Dear Friend,

DC Jobs With Justice is proud to have been a sponsor of the Long Live GoGo Moechella Juneteenth event in 2022, as we have since 2020. Long Live GoGo is a movement by young, Black, native Washingtonians who celebrate the people and culture of DC through community events.

All of us at DC JWJ mourn the tragic loss of life on June 19th. We mourn each death of our community members in Washington, DC. We build the world we want to see by supporting events like Peace Walks, which interrupt and dismantle violence in our communities, and peaceful protests, which allow for folk in our community to exercise their First Amendment right.

As their online presence proclaims, Long Live GoGo is a movement. As such, they are engaging in First Amendment activities and due the same respect as other First Amendment events that take place in DC without a permit. This has a long history, with some recent examples including the Occupy movement, Dyke March, and splinter marches from the 2017 Women’s March. It is important for us to name that events that are seen as white-led do not experience the same level of scrutiny and police presence when they engage in First Amendment protests as those organized by leaders who are Black, Indigenous and People of Color.

At Juneteenth’s Moechella, DC JWJ was outreaching to the community about the upcoming minimum wage increase and sharing in the celebration. Our staff witnessed a stampede where some participants were injured. In the aftermath, it was other community members and event organizers who cared for those affected, and it was those organizers and musicians from the stage who reinforced the peaceful and joyful nature of the event. In those moments, as in so many others, it was not the police that promoted safety and cared for others, it was the community. This is yet another example of our communities showing up for one another and of the lack of response by those who are paid to serve and protect.

We continue to stand with the organizers of Long Live GoGo and urge others to read their statement. We urge for a transparent and community-oriented approach to what makes us safe. We reject the politicization of this tragedy in the call for more policing. And we believe that creating joy, culture, and community in public spaces is part of how we affect the structural change that uplifts all Washingtonians.

In solidarity,

Elizabeth Falcon and the DC JWJ team
Executive Director
DC Jobs With Justice
she/her

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