SACRAMENTO, Calif — The Board of Black Lives Matter Sacramento has decided to remove Tanya Faison as Lead Project Director for the organization.
"We had to come to a very challenging and hard decision in terminating the position that Tanya Faison has held with Black Lives Sacramento for some time," said spokesperson Sonia Lewis.
Faison was an outspoken leader who staged protests and sit-ins outside the Sacramento District Attorney's office following the police shooting of Stephon Clark.
"There was so much movement work to be done since Stephon Clark was murdered," said Lewis. "We were in the streets constantly. Planning was a priority rather than addressing issues, and so we want to take a step back and say sorry to the community."
Lewis released a 3-page letter apologizing to the community for several shortcomings.
"Things like dragging people on social media or burning bridges with organizations that are resources in this community," said Lewis.
Faison posted a statement on Facebook.
"I do not plan on stepping down from this chapter. This work, the families, and the greater Black Sacramento community is my first priority. I will continue to keep fighting for justice in our city. I'm glad these issues have been brought to my attention; it allows me to make positive changes within myself so that I can do this work more effectively," said Faison, who is still maintaining the Black Lives Matter Sacramento Facebook page.
"Tanya is controlling all of Black Lives Matter Sacramento's platforms. All social media. All assets. All web pages," said Lewis. "It means that as the majority group we would hope and wish her well in healing. It means that eventually the community will tire of two groups and hopefully other folks will encourage that much-needed rest that we think that she needs."
It also means the group is announcing a new name. They are now called Sacramento for Black Lives.
"Black Lives Matter Sacramento did some fabulous wonderful work in this city," said Lewis. "We have championed a cause that has been ignored for too long. We are now Sacramento for Black Lives. We want to put Sacramento and it's most marginalized communities at the center of and focus of this fight."
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