06/06/2020
**Long Statement ahead because I (Jamie) don’t know how to condense my posts... but the black community deserves so much more than another post from an organization. We have been taking action.**
As a lot of my personal friends may know, I have been protesting since May 29 and have not been able to make a formal statement, so here it is:
To the Strong, Enduring, Beautiful, Intelligent, World changing, Black Community of Charlotte: WE see you! WE hear you! WE appreciate you! WE love you! WE are FIGHTING for you! You may not know but we are walking arm in arm with you on the front lines, we are ensuring no one is getting picked up from the back of the March, we are on the sides making sure you are safe, we are standing in front of CMPD police officers starting uncomfortable conversations, protecting you from the “bad apples,” ensuring your safety at every turn. We love you and we don’t even know you.
I, Jamie have been with you in several instances where “riot” cops tried to destroy your persistence and drive with tear gas, flash grenades, and pepper bullets. I have taken a few of each because after almost 400 years of systematic oppression, still blatant racism, and unequal “equal” rights, it’s my duty as a white person to take this FOR YOU. Y’all have been thru so much, done so much, and you never👏🏻lose 👏🏻your 👏🏻voice👏🏻, persistence👏🏻, or hope👏🏻, and for that I thank you, but I also apologize to you. For so long the human race has denied racism, oppression and other obvious disparities, because they never experienced it. But not only as a hopeful non profit, but a group of decent human beings, we assure you we won’t turn our backs on you.
We will continue to fight along side you at as many protests as my body (Jamie) can handle and as many as we as a project can make it to. So far 7 out of 8 days we’ve been there. We’ve seen the injustices and we seen the police brutality. So if you see a random white Girl/boy Man/woman them/they, however they identify, standing in front of you to protect you, let them take the hits and speak your truth so all can hear. It’s not about the white people doing this, it’s about you getting to use your voice loud and clear for all to hear without experiencing anymore police brutality. We will protect you. 🖤
As a charity that donates pads, tampons, Ipsy bags, makeup bags (to hold the feminine hygiene products- or whatever the recipient chooses) to title 1 schools and all schools that request, we will continue to support you, your education, and will donate all of our supplies from this past semester to the George Floyd Protests medic teams to give out at all protests. If you are in need and are in Charlotte, please message me and I will bring them to you whether it’s at the protest or at a breakout meeting (Saturday at Freedom park). However, PLEASE tell US what we can do for you! This is about all the black lives that MATTER. We want to help how you need us to help.
We hear you
We see you
Your life matters to us
You are the most important group of people in this world to us right now
Let’s get you the justice and change you’ve so long deserved!
Love and Peace
Jamie Stocker
Founder/President of the Blossom Bag Project