Dear Mayor Garcetti,

The Belarusian community of Los Angeles and our allies are reaching out to you with a plea for solidarity with our home country.

In the past months, the people of Belarus united in an unprecedented civil movement to stand up to the regime of Alexander Lukashenka, Europe's last dictator, which has lasted for 26 years. After the campaign marred by widespread voter suppression, electoral fraud, oppression of the press, repressions against his challengers, and a gruesome disregard to all democratic practices, on the election night of August 9, 2020, Lukashenka, unable to admit his defeat, has resorted to a violent crackdown on peaceful protesters all across Belarus in a brutal attempt to salvage his regime. Belarusians are being beaten, jailed, raped, and tortured in police custody for the single offense of demanding an open, free, and fair election. In a criminal endeavor to silence the protesters, the regime has unleashed an unprecedented wave of indiscriminate violence, employing water cannons, stun grenades, rubber bullets, tear gas, ruthless beating, and, in several cases, firearms, killing at least two unarmed civilians. Over 7,000 have been detained during peaceful protests or kidnapped from the streets since August 9, 2020.

Yet, the regime has failed to discourage and silence the people of Belarus. Hundreds of thousands of people continue to march through Belarusian cities and towns. Workers in all major industries have gone on an indefinite strike to demand a new and fair election. The Belarusian community all over the world has risen together in a shared feeling of pain, outrage, unity, and hope for a better future. Many politicians and celebrities, including several here in the United States, have voiced their support for Belarus and condemnation of Lukashenka's regime. We are asking you to join in this wave of solidarity by lighting up Los Angeles City Hall in with white, red, and white, the colors of our historical national flag, which has become the symbol of the movement. This act of solidarity would mean the world to us.

For more information, please read the following:

• One Week After Election, Belarus Sees Giant Protests Against 'Europe's Last Dictator.' NPR. August 16, 2020
• Belarusians accuse authorities of torture and humiliation during mass detentions. CNN, August 14, 2020
• Workers Join Belarus Protests, as Leader’s Base Turns Against Him. The New York Times. August 14, 2020
• What's behind the Belarus protests? The Washington Post. August 14, 2020
• Belarus: Mounting evidence of a campaign of widespread torture of peaceful protesters. Amnesty International. August 13, 2020
• Belarus election: Police use live fire on protesters in Brest. BBC. August 12, 2020
• Secretary Pompeo's interview with Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty about the situation in Belarus. August 12, 2020
• Secretary Pompeo's statement on the presidential election in Belarus. August 10, 2020

Sincerely,

Belarusian community and allies