It Can’t Be Business as Usual
By Ronda Watson Barber
OhioMBE Publisher
Something isn’t right in the Buckeye State. The grand jury system appears to be broken and doesn’t operate with transparency. What’s going on behind those closed doors? Prosecutors actively advocate for police officers instead of their victims. Ohio is an open-carry state, but it appears that law doesn’t apply that to Black men. The Attorney General has been silent and Governor Kasich continues to ask Black communities to protest peacefully while Black folks are being shot. Marching has not been effective.
John Crawford Jr., Tamir Rice, Sam Dubose, Timothy Russell and Malissa Williams are dead. They were killed by law enforcement. No one has been held accountable. They have been blamed for their own deaths.
Some are calling for an economic boycott. According to Dr. Boyce Watkins, Black spending is 1.1 trillion dollars. Significant economic shifts can be made if Blacks refuse to make purchases with businesses and organizations that discriminate against us.
After the decision not to indict the officers in the death of Tamir Rice, advocates are calling for a boycott of the Cleveland Cavs games, the restaurants around the Quicken Loan Arena and Cavs merchandise.
Historically, we have been successful in withholding dollars to make a point and earn respect. The boycott of public buses by Blacks in Montgomery Alabama for 381 days beginning in 1955 made a major impact. Forty thousand strong, the Black community of Montgomery brought the bus company to its knees by refusing to ride the bus. Our ancestors knew the power of their dollars. They were willing to do whatever it took.
It can not be business as usual. What are you willing to do? Our dollars and votes have power. Use them wisely!
Just my thoughts…RWB
