The following is an e-mail that the Vista City Council received from the protesters that are demonstrating tomorrow on June 6th.
Dear Madam Mayor Ritter, Deputy Mayor Rigby, Council Member Franklin, Council Member Green, Council Member Contreras,
We invite you to our protest in response to police violence against black and brown people in our community. Our goal is to give space for BIPOC members in our community to grieve, and to bring awareness to the issues relating to police brutality. We do not endorse actions of violence or vandalism; police violence and provocation will not be tolerated and we will practice de-escalation and self defense.
We will be gathering as a community to act on our 1st amendment right to express our grievances and demand change. Please join us from 11am-3pm for a discussion and march for justice. Your participation is not only welcome, but it is expected as a representative of our community.
We hope to see you there. Please see our official press release for a full description of our cause and our demands.
The following is that Press Release:
NORTH COUNTY FOR RACIAL JUSTICE MARCH ON SATURDAY JUNE 6TH, 2020
Black Lives Matter. We stand in solidarity with the national and global Black Lives Matter movement who are mobilizing against state-sanctioned violence, police brutality, and systemic racism. We honor and remember the countless victims of police violence including Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, Tony McDade, Micheal R Wilson, Aleah Jenkins, Monique Clark, Earl McNeil, Alfred Olango, and Nebane Abienwi.
We honor and remember the local victims of police violence in Vista including Jonathon
Coronel and Sergio Weick.
North County for Racial Justice joins other local grassroots organizing forces to defund and demilitarize police departments nationally.
Our coalition, North County for Racial Justice, will be hosting a march in Vista California beginning at the civic center in historical vista, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, June
6th to create community solidarity for the defunding and the demilitarization of the San
Diego County Sheriff’s Department and defending Black people’s lives.
North County for Racial Justice is a locally organized coalition that stands in solidarity with national police defunding and demilitarization movements and mobilizes to combat systemic racism.
To the Vista City Council: We demand the following:
1. Funds used to militarize police forces be redirected towards social programs for the economically vulnerable in our community effective immediately.
2. Invest in mental health services, healthcare, education, and social programs that will benefit our Black, indigenous, people of color, and working-class communities effective immediately.
3. Hold an emergency town hall meeting that includes the presence of the city council where people who live in Vista may express their grievances and demands in regards to defunding and the demilitarization of the San Diego Sheriff’s Department effective immediately.
4. Cease and end contracts between the City of Vista and the Sheriff’s Department and instead replace them with a transformative new model of public safety.
May 6, 2020: North County 4 Racial Justice March
Schedule
Gather and discuss: 11 a.m
March Full Route: 12 p.m. until 2 p.m. Closing Discussion: 2-3 p.m. Disperse: 3 p.m.
North County for Racial Justice is not affiliated with any action occurring after this time and does not condone any violence or destruction of public or private property. We have self-organized community member security and are by no means associated or in contact with the police.
North County for Racial Justice is dedicated to improving the social and political conditions of our communities through policy advocacy, community organizing, and local activism.
