We work locally to share stories, hold our elected officials accountable, and demand justice in the systems that uphold racism right here in Bloomington-Normal. We are encouraged and inspired by the amount of people we’ve seen come out to stand up for Black lives in the past few weeks. Dismantling systemic racism isn’t something that can be done in a matter of days, but requires sustained and continued work. We’ve created these demands to guide us and our collective as we continue to fight for justice and equity in Blono. Sign on to the 5 local Black Lives Matter demands created for our community, by our community:

1. Defund policing
   1. Black Lives Matter Blono calls on the Bloomington City Council, Normal Town Council, and the McLean County Board to publicly commit to never again increasing policing budgets.
      1. Decrease the overall policing budgets by 50% by 2023.
      2. Black Lives Matter Blono calls on the Bloomington Police Department, Normal Police Department, and the McLean Sheriff’s Department to publicly commit to not offering paid leave for misconduct.
   2. BLM Blono calls on all public and private institutions, including all governing bodies and universities, as well as State Farm and other businesses, to completely divest, both financially and politically, from any connection to the prison industrial complex.
2. Invest in initiatives to ensure the survival and success of black people
   1. Black Lives Matter Blono calls for the reinvestment of funds into preventive, supportive, and restorative social services. For example, create a re-entry program for incarcerated people in McLean County, support substance abuse programs, and invest in mental health.
   2. The use of these funds should be transparent and include input from a diverse group of community members.
3. Police free and anti-racist schools
   1. K12
      1. Black Lives Matter Blono calls on District 87, Unit 5, and the Regional Alternative School to sever contracts with BPD, NPD, and ISU PD and eliminate police officers from our schools and invest that money into Black counselors and to incentivize Black educators.
      2. We call on District 87 and Unit 5 to require a Black history class that focuses on the intersection of underrepresented, marginalized, and oppressed groups.
      3. Require cultural sensitivity/diversity/equity training for all employees.
   2. Higher Education
      1. Black Lives Matter Blono calls on Illinois State University, Illinois Wesleyan University, and Heartland Community College to sever ties and contracts with BPD, NPD, ISU PD, and the McLean County Sheriff’s Department.
      2. Require cultural sensitivity/diversity/equity training for all incoming faculty and staff at ISU, IWU, and HCC.
4. End profiteering from incarceration
   1. End cash bail
      1. BLM Blono calls on the State’s Attorney to eliminate the use of cash bond in McLean County.
      2. We call on the Sheriff and all public officials to denounce the use of cash bail.
   2. We call on the McLean County Board to stop profiting off of the McLean County jail.
      1. Sever contracts that make profit off of people who are incarcerated.
5. Expand access to vote
   1. BLM Blono calls on the County Clerk to expand access to voting with more access to early voting options, mail in options, and voter education.