The group of mothers who acted as a buffer for protesters in Portland is being accused of “anti-blackness” by another advocacy group in the city.
Don’t Shoot PDX posted an extensive message on Instagram urging people to stop supporting Portland Wall of Moms, the team of mothers in yellow shirts that have come between protesters and federal agents in recent weeks.
“The lies are finally clear and we are sad, but ultimately we are not surprised that the anti-blackness showed its ugly face with Wall of Moms,” the black-headed PDX Don’t Shoot wrote Wednesday.
The nonprofit organization accuses the Wall of Moms, which announced Friday that its white members would resign as administrators, of requesting business records with the state behind the newly installed black leadership.
There are also “security concerns” that have come to light in the past 24 hours, Don’t Shoot PDX alleged.
“Black women began to say that they were not protected by the WOM leadership,” the group wrote. “Too often I would be in communication for security, transportation, etc. And when the time came, there would be no answer and no leadership to trust. It has put many on the ground in direct danger. “
Wall of Moms founder Bev Barnum appeared to request three registrations, including one for the group to be nonprofit, the Oregonian reported.
But Don’t Shoot PDX said the move made it clear that Wall of Moms “was not started for BLM, but to get the feds out of PDX [Portland]. “
“Combined with the lack of attention and contempt for black women, we were used to promoting a non-BLM-related agenda,” wrote Don’t Shoot, who had previously partnered with Wall of Moms. Please don’t support this organization anymore. We need everyone to stand up against racism, but prioritizing transparency and accountability is even more crucial. ”
On Twitter, Wall of Moms told a follower that its founder “became rogue” and also tweeted, “Wall of Moms started with a social contract: putting off BLACK voices.” BLACK body shield. The people who joined this mothers movement did so with that understanding. The founder, Bev Barnum, decided to break that social contract. “
Barnum, meanwhile, defended himself on Facebook’s private group Wall of Moms, according to the Oregonian.
“The 501c3 announcement really hurt some of you,” he wrote. “That was never my intention. In fact, it was just the opposite. WOM will be chaired by a BIPOC board and a BIPOC advisory committee. WOM is a group that supports BLM, not a BLM group. If that’s not good enough for you, feel free to leave this group. And if you’re currently volunteering, don’t hesitate to leave your positions. “
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