Thread by @radfagg

THREAD: Here are some chants I'd love to see retired, and alternative chants you can do in their place.

#BlackLivesMatter #JusticeForGeorgeFloyd #JusticeForBreonnaTaylor #DefundPolice #AbolishPolice

RETIRE: "No justice, no peace! No racist police!"

INSTEAD: "No justice, no peace, DEFUND the police," or "No justice no peace, ABOLISH police."

The first chant doesn't get to the heart of the issues being protested, and doesn't make a demand. Individual racists aren't the problem, it's a structure that is inherently racist being called into question.

RETIRE: "Show me what democracy looks like! This is what democracy looks like!"

INSTEAD: "Show me what an uprising looks like! This is what an uprising looks like!"

The ideals of U.S. democracy have never extended to colonized people. It's important to demand the right to protest, but also to acknowledge Black people have never had that right. It shouldn't require mass protests to get the state to stop killing Black people.

RETIRE: "I don't see no riot here! Why are you in riot gear!" and, "Peaceful protest!"

INSTEAD: "Demilitarize NOW!" or "You about to lose your job!" or "Police free schools!"

Riots and other militant protests are the only reason we are in this moment. Peaceful protests have been happening unceasingly for many years, and did not result in the mass defunding of police departments and canceling of their contracts.

POLICE SHOULD NEVER BE IN RIOT GEAR. There's no appropriate time or place for police to be in militarized equipment. Respect a diversity of tactics, and acknowledge which tactics lead us to this moment, and call for demilitarization and defunding of police all together.

RETIRE: "Say his name! George Floyd!"

INSTEAD: "We do this for! George Floyd! We do this for! Breonna Taylor! We do this for! Tony McDade! We do this for! Rekia Boyd!"

#SayHerName was created specifically for Black women and trans people killed by police who were not being uplifted. By changing the chant to "we do this for" you don't take over the "say her name" demand, plus it's not gendered so you can include the names of GNC folks as well!