8 Minutes, 46 Seconds—Breathe & Reflect
8 Minutes, 46 Seconds—Breathe & Reflect Thursday, June 11, 12 Noon in Your Time Zone Black Lives Matter. Dear Flying Partners, Members of a CWA Local this week called upon all of us to take action together to demonstrate that as trade unionists and as Americans, we were all outraged by the vicious murder of George Floyd. The CWA Executive Board quickly took up the call to action to coordinate an effort by all Districts and Sectors of CWA across our union. On Thursday, June 11, at 12 noon in each time zone, CWA members and allies across the globe will take a stand against racism, specifically stopping to reflect for 8 minutes and 46 seconds, the same amount of time George Floyd was held to the ground with the Minneapolis police officer’s knee in his neck. Read the AFA-CWA Resolution on Black Lives Matter > Our AFA Executive Board just voted unanimously to join as we Breathe & Reflect tomorrow for 8 minutes and 46 seconds starting at Noon wherever each of us is in the world. Obviously, continue your duties as aviation’s first responders, but take this moment to honor George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and all of the victims of police brutality for 8 minutes and 46 seconds. We are heartened by the uprising of hundreds of thousands of Americans, Black, Brown and white, demanding an end to racism and declaring: “Black Lives Matter.” We know that an injury to one is an injury to all and until we can say that Black Lives Matter, we cannot say that All Lives Matter. We will use this moment to reflect on our human rights, the freedom that we want for ourselves and each other, and the work we still must do. Breathe & Reflect in the way that best enables you to mark this moment and the re-commitment that we make together to end racism and all forms of oppression. If you are with others, consider gathering in a small group, socially distanced, and hold signs in solidarity while standing or taking a knee. Downloadable signs are available at cwa-union.org/cwa-against-racism-downloadable-materials. After taking time to breathe and reflect, if you would like to share your experience on-line include the hashtag #CWAforBlackLives. We will continue to take action, big and small, to do our part to end racism and lift up all working people. Solidarity Forever, Sara Nelson, Deb Sutor, and Kevin Creighan AFA-CWA Int’l Officers and the entire AFA-CWA Executive Board |