Vinegar Strokes launches #ItCouldBe campaign to highlight anti-Black violence
"It’s time for all of us to speak up."
By Will Stroude
Vinegar Strokes has launched a new campaign to highlight anti-Black violence following the killing of George Floyd at the hands of US police.
The Drag Race UK star is using her platform to remind people of the dangers faced by black people due to systemic racist oppression and violence by sharing a picture of themselves with a sign of someone who could be targeted next.
The #ItCouldBe campaign has seen Vinegar’s own family members, including her mother and brother, make contributions, as well as her Drag Race UK drags sister Divina de Campo, Cheryl Hole and Blu Hydrangea.
“Today I’m launching the #ItCouldBe… campaign in direct response to the brutality faced by people of colour”, Vinegar wrote on social media on Sunday (31 May).
“I’ve been utterly horrified by those in power using it to silence and kill so many of us. Brutality, racism and white supremacy has no place in our world.
“The direct attacks of recent days reminds us that the very existence as POC remains political and routed in racism and prejudice.
“#BlackLivesMatter. We should be seen, heard and treated as equal. And it’s time for all of us to speak up and end racism.”
The Birmingham-born queen went on: “REMINDER: It’s not the responsibility for us people of colour to eradicate white supremacy from society. It’s our collective fight together, with YOU white allies, that we will see an equal society for all. There is no ‘us and them’ at a time like this.
“I want to highlight how possible it could be that ANY OF US are the next person innocently targeted or even killed because of their ‘profile’ through a series of photographs.
“It’s important we all stand together – our white allies too – and wipe out white supremacy from our planet.
“Share your photo with the hashtag #ItCouldBe… and stand with the BAME community in recognising the daily injustice we face, and the hope of protecting us from being next
“SILENCE IS NOT AN OPTION WHEN YOU ARE UNDER THREAT.”