Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/1314367
Fall 2020 – LOCAL695.ORG 27 LEADING BY EXAMPLE: Building Diversity in 695 by Steve Nelson CAS Late in May, in the midst of this global health crisis, thousands of people took to the street in sorrow and rage to protest the Minneapolis death-by-police of yet another unarmed Black person, George Floyd. It was one more in a long tragic line. After four hundred years, it seemed unlikely that one more could move the needle, but this was different. Caught on cellphone video, the world saw a killing that was more than shocking in its cold brutality. Even amidst the pandemic, so many people rose up in solidarity to be seen and heard in every major city, even in small towns with virtually no Black residents, and later throughout the world, in vociferous protest of the never- ending racial disparities, violence, and systemic oppression of people of color in the United States. Many of our members here in Los Angeles joined the marches, as safely as possible, and our Local 695 Facebook page was boiling over. Where was our statement of solidarity with the Black Lives Matter led movement? A group of Board members came together (virtually, of course) to craft a statement proclaiming our intention to stand with BLM. Should anyone think that it is a simple thing to put out such a statement, even if it seems so obvious and so right, then that person has likely not been in the position of representing a diverse group of almost 2,000 dues-paying individuals who don't always agree with one another but are part of a larger and ever watchful organization in an industry where words count and actions have very real consequences. The Local's well-crafted and strong statement of support was timely enough to satisfy most of our members but nothing these days is without controversy. Some expressed their unhappiness with this statement; their feelings cannot be discounted. Then the real question arose. What could we, as a union, actually do to support the goals of this essential movement? Making a "We stand with BLM" statement was necessary, but there is a fi ne line between meaningful support and mere lip-service; between acting as allies and gentrifi ed "Black- washing." After all, every corporate oppressor has a public relations department ready to create and publish a full-page statement of support in any newspaper, magazine, or online venue they like. What could we do to make a real difference? At our next Board of Directors meeting, a new committee was proposed, eventually to be called the Committee on Equity, Diversity & Outreach. Our mission statement: In March of 2020, the world lurched into lockdown, trying and failing to get ahead of the pandemic caused by the SARS CoV-2 novel coronavirus, which, as you read this, has taken well over 250,000 lives in this country and more than a million worldwide. The entertainment industry, like most others, was at a standstill. Virtually all production shut down; no one anywhere was working, but your union leadership was very busy trying to fi gure out how best to serve the membership during this crisis. Dues reduction, how to continue healthcare coverage and pension benefi ts, and negotiations with AMPTP on how to get us safely back to work, all required our attention at that moment.