“On May 25th, 2020, White Minnesota Police department Officer Derek Chauvin killed (murdered) a Black man named George floyd after kneeling on his neck for nearly 8 minutes and forty six seconds. The incident sparked a months-long wave of nationwide protests against police brutality and related injustices against Black Americans.”-UF University Archives
On June 2nd 2020 The Bronx Native Owner, released the audio statement you are currently listening to via @bronxnative on Instagram. What’s up everyone. I know we are going through some very difficult times. Bronx Native stands with its black brothers and sisters in solidarity.
“We stand with all the victims of racism, inequality and injustice.Today we’ve taken out everything from our shop and blocked our shop because of the looting and riots. We just want to tell everyone out there that is our home, this is our community, this is our neighborhood. Please, all of the small businesses out there… DO NOT LOOT THEM! DO NOT GO IN! DO NOT BREAK IN! This is our livelihood, me as a small business owner would very much appreciate that.” Essentially declaring property over people.
“How can a community loot or destroy a neighborhood that it does not own?”
On June 4th, In the so-called Bronx, members of the Mott Haven Collective, headed BLM’s call to action, mobilizing and organizing what today is known as the Mott Haven Uprisings. Peaceful protesters embodied their 1st amendment rights and marched around the neighborhood, not only chanting but inspiring the local residents who could be seen banging pots in excitement.
The NYPD planned a systemic response to the peaceful protesters marching through Mott Haven, ultimately kettling them, assaulting them with pepper spray, mountain bikes and metal batons. Over 300 people were arrested and or injured during the attack. Bronx Native reposted and shared violent images from that day, averaging 6000 likes per post.
In a court transcript obtained from NYPD Chief Terence Monahan’s testimony regarding the “Mott Haven Uprisings” and brutal kettling of protesters, the now retired Police Chief stated “… were quite concerned… we had intelligence coming in that they wanted to cause damage… there were numerous calls from elected officials… and from the [Bronx] Chamber of Commerce, from the Hub saying that… looting was going to take place”
The Bronx Native shop is a member of the “New Bronx Chamber of Commerce”, an organization spearheaded by Lisa Sorin, who is the current President and sits on the board of many Bronx Based Institutions including but not limited to the Bronx Council on the Arts. He is a usual at “NBxCC” events, most of which are private or members only. “The Hub” or the “Third Ave Bid” was run by then President, Michael Brady, who has since stepped down to focus on private enterprises. Michael Brady has been a vocal supporter of the Bronx Native Shop and can be seen at several of the Bronx Native’s anniversary events as well other public celebratory engagements.
On June 6th, The Bronx Native released back to back Instagram posts, one passively declaring that “Black Lives Matter” and the other gleefully announcing that the “Bronx Native Shop had been saved”. No other statement was released from the allegedly community minded business, aside from more reposts of local activists who were on the ground at the time., Grullon, a usual at large scale events and rallies, was nowhere to be seen.
On June 9, 2020 the Bronx Native created it’s first announcement since June 2nd, advertising new “Black Lives Matter shirts” would be available by “this weekend”. Rather than offering up his “cultural hub”, as described by Ruben Diaz Jr, to the community he claims to care about so dearly, he instead closed the shop for several days only to emerge about a week after with new merch to sling. The shop claims that 100% of the proceeds would go to BLM but we have no proof of that and no proof if the proceeds from recent merch sales are being donated. Furthermore, “BLM” has been criticized by it’s very own constituents for mishandling funds, sums of millions of unaccounted for dollars, and lack of acknowledgement of prominent elders of the BLM movement.
If Amaurys truly cared about the community; money raised from his blm “click bait” t-shirt line could have been donated as reparations or even legal fees for the protesters who were arrested.
As someone who has the ears of major politicians, such as Vanessa Gibson, Ruben Diaz Jr. and Michael Blake, he could have used his influence and connection to serve his community members but instead emphasized the importance of his shop in the community. To reiterate, during perhaps one of the most traumatic time period’s of our lifetimes, from Covid-19 to the indefinite lockdown, the curfew, the attack and kettling of community members during the Mott Haven uprisings, Amaurys only cared about saving his shop.
Let that sink in.
*updated Nov. 25, 2024
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