An internal memo from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee about Black Lives Matter has leaked to the public, thanks to Guccifer 2.0.
In it, the 2015 memo outlined what are believed to be “best practices” to prepare candidates and campaign staff who might be questioned about or by BLM organizers.
Issued by DCCC Diversity Director, Troy Perry, the two-page memo advises his constituents to stay away from phrases like, “all lives matter” and “black on black crime” which he described as being “the worst response” that would result in “media scrutiny” and would “anger BLM activists.”
The language in the memo reads quite sterile while offering generic talking points like, “A history of systemic racism continues to confront the daily lives of African Americans,” to help Democrats not, “struggle to respond” to issues concerning BLM.
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Black Lives Matter organizers have since issued a statement on Facebook expressing their disappointment at the DCCC for their placating response to demands. They go on to say, “Black communities deserve to be heard, not handled. People are dying.”
BLM took issue with the tone of the memo, which seemed to patronize the efforts of the organization that has worked to raise the national consciousness about issues that impact African-Americans.
“Whether Republican, Democrat or otherwise, our elected officials have an ethical and democratic responsibility to make legislation that reflects the needs of their constituents. That includes Black people facing life-threatening challenges because of racist, failed policies,” they wrote in their statement.
They go on to say:
We demand, and are fighting every day for, a radical transformation of American democracy where all Black lives are valued. We expect that our elected officials will stop pacifying and take us seriously.
We encourage all policymakers and elected officials to read the Movement for Black Lives policy platform and commit to legislation in the first 100 days that ensures that #BlackLivesMatter.