Where We Stand, And How You Can Help_Fashion at Your Feet

We at Sneaker News stand as allies with those fed up with systematic oppression and brutalization of the black community by law enforcement. We understand and support the principles behind the protests. There is an urgency for full reformation of basic protocol on how to handle human situations on the job so that unarmed black men and women stop dying at the hands of the police. The refusal of law enforcement to hold itself accountable and to properly police itself is the reason why protests will not and should not end. To ignore these realities of police brutality is to be complicit with their actions. The “middle ground” that many in today’s society want to safely reside in simply does not exist. You’re either for change and for safe and fair treatment of blacks, or you’re not.

Shop owners who have been affected by looting have been defiantly steadfast in their support of the protest. “Even if you bring the fire to my doorstep, I will stand in it with you” said Bobby Hundreds, co-founder of The Hundreds. Chris Gibbs of Union reminds us: “Please don’t let the looting side show that’s going on distract your attention from the main stage”. Ben Strauss, the face behind Minneapolis-based sneaker consignment shop Ptownkickz, had his shop completely ransacked. He remained his usual energetic self as he sifted through the trash inside his shop, giving his followers a first-hand look at the damages. “Ptownkickz is not a building.”

The sad reality is that nothing will change in a day. This level of reform will take years, just as the Civil Rights movement is still underway after it began in the 1950s. Sneaker News employees have supported and/or taken the time to contribute to the causes below, and we hope you can do the same if you yearn for change. You can be part of that change by signing a petition or donating funds. Anything is better than nothing.