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WhiskeyGrinder

(22,153 posts)
Thu Jul 30, 2020, 07:51 AM Jul 2020

Portland's Wall of Moms crumbles amid online allegations by former partner, Don't Shoot PDX

https://www.oregonlive.com/news/2020/07/portlands-wall-of-moms-crumbles-amid-online-allegations-by-former-partner-dont-shoot-pdx.html

Wall of Moms, whose members said they aimed to support and protect other Black Lives Matter protesters near the fence in front of the federal courthouse, announced Friday that its white leadership had rescinded their positions to allow women of color to be in charge. New leaders announced Friday include Teressa Raiford, executive director of Don’t Shoot Portland, Demetria Hester and Danialle James.

But less than a week later, Don’t Shoot Portland took to Instagram to urge people against supporting the Wall of Moms, saying that it was no longer working with the moms group.

The Wednesday post alleges that Wall of Moms founder Bev Barnum filed for business registrations without consulting the newly instated Black leaders and that the safety of Black members at the nightly protests in downtown Portland was overlooked. The post said that issues of Black mothers’ safety have only come to light in the past 24 hours.

Barnum appeared to file three business registrations on Tuesday including one that makes The Wall of Moms a 501c3 nonprofit. Don’t Shoot Portland interpreted the filings to mean that Wall of Moms goal was to get federal officers out of Portland -- not to support Black Lives Matter, according to the Instagram post. The newly instated Black leaders were not told about the registrations, according to the post.


A link to the Don't Shoot PDX post: https://www.instagram.com/p/CDO2rh_hNJR/

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WhiskeyGrinder

(22,153 posts)
4. There is a pattern throughout history of white women building on and taking credit for the work of
Thu Jul 30, 2020, 08:11 AM
Jul 2020

BIWOC activists. It shouldn't be hard to stay in one's lane, but it is a challenge for many.

Demsrule86

(68,355 posts)
5. No one has a 'lane' IMHO...this doesn't belong to anyone...I am outraged about
Thu Jul 30, 2020, 08:49 AM
Jul 2020

Floyd and fiercely support BLM...it belongs to all Americans...and without the Moms...I expect it the Feds would not be leaving. These petty jealousies about taking credit is just plain stupid...it will take all our efforts to stop the brutality against people of color...all groups should be proud of their hard work and determination...they risked great danger to help people. Without allies, we will not be able to stop police brutality.

WhiskeyGrinder

(22,153 posts)
9. In any group of activists, it's vitally important that everyone understands their role,
Thu Jul 30, 2020, 09:05 AM
Jul 2020

what they offer, what their weaknesses are, and the mission of the group. The original mission of Wall of Moms was to follow Black leaders and physically protect Black protestors and take the hits, so Black protestors had the time and energy to make the demands and negotiate with the city around BLM goals. But WoM leaders didn't stay in their lane, and have moved away from BLM work.

Which is sad, because white women putting themselves on the line for others is highly unusual, which is why the group got so much coverage. There was a great opportunity to take that attention and turn it back toward Black leaders -- but instead, one of the leaders ended up taking the ball and calling it her own while actively running off the allies she and others were ostensibly trying to help.

Demsrule86

(68,355 posts)
13. And that my friend is why we we still are at the beginnning of solving this issue...there were
Thu Jul 30, 2020, 09:35 AM
Jul 2020

activist in Portland that had all sorts of agendas before the Moms got involved. So I don't buy that. As for white women putting themselves on the line, I find your comments wrong. Millions of White women including me put themselves on the line, I went to the Women's march in DC, marched for caged babies in Cleveland, for Gay rights , for Trayvon Martin and others...this won't be solved without allies. I marched and was arrested in pro choice rights,women's right etc. This is not an African Americanissue only. This is an American issue and we all need to do our part.

The Mom's carried Black lives Matter signs...the people who denigrate the Moms should be ashamed. The more people involved, the better chance that we will pass legislation to improve the situation... this effort requires all hands on deck...or nothing gets done.

bigtree

(85,920 posts)
2. who really cares
Thu Jul 30, 2020, 08:08 AM
Jul 2020

...these moms served bravely and admirably on the front lines. Feds were the ones making it unsafe, so making that an issue for the group is strange.

People shit all over everything these days.

JonLP24

(29,322 posts)
3. The issue seems to be with the founder not the rest of them
Thu Jul 30, 2020, 08:10 AM
Jul 2020

Either way it is best to let them handle it.

WhiskeyGrinder

(22,153 posts)
6. I do, which is why I posted it.
Thu Jul 30, 2020, 08:52 AM
Jul 2020

It's an excellent example of how movements for racial justice are easily co-opted by those who don't center the work and demands of BIPOC. It's the latest in a pattern. And until we break the pattern of white supremacy, which is present within the movement unless it's actively dismantled, racial justice is unachievable.

Demsrule86

(68,355 posts)
14. And how long have we fought for continued racial justice? Maybe we can't break white supremacy
Thu Jul 30, 2020, 09:36 AM
Jul 2020

without allies.

panader0

(25,816 posts)
7. Exactly. Why turn the movement into a business? It was grassroots at first.
Thu Jul 30, 2020, 08:58 AM
Jul 2020

Perhaps some bright bulb saw a marketing angle and had to file papers. BS.

WhiskeyGrinder

(22,153 posts)
10. Don't even have to go that far back.
Thu Jul 30, 2020, 09:08 AM
Jul 2020

Women's March and Pantsuit Nation were just in the past four years!

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