestinian with special needs Eyad al-Halak, that connected the dots between Israeli and American police brutality (Theory: Intersectionality)

The unfolding insurrection has been a master class in creative protest. And it’s working! With the slashing of the LAPD’s budget, de-policing of schools in Portland, the promise to dismantle the Minneapolis police force, and the NFL finally admitting that “Black Lives Matter,” change is happening.

We’re seeing the Overton Window shift in real time before our eyes! “Defund the police!” (see Tactic: Divestment) is moving from a slogan to reality in a matter of weeks.

We’re in a huge teachable moment that a crisis isn’t only an excuse for the bad guys to stick it to the rest of us (see Theory: Shock Doctrine), but for the majority to win great victories. (Theory: People’s Shock Doctrine, coming soon to a Beautiful Trouble Toolbox near you.)

In whatever way you’re taking action, we’re here to support. Our training materials are easy to find and use for street protests. Here are our three most relevant resources right now:

• Pre-During-Post Action Check List
• Assertive Intervention/De-escalation Tips
• Action Street Smarts & Personal Prep

In addition, you can request a Beautiful Trouble training here.

Our country is facing its biggest public health crisis since 1918, its biggest economic crisis since 1933, and now, one of its biggest uprising for racial justice in our history.

See you in the streets or wherever you find your place to plug in.

With love and solidarity,
Adrian, Amber, Andrew, Becca, Chelsea, Hazel, Nadine, Phil, Rae, Søren,
Beautiful Trouble