USA 2020 Elections: Thread

[grarpamp]

> Why BLM Riots Weren't Treated Like Capitol 'Insurrection'

Because it doesn't meet the Democrats Socialist
Marxist Communist agenda for the US...

Leaked State Department Memo Indicates Official Support For BLM Agenda

https://humanevents.com/2021/05/24/breaking-news-leaked-state-department-memo-indicates-official-support-for-blm-agenda/
https://humanevents.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/REDACTED-State-Department-Doc-1.pdf
https://nypost.com/2020/06/25/blm-co-founder-describes-herself-as-trained-marxist/

A source within the Biden State Department wishing to remain anonymous
has shared with Human Events News a document that indicates that all
U.S. “Diplomatic and Consular posts” are being encouraged to display
shows of support for Black Lives Matter on Tuesday, May 25, the
one-year anniversary of George Floyd’s death.  The memo reads in part,
“The Department supports the use of the term ‘Black Lives Matter’ in
messaging content, speeches, and other diplomatic engagements with
foreign audiences to advance racial equity and access to justice on
May 25 and beyond (italics added) We encourage posts to focus on the
need to eliminate systemic racism and its continued impact.”

The memo, which is in part a woke statement on social justice, part an
apology for U.S. actions, and part an endorsement of all BLM
materials, expressly encourages the display of the BLM flag or banner
at U.S. facilities (except on the actual flagpole that holds the
American flag). It reads, in part:

    This cable constitutes a blanket written authorization for
calendar year 2021 from the Under Secretary for Management (M) to
display the BLM flag on the external-facing flagpole to any Chiefs of
Mission who determine such a display is appropriate in light of local
conditions.

Despite the documented actions of BLM protestors during the riots of
2020, and despite the New York Times reporting on their organization’s
declining popularity with American voters, our federal  government has
nonetheless decided to endorse and promote an organization with
admitted Marxist roots as one having ties to our official foreign
offices.



The entirety of the State Department memo has been reproduced below.



*  *  *

UNCLASSIFIED Action Office: ALDACS, PAS, POL, MGT, ECON_EXPANDED, HR,
DAO, LEGAT MRN: 21 STATE 53304 Date/DTG: May 22, 2021 / 222307Z MAY 21
From: SECSTATE WASHDC Action: ALL DIPLOMATIC AND CONSULAR POSTS
COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE E.O.: 13526 TAGS: PREL, PGOV, PHUM, PREF, SMIG,
SOCI, EAID, KDNI, APER, AMGT, KPAO, KWMN, KLGBT, KJUS, KDEM Reference:
A) E.O. 13985 B) 21 STATE 47544 Subject: COMMEMORATING GEORGE FLOYD:
DIPLOMATIC ENGAGEMENT AND USE OF BLACK LIVES MATTER (BLM) LANGUAGE AND
MATERIAL

     (U) This is an action request. Please see paragraphs 13 – 15. 2. (U)

Summary: May 25 marks one year since the brutal murder of George Floyd
by police officers in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Last year, the horrific
video of Mr. Floyd’s final 9 minutes and 29 seconds went viral and
spurred Black Lives Matter protests worldwide, in response to his
senseless killing and to demand an end to systemic racism and police
brutality. One year later, many in the international community will
honor Mr. Floyd and acknowledge the long journey nations face to
advance racial justice. Leading up to May 25, the Department has
issued guidance on the use of Black Lives Matter language, banners,
and flags. End Summary.

 Context

     (U) May 25 marks the one-year commemoration of George Floyd’s
murder. For 9 minutes and 29 seconds, the world saw firsthand how
police officers brutally took the life of an unarmed Black man in the
United States. These viral images ignited national and global Black
Lives Matter (BLM) protests and demonstrations. This tragedy joined a
long line of Black men and women who have suffered at the hands of
police brutality. These national and global protests sparked a
movement to confront systems perpetuating deep-seated inequities
rooted in colonialism and the oppression of racial, tribal, ethnic,
and other minority communities. Mr. Floyd’s murder prompted an
international outcry to seek racial justice and equity by dismantling
systemic racism and eradicating police brutality affecting communities
of color, most acutely, people of African descent.

     (U) On January 20, as one of his first official actions,
President Biden issued Executive Order 13985 to advance racial equity
and support for underserved communities (reftel 21 STATE 47544). This
effort is a top priority for the Administration’s domestic and foreign
policy; the United States cannot credibly message on human rights
abroad if it does not address these same issues at home. To achieve
his policy objectives, President Biden issued several additional
executive actions to support underserved communities and advance
racial equity, which notably include: • Memorandum Condemning and
Combating Racism, Xenophobia, and Intolerance Against Asian Americans
and Pacific Islanders in the United States • Executive Order #14020 on
Establishment of the White House Gender Policy Council, and •
Presidential Memorandum on Advancing the Human Rights of Lesbian, Gay,
Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Intersex (LGBTQI+) Persons Around
the World.

A National Security Priority: Racial Equity and Support for
Underserved Communities

     (U) The Department’s policy efforts with respect to advancing
racial equity as part of supporting our national security interests
are as follows:  • Partnering with like-minded nations and civil
society stakeholders to counter disinformation, propaganda, and the
concerted malign influence of state and non-state actors which sow
racial discord among communities, undermining democratic norms. •
Promoting democratic principles, fighting corruption, increasing
access to justice through reform efforts, and raising awareness of the
prevalence and effect of discrimination against members of racial,
ethnic, and underserved communities. • Combating violence and
discrimination against members of racial, ethnic, and other
underserved communities. • Building coalitions of like-minded nations
and engaging international organizations in the fight against systemic
racism and discrimination, to include swift and meaningful responses
to human rights abuses and violations of racial, ethnic, and other
underserved and mainstream racial equity issues throughout the
multilateral system. • Expanding efforts to ensure regular U.S.
federal government engagement with foreign governments, citizens,
civil society, and the private sector promotes respect for the human
rights of members of racial, ethnic, and other underserved
communities. • Empowering local movements to advance the human rights
of members of racial, ethnic, and other underserved communities
through efforts that strengthen the capacity of civil society.

Press Guidance and Statements: Black Lives Matter and Commemoration of
George Floyd’s Murder

     (U) The documents below provide talking points and press guidance
on racial inequity and discrimination: • Press Guidance: Racial
Justice in Foreign Policy in Content Commons, dated 1/28/2021. • Press
Guidance: Thematic Guidance – Human Rights Report and Toplines for the
Human Rights Reports in Content Commons, both dated 4/2/2021. • Joint
Statement on Countering Racism and Racial Discrimination, Human Rights
Council 46th Session, dated 3/19/2021. • Statement During the Adoption
of the Third Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of the United States, as
delivered by Lisa Peterson, DRL Acting Assistant Secretary, dated
3/17/2021.• Remarks by Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield on the
International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, dated
3/19/2021.

Background of Black Lives Matter Movement

     (U) According to the Office of U.S. Special Counsel, “As a social
movement, BLM gained prominence following a series of high-profile
killings of Black Americans in 2013 and 2014 and, in particular, the
acquittal of George Zimmerman for the killing of Trayvon Martin. The
movement appears to have begun organically on social media. The phrase
‘Black Lives Matter’ then became a rallying cry for protesters and
organizations seeking to raise awareness of, and respond to, issues
associated with racism in the United States. BLM is thus an umbrella
term for a constellation of ideas, objectives, and groups. There is no
‘leader’ of the BLM movement. Rather, there are numerous organizations
that use BLM terminology to varying degrees, including some whose
names include the phrase ‘Black Lives Matter.’ Of these, the most
prominent is the Black Lives Matter Global Network (BLMGN).”

Use of Black Lives Matter Language in Diplomatic Engagements

     (U) The United States remains concerned about the racial
inequities of underserved communities, both domestically and abroad.
The Department supports the use of the term “Black Lives Matter” in
messaging content, speeches, and other diplomatic engagements with
foreign audiences to advance racial equity and access to justice on
May 25 and beyond. We encourage posts to focus on the need to
eliminate systemic racism and its continued impact.

Participation in Black Lives Matter-related Activities

     (U) As outlined by 2020 guidance from the U.S. Office of Special
Counsel, the “Hatch Act generally allows employees to engage in
BLM-related activity while on duty or in the workplace. But, as
described below, employees are still prohibited from combining
BLM-related activity with ‘political activity’ while on duty or in the
workplace and from engaging in partisan political fundraising in
connection with BLM-related organizations. ‘Political activity’ is an
‘activity directed toward the success or failure of a political party,
candidate for partisan political office, or partisan political group.”

Guidance on Black Lives Matter Banner Displays

     (U) Any BLM-related displays within the interior of the mission,
or exterior displays other than the display of a BLM flag on the
flagpole (e.g., a banner over the door, BLM spotlights, projections,
etc.) are at the Chief of Mission’s discretion.

     (U) As outlined below, Chiefs of Mission may decide to hang BLM
flags, as appropriate and depending on local context. This cable
constitutes a blanket written authorization for calendar year 2021
from the Under Secretary for Management (M) to display the BLM flag on
the external-facing flagpole to any Chiefs of Mission who determine
such a display is appropriate in light of local conditions. This is an
authorization, not a requirement.

     (U) U.S. law at 4 U.S.C. section 7(f) provides that “[w]hen flags
of States, cities, or localities, or pennants of societies are flown
on the same halyard with the flag of the United States, the latter
should always be at the peak. When the flags are flown from adjacent
staffs, the flag of the United States should be hoisted first and
lowered last. No such flag or pennant may be placed above the flag of
the United States or to the right of the U.S. flag.” The Black Lives
Matter flag, and/or any other types of affinity flags, should be
treated as pennants of societies in accordance with this provision,
and accordingly, when displayed alongside the U.S. flag either indoors
or outdoors, should always be placed in a subordinate position.
Regarding the external, public-facing flagpole of all U.S. missions,
the written approval of the Secretary, through the Under Secretary for
Management (M), is necessary to display any flag other than the U.S.
flag, a Foreign Service flag, or a POW/MIA flag. As noted above, this
cable constitutes blanket written authorization to display the BLM
flag on the external-facing flagpole during calendar year 2021.

Action Request

     (U) Posts are strongly encouraged to make full use of Department
and Interagency tools and resources to promote policy objectives to
advance racial equity and support for underserved communities
throughout the year, including with a particular focus on May 25 and
during June to commemorate Juneteenth and lesser-known racially
motivated attacks such as the Tulsa Race Massacre – the 100th
anniversary of which will take place May 31 – June 1, 2021. On May 24,
GPA will release a compilation video featuring messages from activists
around the world on the importance of global racial justice as part of
a playbook with language for the anniversary of George Floyd’s murder.
This video compilation will also feature senior Department leaders to
demonstrate the Administration’s commitment to racial equity and
support for underserved communities.

     (U) Posts may pull from DRL’s library of evergreen content,
including its civil rights toolkit and its Juneteenth toolkit, the
latter of which will have new material in early June. DRL is creating
a mini toolkit to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Tulsa Race
Massacre and will send that to Posts during the last week of May.
Posts should also look for articles from GPA’s Share America office on
both topics. Content Commons may also contain resources. Public
Affairs sections should leverage ECA programs to advance this priority
at post. The following are a few programming suggestions: • Use
resources at American Spaces, including digital resources; • Work with
Alumni Coordinators to engage networks of alumni and current U.S. and
incountry exchange participants to draw on their experience and
expertise; • Hold open conversations with target audiences using
ECA-curated racial inclusion films; • Request an in-person or virtual
expert from the ECA U.S. Speaker Program, actively recruit
professionals for International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) and
IVLP On-Demand Programs from underserved communities as well as those
working on efforts advance racial equity incountry. It is important
for us to continue planning events, activities, and messages to
demonstrate the commitment of the U.S. government and efforts by
American communities to overcome racism, including by acknowledging
historical events and tragedies and their lasting impact today.

     (U) The Department stands ready to assist Posts in their efforts
to develop and implement equity-related programming, outreach, and
events.  Posts are requested to use the Diversity and Inclusion (KDNI)
tag when reporting these activities via front-channel as appropriate.
The Deputy Secretary for Management and Resources, the Chief Diversity
and Inclusion Officer, and regional bureaus will collect information
to be included for reporting to the White House required by E.O. 13985
to advance racial equity and support for underserved communities.
Posts may contact D-MR staff with questions at equity at state.gov.

Signature: Blinken