Over 35,000 Signatures On BLM/Rizzuto Petition
[Updated] The “Bermuda Solidarity with BLM & Rejection of Rizzuto Appointment as US Consul General” online petition has attained over 25,000 signatures in the past two days, with the petition having the stated aim of “letting the world know that our 21 square miles has no more space for racists and we reject Rizzuto.”
Screenshot from the petition website:
The petition states, “Bermuda is a small 21 square mile rock in the middle of the Atlantic. Often we watch the world, especially our closest neighbour America — 800 miles away, and stay silent, lest we upset the perceived superpowers and the business stops coming.
“But today we stand with Black people from across the diaspora who are rising up to fight injustice, police brutality and white supremacy. We join the global call for the arrests of the murderers of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Tony McDade and the countless other Black, Brown, and Indigenous people who have suffered by the hands of those who were sworn to protect them.”
The petition added that “in addition to adding our voices to this critical issue, we want to alert the international media to our displeasure that America’s president has appointed one of his cronies and donors” to a position at the US Consulate in Bermuda.
“Lee Rizzuto Jr. had his Barbados Ambassadorship blocked by the Republican-controlled Senate because he was deemed unfit and yet he will now be foisted upon Bermuda,” the petition said.
The petition also calls for “a full review with a goal to implementation of the 2019 Racial Justice Platform created by the Citizens for Uprooting Racism in Bermuda.”
In addition to the petition, people held a protest outside the U.S. Consulate in Devonshire on June 1st, with those chanting terms including “21 square miles, no space for racism,” “Black Lives Matter” and “Reject Rizzuto”
A look at the protest held outside the US Consulate on June 1st:
Update 5.52pm: There are now over 35,000 signatures on the petition.
So what? Petitions get ignored around here, as we have seen before.
100% BS!
Ok 35,000 people really? Only 25% of households in Bermuda even have a computer / internet based on Digicel and OneComm marketing so that’s BS!
This protest was fed to foreign progressive groups outside of Bermuda, so the 26,000-something signatures are not organic, and the organizers have no rules in place to ensure that only those with interests in Bermuda are able to sign. Once again, foreign actors interfere in Bermudian interests.
I bet most didn’t even really make an Informed decision to sign ! Did they Research the titles/names of the #hashtags they are putting their signatures behind¿?????¿
It’s great to see people coming together collectively for a good cause. But don’t be fooled by the media oakey doekey mis information given about any emotional subjects that effect your own community.
Think with your brains ! Not your Heart! Who’s funding these movements and what’s the Real Agenda ?????
I would be happy to sign….however I am a U.S. resident who feels that Bermuda is her “ home away from home “ by virtue of my at least twenty visits to your beautiful island over the years ! I would hate to see a trump appointee bringing his poison to you !
Amen!
Stand FIRM, Bermuda!! This dude could try to sink us. Get him out before he attempts any thing bordering nonsense!!!
You really are stupid.
Bermuda has absolutely no say in what this guy does.
You’re completely stupid to think otherwise.
Amen!
Sooo a foreign hand came to influence our land and we’re fine with that.
People swallow and dont even chew.
Reject Rizzuto
First I read about him and there is nothing so far that suggests he is racists. Did they really do their own investigation or were they told. Consulate Reps are their for their own people like Americans, grant visas and documents.If granted can assist the country they are stationed at. He is also a Trump supporter and if anybody did their homework first about Trump, they would understand why he is here. Do your homework first and stop believing in fake news and reports. People on this island need to wake up to the truth not fake BS crap. Consulates do not make changes in the country so where do they get that information?
You sound like an angry MAGA racist yourself. Of course you are defending another racist and elitist!