Amsterdam queer collective X3 to host livestream fundraiser for black initiatives

Amsterdam queer collective X3 is hosting a livestream to raise funds for various black initiatives.

The stream begins at 4 PM CET today, Monday, June 8th, with eight DJs performing until 10 PM. It was originally scheduled to take place at De School, but X3 has since decided to switch venues to Radio Radio, a bar in the city’s Westergas complex.

“We can only create this beautiful and much-needed event when all of our peers stand behind it,” X3 wrote on Instagram. “Due to the lack of action and accountability De School has initiated during this movement, we’ve come to realize this is not the place we should host an event like this.”

Another Instagram post by X3 explains why most of the lineup, which includes KI/KI, LYZZA, Carista, Cinnaman and Jasmín, is white. “We feel like it’s not up to BPOC to do the free labour of raising funds for the injustices black people have to face every day.”

All money raised will be split between Black Lives Matter Fund, Black Trans Women Fund, National Bail Fund Network, The Black Archives and COVID-19 Collective Fund for Trans Communities.

Donate now via Paypal.

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We are now hosting the same event with the same line-up on Monday the 8th of June from 16:00-22:00 at Radio Radio. This also gives us time to make this event extra special. We can only create this beautiful and much needed event when all of our peers stand behind it. Due to the lack of action and accountability De School has initiated during this movement, we’ve come to realize this is not the place we should host an event like this. Since this is initiated by X3 and X3 only, the location confused a lot of people as it wasn’t clear what the involvement of De School was in all of this. X3 is a queer collective, run by two queer women of colour, that always has its main focus on creating safe(r)-spaces for LGBTQ+ and BPOC. And we will continue to do so. We hope you will all be streaming and donating to these important initiatives.

A post shared by X3 (TRIPLE X) (@x3amsterdam) on Jun 3, 2020 at 7:09am PDT

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We have moved the event to Radio Radio. On Monday the 8th of June, X3 is hosting an online fundraiser for black initiatives, a way to be able to financially help and do our part during these times of crisis and civil unrest. We’ve been aware that so many individuals want to say something, do something and want change. One way to do this is to put your money where your mouth is. The line-up consists of: KI/KI Her Again CARISTA Torus Cinnaman Jasmín Nala Brown LYZZA DJ Serene We have put together a line-up of mostly white DJ’s because we feel like it’s not up to BPOC to do the free labour of raising funds for the injustices black people have to face every day. Timetable will follow. Raising funds for: Black Lives Matter Fund, Black Trans Women Fund, National Bail Fund Network, The Black Archives and COVID-19 Collective Fund for Trans Communities. Hope to see you tune in online on Monday. Streaming and donating links will be revealed the day of. Special thanks to Jesse Osborne-Lanthier for the artwork.

A post shared by X3 (TRIPLE X) (@x3amsterdam) on Jun 2, 2020 at 11:04am PDT

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We failed to respond adequately to the ongoing situation and that was inexcusable. We apologise for this and for hurting people by not standing with the black community. We see and acknowledge the criticism from BPOC who often come to our club. We’d like to apologise to them and thank them for speaking up. We haven’t deleted our previous posts because we want to be held accountable for our mistakes and don’t want to erase comments. If you can, please consider donating – link in bio.

A post shared by De School (@deschoolamsterdam) on Jun 2, 2020 at 7:13am PDT