Advisory

Regarding Safety and Respect for Black People

When Planning and Holding Juneteenth Events

 

  • The Right To Breathe Association exists to ensure safety and respect for Black People through the development, implementation, and awareness of policies and actions consistent with RTB Core Principles:

    · Abolishing systemic Anti-Blackness to ensure equal justice.

    · Oversight and accountability through equitable, shared decision-making – nothing about us without us.

    · De-escalation of encounters with people enforcing laws and rules against Black people.

    RTB Advisories apply RTB Core Principles to activities and events that have disproportionate effects on Black people. Following the guidance in this Advisory will help municipalities, school districts, employers, and others who plan and implement Juneteenth events avoid perpetuating historical racial harm and increase safety and respect for Black people.

  • Participants and attendees are encouraged to inquire whether the guidance in this Advisory has been followed. The RTB Association advises everyone to be wary of attending or participating in events and activities that do not include the following guidance prioritizing Black people’s safety and respect.

    · The event/activity planning committee is made up predominantly by Black people who have experience and/or expertise in the history of Juneteenth AND/OR the event/activity planning committee has partnered with a Black-led, Black-people-serving organization with experience and/or expertise in the history of Juneteenth.

    · The participation of Black people participating in the planning and implementation of the event/activity includes meaningful payment to avoid perpetuating over-extraction of Black bodies. This includes additional pay for any employees who have “volunteered” to participate, if the planning and implementation of this event/activity is not explicitly indicated in their job description.

    · The event/activity is rooted in the historical reality of Juneteenth.

    · The event/activity is connected to other meaningful efforts to identify the entity’s history of anti-Black systemic racism and meaningful steps are being taken to rectify practices that perpetuate historical racial harm.

    · The event/activity is connected to other meaningful efforts to build advisory and oversight functions that include Black people with experience and/or expertise in rectifying practices that perpetuate historical racial harm.

    · The event/activity has a written and implemented plan for de-escalating encounters with people enforcing laws and rules against Black people participating in the event/activity.

  • Please click to submit your activity/event that is following these principles.