BlackRock CEO Larry Fink says he is "committed to racial equity" but is
funding the NYPD's attacks on protesters   

[ [link removed] ]BlackRock CEO Larry Fink at New York City's Police Foundation's 2015
Gala[ [link removed] ][IMG]

It's time for him to put his money where his mouth is. Tell him to stop
supporting the New York City Police Foundation today.
  

[ [link removed] ]Take Action


John,

BlackRock is one the world’s largest financial institutions and its
President, Larry Fink, released a statement last weekend expressing
sadness for the murder of George Floyd while claiming to be “committed to
racial equity.”^1 The problem? Larry Fink is a longtime donor and
supporter of the New York City Police Foundation: a group that donates
millions of dollars to the NYPD each year--buying them guns, horses, and
bomb-detonating robots.^2 The same NYPD that has been driving trucks
straight into crowds of peaceful protesters gathering to protest the
murder of George Floyd, trapping groups of people on bridges with teargas,
and indiscriminately brutalizing bystanders. While it’s easy to appreciate
that companies, brands, and celebrities are seeing the importance in
publicly affirming their stance against racism, we know they need to do
much more than issue a statement to meaningfully support our communities.
The fact is, many of the same corporations coming out in support of Black
Lives Matter are the same corporations that bear responsibility for
violence, harm, and discrimination against Black people, whether they
carry it out, enable it, or profit from it. BlackRock and Larry Fink’s
support of an organization that was created to shield police officers from
accountability are no exception. We are clear that company values or
statements mean nothing unless they’re backed up by the leadership, the
payroll, and the operations. That’s why we’re calling on Fink to put his
money where his mouth is, and stop supporting the New York City Police
Foundation today.

[ [link removed] ]BlackRock CEO Larry Fink claims to support racial equity but funds a
group that allows the police to attack Black people unchecked. Tell him
it’s time to put his money where his mouth is.

As a community, we have been using this moment to publicly interrogate the
harm of policing and the violent actions carried out by law enforcement
against Black people. We are watching and participating in the public
grieving and anger calling for justice for Black people we have lost to
police violence, including George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor,
and Tony McDade. And we are challenging the institutions that continue to
play an active role in Black people’s suffering and death. The New York
City Police Foundation is privately funded by wealthy individuals like
Larry Fink, and exists to give the police force the space to do what they
want, whenever they want, to whomever they want. They have been
instrumental in providing the military equipment the police are using on
Black people at this very moment, and in perpetuating racist myths about
policing and violent crime that justify the force's corruption. In fact,
the New York City Police Foundation started the infamous “Crime Stoppers”
marketing campaign, a program that turns uninformed viewers into paid
vigilantes, likely to target Black neighbors, coworkers and strangers
alike for “looking suspicious.” No matter how gruesome the injustice
carried out by the officers it represents, this organization has put an
incredible amount of time and resources into ensuring the police of the
NYPD are both more armed and less required to answer to anybody but
themselves than they have ever been. In that context, what else can Larry
Fink’s financial support of the New York City Police Foundation represent
but an attack on Black lives?

[ [link removed] ]Lip service from corporations like BlackRock won’t protect Black
people. Action will. Sign now to demand President Larry Fink end his
support of the New York City Police Foundation.

At this moment in our nation’s history, there are no sidelines--Fink’s
donation to the New York City Police Foundation isn’t an arbitrary
gesture, he is effectively supporting and advancing the deep harm that
Black communities face. We, the people, say no to corporations and CEOs
who say Black lives matter in one breath while supporting our destruction
in another. Tell Larry Fink to stop supporting the New York Police
Foundation.

[ [link removed] ]Enough is enough. Tell BlackRock that if it's truly committed to racial
equity, CEO Larry Fink must stop funding the New York City Police
Foundation today.

Until justice is real, 
—Jade, Brandi, Johnny, Amanda, Samantha, Eesha, FolaSade, Marcus, Marie,
Ciera, Jennette and the rest of the Color Of Change team

References:

 1. “Recent Events of Racial Injustice,” LinkedIn, May 30, 2020,
[ [link removed] ][link removed]
 2. “Do Cops Serve The Rich? Meet The NYPD’s Private Piggy Bank,”
Gothamist, October 24, 2019,
[ [link removed] ][link removed]


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[ [link removed] ]Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black
folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. [ [link removed] ]Help
keep our movement strong.

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