Our union’s foundation is built upon the concept of human dignity. We have focused a lot on dignity on the job: the right to be respected, listened to, and valued. We stand up for the dignity of our clients, patients, and residents and fight to give them the care and resources they deserve to live full and independent lives of their choosing. We stand for the dignity of all people and that’s why we proudly say #BlackLivesMatter.

When #JacobBlake was shot in the back seven times in front of his children, it displayed one of the most extreme examples of someone in authority not respecting another’s humanity. Unfortunately, it’s not an uncommon example as we’ve seen recently with #GeorgeFloyd, #BreonnaTaylor, and too many others to name here.

On Wednesday afternoon, Kyle Rittenhouse, a 17 year-old from Antioch, Illinois, was arrested on charges of first-degree murder. Graphic video published Tuesday night shows Rittenhouse in Kenosha, WI firing a rifle at demonstrators, which struck three people, killing two. 

BREAKING: Kyle H. Rittenhouse, 17, is in custody in Lake County, wanted for first-degree intentional homicide in #Kenosha County, where he has been charged.

Was picked up today in Antioch, where he lives.

He "fled the state of Wisconsin with the intent to avoid prosecution"

— Dan Mihalopoulos (@dmihalopoulos) August 26, 2020

The same department that presumed an unarmed black person was a potential threat presumes that armed white vigilantes are allies.  In the clip below from Tuesday night, a Kenosha police officer tells these vigilantes “We really appreciate you guys, we really do.”

This is astonishing video. Officers in Kenosha in military vehicles stopped to engage with armed white men, told them they were appreciated and offered them bottles of water. pic.twitter.com/O5lJxwgf3M

— Kristen Clarke (@KristenClarkeJD) August 26, 2020

The police also allowed an armed Rittenhouse to pass through their lines. He then fled the state.

https://twitter.com/BGOnTheScene/status/1298502384654651392

The Kenosha Police Department shot an unarmed black man in the back in front of his children and allowed a murderer to walk right past them. This is an example we’ve seen throughout the country: Innocent Black people are shot by police in the street for being presumed criminals while white people who committed criminal acts are presumed innocent. This cannot continue.

In our communities, we’ve dealt with blatant disrespect and police brutality.

Our union will continue to speak out against systematic racism in policing, in our workplaces, and wherever we find it.

In Solidarity,

Greg Kelley

President, SEIU Healthcare IL IN MO KS