Detroit Will Breathe

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Detroit Will Breathe
FounderNakia Wallace,[1] Tristan Taylor[2]
Websitedetroitwillbreathe.info

Detroit Will Breathe (DWB) is a community movement organization begun in the wake of George Floyd's murder and the Black Lives Matter protests of 2020. The organization became a central organizer of protest and public deliberation in Detroit during the 2020 national uprisings.

Background and formation[]

Like many cities across the United States, Detroit saw mass protests after the video of George Floyd's murder went viral in May 2020. [3] As in cities across the U.S., the Mayor imposed a curfew to limit protest. Detroit protestors engaged a strategy to force mass arrests of protestors for breaking the curfew. Public outcry against arrests of protestors resulted in non-enforcement of the curfew after June 2.[4] Protestors who strategized the breaking of the curfew joined together to form a new organization, Detroit Will Breathe.

Detroit Will Breathe, also known as DWB, was formed on June 4, 2020.[5] It is an organization independent of affiliation with political parties or large funders that was formed as a direct result of the protesting in Detroit after George Floyd's murder. The organization states on their social media that they are "a militant, youth-led organization formed in the streets of Detroit in the midst of an international movement against police brutality." DWB maintains a large social media following to organize actions, distribute statements, and advocate for the people of Detroit.[6]

Goals[]

DWB took a democratic political approach to exposing police brutality against protestors through public tribunals and public assemblies. [7] A public assembly voted on the list of demands that became Detroit Will Breathe's political platform.[6] [5] Detroit Will Breathe leaders met with Detroit mayor Mike Duggan and Detroit Police Chief James Craig days after the vote, but the Mayor and Chief declined the invitation to appear at a public assembly to address the demands.[8] Some months after formation, DWB elaborated their strategy and perspective in an eight-point political code, available on their website.

Timeline[]

Date(s) Event
May 29, 2020 - June 1, 2020 May 29 was the first rally in Detroit. It was organized by the Metro-Detroit Political Action Network (MDPAN). It was this first rally where protesters agreed to, "March today, march tomorrow," initiating daily marches. Protesters demand justice for the murder of George Floyd that occurred in Minneapolis, Minnesota as the United States saw protests begin around the country. Protests began with a peaceful march and rally. Events carried into the night where Detroit Police used military devices and tactics to enforce the curfew enacted by the city.[5][9] One man, was shot and killed; this shooting was between civilians and did not involve police.[10]
June 2, 2020 Beginning with a peaceful march and rally, June 2 turned violent when Detroit Police attacked, brutalized, and arrested peaceful protesters on Gratiot Avenue. The group that chose to remain on Gratiot where Detroit police used military-style tactics and devices against them. After arresting over 100 protesters, DPD left arrestees on primitive transportation with little-to-no ventilation. Arrestees were then brough to Little Caesars Arena where they were processed and later transported to the Detroit Detention Center.[5][11]
June 3, 2020 After the intense brutalization of protesters, the night before, Detroit protesters show up in numbers despite the curfew still being in effect. Tensions were high as Detroit police followed the march closely. As the night went on, Detroit lifted the curfew and protesters returned safely to the rally-point.[5][12]
June 4, 2020 Detroit Will Breathe is formed.[5]
June 8, 2020 Detroit protesters march to the site where the Algiers Motel stood to hear civil rights leaders like Monica Lewis-Patrick[13][14] and Maureen Taylor spoke. It was during these speeches that these civil rights leaders passed the torch onto the younger generation of organizers. The site of the Algiers Motel is significant landmark in civil rights history. It was here that Detroit Police, Michigan State Police, and the National Guard killed 3 civilians during the civil unrest in 1967.[15]
June 20, 2020 Detroit Will Breathe organized the first public tribunal of the summer[5][16] was held at Hart Plaza where testimonies from those brutalized by Detroit police and experts in police and government were heard. On the same day as the public tribunal, the Detroit Police Department announced investigations into several instances of police brutality that had occurred during protests.[17]
June 27, 2020 Protestors took to a suburb of Detroit, St. Clair Shoes, to stand with the family of Theoddeus (Theo) Gray and demand justice for his murder by police in November 2018.[5] Theo Gray was attending a baby shower when he was murdered by St. Clair Shores police. Detroit Will Breathe rallied and marched with the family of Theo Gray and the organization Thousands Strong.[18][19]
June 28, 2020 A coalition march rallied in Southwest Detroit where over 20 organizations came together to demand justice and change. The march was nearly the rally point at the end of the night when two Detroit Police cruisers drove through protesters simultaneously. Detroit Police Department claims officers felt endangered.[5][20]
July 10, 2020 A rapid response call was sent out and protesters gathered to demand answers after Detroit police fatally shot Hakim Littleton.[21] In a residential part of the city, the Detroit police responded in riot gear, targeting and arresting organizers.[5] Detroit Police release footage of the shooting[22] just hours after the shooting took place. Months later, Wayne County prosecutor, Kym Worthy decides not to charge officers involved in shooting.[23] The American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan put out a statement regarding the shooting.[24] On October 25, the Coalition for Police Transparency and Accountability (CPTA) held a virtual public tribunal to allow the people be the jury in Hakim Littleton's shooting.[25]
July 15, 2020 The first march to demand justice for Priscilla Slater brought protesters to Harper Woods. Detroit Will Breathe continued to march in Harper Woods to demand justice on a near weekly basis.[5] Priscilla Slater was arrested and found dead in her cell two days after her arrest.[26] The mayor of Harper Woods resigned from office after white supremacy comment.[27] Months later, two Harper Woods officers were fired for concealing and manipulating evidence relating to her death.[28]
August 9, 2021 Detroit Will Breathe and the Palestinian Youth Movement organized a march and rally in Dearborn to stand in solidarity against the annexation of Palestine by Israel.[5]
Mid-August A 15-year-old Oakland County girl, ‘Grace,’ was detained for not doing her homework.[29] Detroit Will Breathe rallied around her case, demanding her release.[5] Grace was later released.[30]
August 15, 2020 Detroit protesters make it known that they will not stand for fascism anywhere in Michigan and go toe-to-toe with the Proud Boys in Kalamazoo, Michigan.[5][31]
August 22, 2020 - August 23, 2020 Protesters rallied and marched to end Operation Legend in Detroit. Protesters were then left injured, a number were arrested, and several were put into the hospital after a clash with Detroit Police around midnight on the evening of August 22.[5][32]
October 24, 2020 Protesters rally and march in Shelby Township after the Shelby Police Chief’s racist comments come out online. Shelby police brutalize and arrest several peaceful protesters, charging arrestees with felonies.[5][33]
November 3, 2020 - November 7, 2020 As 2020 Presidential Election day ended, Detroit was a hotbed of election dramatics as Donald Trump supports swarmed the TCF Center where ballots were being counted to protest the counting.[34] Detroit Will Breathe was at the TCF Center advocating for every vote to be counted. All the while, Detroit Will Breathe supported Detroit voters by, canvasing, marching, and celebrating Trump’s loss.[35][36]
2021 Detroit Will Breathe is an active organization that still organizes events in the city. For current events, see the Detroit Will Breathe Events page.

Lawsuit[]

Detroit Will Breathe, et al. v. City of Detroit, et al.[37]

As a result of police brutality, Detroit Will Breathe filed a lawsuit against the city of Detroit, Detroit Mayor Michael Duggan, and Detroit Police Chief James Craig.[38] Judge Laurie J. Michelson of the Eastern District of Michigan granted a Temporary Restraining Order banning the use certain military policing tactics and weapons like batons, tear gas, pepper spray, rubber bullets, sound cannons, and chokeholds against protesters.[39]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ Neavling, Steve. "After protest charges dropped, Detroit Will Breathe co-founder says, 'We won't go silently'". Detroit Metro Times. Retrieved 2021-05-24.
  2. ^ Cwiek, Sarah. "Detroit City Council approves more money to fight Detroit Will Breathe lawsuit". www.michiganradio.org. Retrieved 2021-05-24.
  3. ^ Hill, Evan; Tiefenthäler, Ainara; Triebert, Christiaan; Jordan, Drew; Willis, Haley; Stein, Robin (2020-06-01). "How George Floyd Was Killed in Police Custody". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-05-03.
  4. ^ Donnelly, Christine Ferretti and Francis X. "Protesters launch 'victory march' in Detroit as city eases up on curfew". The Detroit News. Retrieved 2021-05-04.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p "Detroit Will Breathe Events". detroitwillbreathe.info. Retrieved 2021-05-03.
  6. ^ a b "Detroit Will Breathe". detroitwillbreathe.info. Retrieved 2021-05-03.
  7. ^ Georg, Ioan. "Marches, Assemblies, and a Public Tribunal: How Detroit Activists Are Building Power". Left Voice. Retrieved 2021-12-22.
  8. ^ Ley, Shawn (June 9, 2020). "Detroit Will Breathe meets with Detroit mayor, chief of police to discuss protesters list of demands". Retrieved May 4, 2021.
  9. ^ Hunter, Darcie Moran, Angie Jackson, Joe Guillen and Branden. "Police, protesters clash in Detroit; 21-year-old dead after shooting". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved 2021-05-04.
  10. ^ "Man killed in shooting not involving police, several arrests made at large protest in Detroit". WXYZ. 2020-05-30. Retrieved 2021-05-04.
  11. ^ Jr, Dave Bartkowiak (2020-06-03). "Detroit police rush protesters to make arrests Tuesday night after curfew". WDIV. Retrieved 2021-05-04.
  12. ^ Donnelly, Christine Ferretti and Francis X. "Protesters launch 'victory march' in Detroit as city eases up on curfew". The Detroit News. Retrieved 2021-05-04.
  13. ^ Friess, Steve (2020-08-24). "Civil Rights Veteran Monica Lewis-Patrick on Passing the Torch". Hour Detroit Magazine. Retrieved 2021-05-04.
  14. ^ "Monica Lewis-Patrick - 'Don't You Kneel'". Retrieved 2021-05-04.
  15. ^ Momodu, Samuel (2017-08-07). "Algiers Motel Incident (1967) •". Retrieved 2021-05-04.
  16. ^ Dickson, James David. "Tribunal at Hart Plaza puts Detroit's leaders 'on trial' for protest response". The Detroit News. Retrieved 2021-05-04.
  17. ^ Moran, Darcie (June 20, 2020). "1 Detroit police officer suspended, 11 other incidents under investigation amid protests". Retrieved May 4, 2021.
  18. ^ "St. Clair Shores march and rally for Theo Gray". www.freep.com. Retrieved 2021-05-04.
  19. ^ Hall, Ann Zaniewski and Christina. "Family of man killed by St. Clair Shores police files $10M lawsuit". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved 2021-05-04.
  20. ^ Moran, Darcie. "Detroit police thought they were possibly being shot at, Chief Craig says; protesters call for his resignation". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved 2021-05-04.
  21. ^ Kelly, Victor Williams, Dane (2020-07-11). "'Detroit Will Breathe' reacts to body cam footage of Hakim Littleton's death". WDIV. Retrieved 2021-05-04.
  22. ^ "GRAPHIC: Detroit police release video showing suspect firing at police before deadly shooting". WXYZ. 2020-07-10. Retrieved 2021-05-04.
  23. ^ "Wayne County prosecutor: Officers acted in lawful defense in Hakim Littleton case". WXYZ. 2021-04-07. Retrieved 2021-05-24.
  24. ^ ACLU. "Community Statement on the Killing of Hakim Littleton" (PDF). ACLU Michigan. Retrieved May 2, 2020.
  25. ^ "The Hakim Littleton People's Tribunal". Coalition for Police Transparency and Accountabilty. 2020-10-15. Retrieved 2021-05-04.
  26. ^ Brand-Williams, Oralandar. "Harper Woods jail inmate died of heart issue, possible seizure, autopsy report says". The Detroit News. Retrieved 2021-05-04.
  27. ^ Hall, Christina. "Harper Woods Mayor Kenneth Poynter resigns after white supremacy comment". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved 2021-05-04.
  28. ^ "2 Harper Woods police officers fired for concealing, manipulating evidence in death of woman in custody". FOX 2 Detroit. 2020-08-19. Retrieved 2021-05-04.
  29. ^ "Thousands demand release of teenager incarcerated for not doing her schoolwork". www.freep.com. Retrieved 2021-05-04.
  30. ^ "#FreeGrace". BONPHILOSOPHIA. Retrieved 2021-05-04.
  31. ^ News, Chris duMond, Special to The Detroit. "Proud Boys, counter-protesters clash in downtown Kalamazoo". The Detroit News. Retrieved 2021-05-04.
  32. ^ Elrick, M. L. "Here's how the battle line was drawn between Detroit police and protesters". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved 2021-05-04.
  33. ^ "Protests continue over charges from past Shelby protest incident". www.candgnews.com. Retrieved 2021-05-04.
  34. ^ "Republicans Self Identified as Poll Challengers Protest at Detroit's TCF Center". wdet.org. Retrieved 2021-05-04.
  35. ^ "Detroit Will Breathe movement marches in Detroit after Trump call for recount". Retrieved 2021-05-04.
  36. ^ Grzelewski, Jordyn. "Groups face-off against each other outside TCF Center in Detroit over election count". The Detroit News. Retrieved 2021-05-04.
  37. ^ "Detroit Will Breathe et al v. Detroit, City of et al, No. 2:2020cv12363 - Document 18 (E.D. Mich. 2020)". Justia Law. Retrieved 2021-06-02.
  38. ^ Elrick, M. L. "Detroit protesters file lawsuit over 'brutal violence' from police". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved 2021-05-03.
  39. ^ Michelson, Laurie (September 4, 2020). "Opinion and Order Granting in Part Plaintiffs Motion for a Temporary Restraining Order" (PDF). Civil Rights Litigation Clearinghouse. Retrieved May 2, 2021.

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