The Black Unity 24/7 Protest camp sits aggressively across from the downtown LA city hall. You can’t miss it because their message is clear. The occupiers, who pledge allegiance to the community organization called Black Unity, say they want justice.
Protesters have occupied downtown Los Angeles’ Grand Park in support of justice reform since mid-June, but the camp recently came under Black Unity control in early-July. Since it’s inception, the area has functioned as a hub for those who rally in support of movements such as Black Lives Matter, the People’s Budget, and the defund the police agenda.
However, despite their ideological similarities, Black Unity camp occupier and filmmaker RJ Dawson states that Black Unity is made up of “independent protesters” and thus has no direct affiliation with the Black Lives Matter movement.
“We’re not associated with Black Lives Matter. We’re associated with ourselves. This group here, Black Unity, is trying to represent Black Unity but also trying to revolutionize the ideas of black empowerment, of people empowerment, [and what] unity looks like. [We’re] trying to model ideally what we’d want society to look like. Like, what is a truly equitable and free society. That’s one of the ideals that this base exists around.” RJ told DTLA Weekly.
According to RJ, the Black Unity camp isn’t just for black people or an idea. It’s an all inclusive-community established for the greater good. The small camp is largely resourced by donations and outfitted with all the amenities needed to sustain life. There is a kitchen, library, tents, crafts, common area, and even a garden. The camp has also serviced as an education space and entertainment hub with movie nights that include screenings of films and documentaries such as Do The Right Thing, I Am Not Your Negro, and 13th.
These luxuries are welcoming to people from all walks of life and some occupiers want to see a stricter vetting process for membership, but there are no elected officials nor hierarchy which makes enforcement of these practices difficult. However, despite the lack of centralized control, morale remains high in the camp because members are always actively engaged in what they specialize in, activism.
“We look at our resources to see where we can allot people. Who can go here, who can go there? We try to build a space for the community.” said RJ.
One of the goals of the Black Unity 24/7 Protest Camp is to become the next Capital Hill Autonomous Zone (CHAZ) and/or police-free autonomous society with its own community guidelines. The group has reinforced this ideology by posting a list of demands that includes everything from LAPD reform to state-funded education opportunities. Occupants have also expressed that they refuse to leave until all their demands are met.
DTLA Weekly was unable to receive comment from Grand Park and it is unknown if this goal aligns with the Grand Park policies, but the Grand Park website does mention that the establishment prides themselves on being a “gathering space that produces cultural programming” and that “they stand against systemic violence and injustice.”
As a result, the Black Unity 24/7 protest camp has faced little resistance from local law enforcement. Black Unity tells DTLA Weekly that this is a direct result of the base being exempt from LAPD enforcement as Grand Park is county-owned and thus falls into the jurisdiction of the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department (LASD). But the Black Unity camp doesn’t see LASD as a primary concern for the Black Unity camp as they believe the agency needs a solid reason to remove the Black Unity camp from the land because their mission is entirely peaceful.
“We are purposeful in what we’re doing. Do you know what I mean? It’s not like we just showed up angry and we’re yelling. No, we’re very purposeful with the way that we come here and we come here to help. We come here to give to the community. We come here to support other people. We come here to protect those that need protection. So I feel like it’s going to be very difficult to find a reason to push us away when we’ve only come here for good reasons.” RJ told DTLA Weekly.
The camp was initially occupied by the Black Future Project but recently changed ownership in early July due to what Black Unity members described as an “internal conflict”. Black Future Project founder, James Butler has since established a stronghold elsewhere but remains present within the activist community. Butler tells DTLA Weekly that they were inspired to create a 24/7 protest platform after LAPD lifted the city-wide curfew.
“We were like, oh, let’s make a 24/7 protest camp where we can not only plan protest strategies but also have a base where we can conduct these uncomfortable conversations about race and the problems going on in our world. And how we can rectify these issues together,” said Butler in a statement.
Black Unity Protest Camp occupier RJ has described the camp’s relationship with the Black Future Project as “fine” and suggests that there is no hostility between the two factions and insists that Black Unity camp occupiers have dismissed the drama because they believe the greater cause is the only thing that matters.
“There was definitely a split. Probably I’d say, in approach to ideologies that occur. And there was a bit of fallout but I think that the movement is bigger than that. Everyone knows that we’re here for a greater cause. So, the drama or whatever you wanna call it means nothing as long as we’re fighting for the rights of people of color and everybody within that spectrum.” said RJ.
