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Media contact: Kelly Davidson info@kellymavenmedia.com 301.300.4011 September 15, 2021 DENVER - We affirm the Denver Public Schools for taking the sexual assault allegations against board member Tay Anderson seriously by starting an investigation into his reported harmful behavior. We understand there is some public confusion about allegations and our involvement. While continuing to protect the women who came to us for support, there are some facts we want to make clear: 1. Earlier this year we became aware of a Black woman who said she had been assaulted by Anderson. Through being in contact with her we learned what she needed for her healing. This resulted in our March statement, at her request, and our desire to protect other women who might come into contact with Anderson. 2. We believe in and work through a restorative justice framework. Part of this framework includes attempting to contact someone and address issues with them privately.However, we are also aware that this step cannot happen when the person who has experienced harm feels unsafe. There have been many cases of restorative justice where allowing the accused to obtain prior knowledge of the accusations and control of the narrative result in further harm to the survivor and their community. Our goal was to avoid that outcome and protect any women impacted at all costs. 3. Anderson’s alleged problematic behavior predates this most recent case. We’ve attempted to meet with Anderson and as of this date he has not responded. 4. We believe Black women. Full stop. Our involvement and statement aren’t motivated by anything other than our commitment to believe women who say they have been harmed and to prevent further harm. We are not investigating or participating in any litigation, so this will be the last we comment publicly while the truth is sought and appropriate actions are taken. We will continue to be a fierce protector for our community, sexual assault and domestic violence survivors and connect them with community supports to help them heal and move forward. One of our main purposes since inception has been to support Black community and help pave a path to liberation. For more information about our mission, members, and work, visit blacklivesmatter5280.com.

Thanks to a partnership with our friends at Moonshot edVentures , donations made between now and Friday 6/25 will be DOUBLED! To Donate: 1. Go here 2. Select your donation amount 3. Under "DESIGNATION", scroll down to select "Black Lives Matter 5280 Freedom School" 4. Enter your payment and contact information 5. Click "Donate One Time" 6. Forward this to 10 people in your community and ask them to support equity in education by donating to the 5280 Freedom School!

We are pleased to announce a BLM5280 COVID-19 Vaccine Drive in partnership with Denver Department of Public Health and Environment and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Early College. Date: Tuesday, April 27th 9am - 3pm Location: Dr. MLK Jr. Early College, 19535 E 46th Ave Denver, CO 80249 Insurance is NOT required! Immigration status is NOT a factor! Vaccine type: Moderna Please make your informed decision to get vaccinated and register online at tinyurl.com/BLM5280Vaccine

During the Denver City Council Safety, Housing, Education, and Homelessness Committee meeting on March 24, 2021, DPD Chief Pazen provided a community update on the co-responder program and the Support Team Assistance Response (STAR) program. Chief Pazen inaccurately reported that BLM 5280 had representation on the group that aided in creating the STAR program. BLM 5280 nor any of its individual members sit on this advisory board. Chief Pazen nor his team consulted us on this presentation and did not even notify us of the presentation. We support the need for non-law enforcement community responses to 9-1-1 and crisis calls, such as the STAR pilot program. We would not work with law enforcement-led co-responder models, which send police officers and mostly white social workers to calls. The current co-responder models lack trauma-informed care through sending law enforcement to crisis calls. We encourage community engagement and involvement in conversations around public safety and policy changes regarding public safety. Oftentimes, Black people and communities (particularly Black women and Black LGBTQIA folx) are not invited to these conversations. As a chapter, we are also not invited to the table in these conversations, or our input is disregarded. If you want to know about the work that BLM 5280 is doing in the community, please consult our social media pages or our newly revamped website: www.blacklivesmatter5280.com. Questions? Contact blacklivesmatter5280@gmail.com