Protect Black Women Who Lead: Safety, Solidarity and Accountability in Solano County
A Call for Safety, Solidarity & Accountability in Solano County
Black women have the right to lead without fear.
Across Solano County, Black women elected officials, public servants and community leaders have reported troubling incidents of harassment, intimidation, threatening communications, doxxing, cyberbullying and hostile public confrontations connected to their public leadership.
Some have faced the disclosure or circulation of personal information, sustained online attacks, threats affecting their sense of personal safety, and circumstances requiring heightened security or law-enforcement involvement.
This is not simply the cost of public service. And we will not normalize it.
Political disagreement is democracy. Threats and intimidation are not.
BWOPA California and the BWOPA Solano/Napa Chapter strongly support vigorous political debate, peaceful protest, public accountability and the right to challenge elected officials.
But there is a line. Doxxing is not debate. Cyberbullying is not accountability. Threatening someone's safety or targeting her family is not legitimate political participation.
Online harassment can also have real-world consequences. Publishing or circulating personal information, directing hostile online audiences toward an individual, repeatedly targeting someone through digital platforms, or using racialized and gendered attacks to intimidate a leader can create legitimate concerns for her safety and that of her family.
No Black woman should have to choose between serving her community and protecting herself or her family.
We Are Calling for Action
We call upon local government, law enforcement, public agencies, civic institutions and community leaders throughout Solano County to work together to:
- Take credible threats, doxxing, stalking, cyber harassment and intimidation seriously and ensure they receive timely review and appropriate response;
- Strengthen safety planning and coordination for elected officials and public servants facing credible threats;
- Establish clear and confidential pathways for reporting threats, intimidation and concerning behavior;
- Strengthen safety protocols for public meetings and other civic spaces while protecting lawful public participation and free expression;
- Document patterns of threatening and intimidating conduct so appropriate authorities can determine when further intervention is warranted; and
- Publicly reject racialized and gendered harassment intended to intimidate Black women or drive them from public life.
Silence Is Not Neutral
We are also calling upon faith leaders, civil-rights organizations, Divine Nine organizations, Black chambers, labor, businesses, civic organizations, elected officials and residents to stand publicly with Black women who lead.
Solidarity cannot only appear at celebrations and ceremonies. It must also be visible when Black women are being targeted, threatened or intimidated.
Add Your Name. By signing this petition, you are saying:
- I stand with Black women who serve.
- I stand with Black women who lead.
- I stand against doxxing and cyberbullying.
- I stand against threats and intimidation.
- I stand against racialized and gendered harassment.
- I stand for accountability without dehumanization.
- I stand for democracy without fear.
This is bigger than one leader, one office or one political issue. When intimidation is used to frighten people out of public participation, our democracy suffers.
Your signature sends a clear message: Black women who step forward to lead will not stand alone.
PROTECT BLACK WOMEN WHO LEAD.
Safety. Solidarity. Accountability.
SOLANO COUNTY STANDS TOGETHER.
BWOPA California | BWOPA Solano/Napa Chapter
Building Black political power. Protecting Black leadership. Strengthening democracy.
#ProtectBlackWomenWhoLead | #SolanoCountyStandsTogether