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African Authors Sans Frontieres in Solidarity with African-Americans

By Ihesiulo Grace 2 June 2020 23 No comment

As African writers without borders who are connected beyond geography with those who live in
the United States of America and other parts of the African diaspora, we state that we condemn
the acts of violence on Black people in the United States of America. We note in dismay that
what Malcolm X said in Ghana in 1964 that “for the twenty million of us in America who are of
African descent, it’s not an American dream; it’s an American nightmare” remains true for 37
million in 2020.

We condemn the murders of:
George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Sandra Bland, Amadou Diallo, Ahmaud Arbery, Aiyana Mo’Nay Stanly-Jones, Tony McDade, Pamela Turner, Matthew Ajibade, Rekia Boyd, Eric Garner, John Crawford III, Michael Brown, Shelly Frey, Ezelll Ford, Dante Parker, Michelle Casseaux, Yvette Smith, Darnesha Harris, Laquan Mcdonald, Atatiana Jefferson,
George Mann, Tanisha Anderson, Akai Gurley, Tamir Rice, Rumain Brisbon, Jerame
Reid, Frank Smart, Natasha Mckenna, Tony Robinson, Anthony Hill, William Chapman
II, Alberta Spruill, Walter Scott, Shantell Davis, Eric Harris, Philip White, Mya Hall,
Alexia Christian, Brendon Glenn, Victor Manuel Larosa, Jonathan Sanders, Salvado
Ellswood, Joseph Mann, Freddie Blue, Albert Joseph Davis, Darrius Stewart, Billy Ray
Davis, Samuel Dubose, Troy Robinson, Christian Taylor, Sean Bell, Brian Keith Day,
Michael Sabbie, Asshams Pharoah Manley, Felix Kumi, Keith Harrison McLeod, Junior
Prosper, Anthony Ashford, Dominic Hutchinson, Paterson Brown, Lamontez Jones, Bettie
Jones, Alonzo Smith, Tyree Crawford India Kager, Janet Wilson, Sylville Smith, Benni
Lee Tignor, Yvonne Smallwood, Kayla Moore and all other names, known and unknown, that
represent human beings who are our kin.

Our blood.
We support the protests in the United States and across the world as our people demand justice
for any and all racial killings whether by police or civilians. We are aware that these are not quiet
protests. We do not expect it and neither should the United States of America. The killings were
not done quietly. The police brutality and state sanctioned murders were done loudly with no fear
of consequences from those who perpetrated them.

We acknowledge the African Union’s condemnation of the United States government’s
continual terrorism towards African-Americans. We believe that the African Union can and
should do better.

We ask that African governments recognise our alliance and connections with our brothers and
sisters across borders, from America to Brazil and through the rest of the diaspora. That they
offer those who choose it: refuge, homes and citizenship in the name of pan-Africanism.
We demand that the American legal institutions independently investigate every police killing
as well as investigate any complaint against police violence.

We demand that any accused be suspended without pay until a fair trial clears them of charges.
In essence, we are asking the United States of America to be brave enough to adhere to its own
bill of rights so that it can be the land of the free for ALL Americans regardless of colour, creed
or sexual orientation.

We assert that Black Lives Matter. As writers, we raise our fists in solidarity with those who
refuse to be silenced. To our brothers and sisters in the United States, we stand with you.
We ask all decent human beings to join us in being our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers.

As they
protest in the United States, please give whatever donations you can to #BlackLivesMatter
https://secure.actblue.com/donate/ms_blm_homepage_2019

SIGNED: