Twitter user Emma last week began compiling a list of examples of change brought about by protests with a reminder to keep fighting for a permanent shift in society.
As we enter week three of nationwide Black Lives Matter protests set off by the murder of George Floyd by former police officer Derek Chauvin, we've begun to see some long-overdue reforms against racism and police brutality. While racists have attempted to paint many of these demonstrations in a bad light by highlighting instances of violence—which more often than not were elicited by police forces in full riot gear—the small victories along the way tell a different tale. Twitter user Emma last week began compiling a list of such examples of change brought about by these protests with a reminder to keep fighting for a permanent shift in society.
A thread of positive change that is happening because of the protests:
— emma (@_nectarine808_) June 4, 2020
These protests are inspiring a long overdue CHANGE in this country, don’t stop protesting now it is working! These measures are great but we must make sure that our elected officials are going through with these reforms.
— emma (@_nectarine808_) June 4, 2020
The Twitter thread has since gone viral with many other users contributing to the list with more examples of reforms happening across the world. Here are 25 of these big and small victories:
A bill was introduced in Colorado that will address abusive law enforcement policieshttps://t.co/aHGQKYDjow pic.twitter.com/WDaCpzUwUP
— emma (@_nectarine808_) June 4, 2020
https://t.co/0tnV56ccny
— ShavingRyansPrivates (@SuzukiiSinclair) June 5, 2020
I know it's not set in stone but this could be huge
new jersey is reforming their law enforcement!! adding mental health professionals and such https://t.co/DstcOJ3vic
— paige ✧ ✿ (@falsettos_exe) June 5, 2020
A statue of a racist man will be taken down in Virginiahttps://t.co/qtnVF5a7N4
— emma (@_nectarine808_) June 4, 2020
Ferguson (the same town where Michael Brown was unjustly murdered by the police) elected its first BLACK MAYOR and she’s also the first WOMAN MAYORhttps://t.co/zRnYoUgVlU
— emma (@_nectarine808_) June 4, 2020
Judge gives green light to try the 3 men responsible for Ahmaud Arbery’s murder:https://t.co/UpP3caoc5u
— emma (@_nectarine808_) June 5, 2020
Philadelphia took down a statue of a racist homophobe:https://t.co/cuAYQf3EW9
— emma (@_nectarine808_) June 4, 2020
San Diego police do away with the “carotid restraint” a brutal practice that is disproportionately used on POC:https://t.co/7ehfR8l5LN
— emma (@_nectarine808_) June 5, 2020
Confederate monument in Indy is to be removed! https://t.co/BS8TZoudX9
— Rachel (@RachelBatka) June 5, 2020
Ctto: bbcnews
— #BLACKLIVESMATTER (@mugbeetongue) June 6, 2020
Also this👇❤️❤️❤️
"Black Lives Matter Plaza is now
the official name of the road leading to the White House."#BlackLivesMatter #BlackLivesMatterDC pic.twitter.com/sl9s37vqf8
Also, this .. From up here in Virginiahttps://t.co/9W3SXJ6np6
— Reena K Hukmani 💃 (@ReenaKaurH) June 5, 2020
Amash & Pressley are pushing to end qualified immunity, the doctrine that lets cops get away with things like this. Without QI they will think twice or be held responsible. https://t.co/uT5QfErFSB
— Jeff Casavant (@dorseysurprise) June 5, 2020
Baltimore took down all four of its confederate statues!! https://t.co/awmGgcMdG4
— Daniele (@dodgingtrafficc) June 5, 2020
Richmond isn’t just getting rid of a statue of a racist man- we are hopefully getting rid of MULTIPLE statues of racist men and pushing through an act for a civilian council to oversee the police force: https://t.co/5WmGwkss3T
— Ask Unknown (@AskLeUnknown) June 5, 2020
https://t.co/KNwrbMPyyQ https://t.co/u0MZYh8G9g
— Sierra Badland, Ph.D.🏠 (@SierraBadland) June 6, 2020
Unanimous passing of mandatory police education and bias training passes through Michigan’s Senate!https://t.co/yzwRAOQQVo pic.twitter.com/qN1sqReo6z
— emma (@_nectarine808_) June 4, 2020
Many books about white privilege and ending racism are TEMPORARILY OUT OF STOCK on Amazon...and the public libraries are attempting to build their collections.
— Lauren Franklin (@LaurenEMajor) June 6, 2020
No more cops in Portland Public Schools! 👏🏼https://t.co/NIZs4CNapI
— Maria Vu (@mariasokvu) June 5, 2020
San Francisco is redirecting money from sfpd to Black communities: https://t.co/oOlynisK6j
— ACAB✊🏾😡 (@adamgflores415) June 5, 2020
Lorain county in Ohio announced a diversified “use of force advisory board” that will review police use of force incidents in the county! This was after the county police took part in the protests https://t.co/MVK9sY0Du2
— ren (@ren_172) June 5, 2020
Glasgow Scotland activists rename the streets named after slave owners. Only letting me post one picture of many. pic.twitter.com/NhXfHKXU0j
— Laura McConnell (@LauraFMcConnell) June 6, 2020
Philadelphia took down a statue of a racist homophobe:https://t.co/cuAYQf3EW9
— emma (@_nectarine808_) June 4, 2020