Below is a copy of an email I sent this morning to the Seward Co-Op board. If you would also like to ask these questions, please email board@seward.coop
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Hello,
When I went to shop at the Franklin location at 9am on Sunday, April 18th I was angered and shocked by the presence of a security guard outside the store.
The guard didn’t get in my way, or hassle me. As a white middle-aged man my privilege saves me from such problems. But was angered by the guard’s mere presence.
A guard signals fear. A guard signals that someone is not welcome. A guard destroys community with the clear sign that “some” people are welcome here, but not all.
From the Co-op’s “About Page”
Everyone is welcome to shop at Seward Co-op.
And
we see the co-op as a tool through which to support society’s need for greater racial equity
How does a security guard support these values? Does it support our community members who have been traumatized by law enforcement? Does it improve racial equity by telling our immigrant community members that some random white guy with a badge could prevent them from shopping?
Hiring a security guard comes from a place of fear. And that fear, along with hiring guards to make us feel “safe”, supports white supremacy. Leaning on systems of power and law enforcement in a time of upheaval only strengthens those systems of power and only further excludes those who are struggling against white supremacy.
In a time where Minneapolis is being traumatized, over and over again, by the systems of power, why would the co-op choose to place a security guard out front? How could that guard do anything but re-traumatize our community?
I would like to know the following:
- How the decision to hire the security guard was made
- If the board voted for the presence of the security guard
- What actions will be taken to prevent such traumatizing acts in the future [original-html]
