Taking a Stand Staten Island

        This photo project is to connect our collaborative struggle. Low income Communities in San Francisco are fighting for their humanity, fighting to find hope, feeling devalued and dehumanized, being told that they do not belong in the city of SF because their income level is too low. Dave 'Davey D' Cook has been calling this phenomenon "The Tale of Two Cities." Imagine my surprise when I came out to Staten Island this morning to find an independent zine (NO-PENNIES / http://www.no-pennies.com) from April of this year describing the American narrative as the Tale of Two Cities.

         What we are experiencing in SF with the dramatic economic shift and with the growing list of officer involved killings and behavioral issues is but a sliver of the big picture. Not to devalue any of SF and the Bay Area's plight, I say what I say to strengthen the cause. Out here in Staten Island, people are experiencing a great deal of oppression - especially after the loss of Eric Garner on July 17, 2014.

 Community members expressed: "Take a stand? Take a stand for what? We're taking photos, the police are out here taking photos too, of the people participating in the rallies and protests. They're getting us after dark, telling us too put our hands on the wall. What are we gonna do? Not put our hands on the wall, tell them that they can't do this to us?"

I was stumped; were they right? The Fear is* real. Ramsey Orta (the 22 year old Staten Island resident whose video capturing the incident went viral -- and let's imagine this hadn't been recorded for a second, right?) was arrested several days ago on a gun charge. The community and he feel it was a set up (REF: http://bit.ly/1mkzo5l). We need to unite our causes and "connect the hearts" (to quote Mark Gonzales aka @wagebeauty). Many people are also talking about October 22's National Day Against Mass Incarceration which is working to fight the machine which has been systemically devouring our communities of color in the US. WE HAVE A RIGHT TO REMAIN UNITED. We will not let them divide and conquer us. UNITED WE WILL TAKE A STAND. #TAKINGASTANDSI #RIGHTTOREMAINUNITED