How to Stay Informed, Vocal and Safe
An urgent call to implement positive systemic change.
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Now and always, we stand as allies in the fight against racism. It is not enough to mourn past injustices with the benefit of hindsight. The continued presence of systemic racism is unjust, inhumane and must end. This current moment demands mobilization and action. This current moment demands understanding and compassion. This current moment demands that we unite.
We will be utilizing our platforms to provide resources on how to show support and get involved. We can and will do better everyday, for every life. Please stay informed, vocal and safe.
While by no means a comprehensive list, information on how to support local initiatives making positive impacts can be found via the following links:
Official George Floyd Memorial Fund
This fund aims to raise awareness of the murder of the unarmed 46-year-old African American Minnesota resident, and to help cover the family’s funeral and legal expenses as they seek justice for George Floyd.
The petition currently stands as the largest U.S. petition of all time according to Change.org. It aims to raise awareness of police violence and killings of unarmed African Americans. The end goal is to reach the attention of Minnesota Mayor Jacob Frey and DA Mike Freeman to prosecute all four of the officers involved.
The Minnesota Freedom Fund is a local nonprofit group that pays for criminal bails and immigration bonds. The organization has vowed to help free protesters incarcerated by police.
Campaign Zero takes a data-driven approach in the search to end police violence in America. The organization aims to limit police interventions through improving community interactions and ensuring accountability.
Know Your Rights is a campaign founded by former NFL quarterback and current activist Colin Kaepernick. The goal is to raise awareness on higher education, give people of color the tools for self-empowerment and teach valuable instructions on how to properly interact with law enforcement in any scenario.
Fair Fight aims to end systemic voter suppression from illegal voting roll purges and gerrymandering efforts to the closing of poll centers that directly affects minority citizens.
Committee to Protect Journalists
The Committee to Protect Journalists is an independent, nonprofit organization promoting press freedoms throughout the world. The organization defends journalistic rights to “report the news safely and without fear of reprisal.”
Amnesty International has been fighting global human abuses since 1961. The operation has over 8 million supporters worldwide and has brought torturers to justice, stood up for the oppressed and championed individual and collective freedoms including gun control, climate change and discrimination.
Founded in 1998, the Trevor Project has been providing suicide prevention and crisis intervention services to the LGBTQ community with a focus on those who are under 25 years old. The organization also hosts workshops, ally training, and TrevorSpace — a social networking community for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning youth to connect with friends and allies.
National Center for Transgender Equality
The National Center for Transgender Equality helps to increase understanding and acceptance of transgender people. They advocate changes in policies to prevent discrimination, violence and injustice so that the transgender community can not only survive in the present but thrive through acceptance with recently implemented projects like their Racial and Economic Justice Initiative.
Pride Fund to End Gun Violence
The Pride Fund to End Gun Violence was created as a Political Action Committee after the worst mass shooting in modern U.S. history targeted the LGBTQ community at Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida. They support government candidates who approach firearm reform in a sensible way, mobilizing the community and raising awareness in an effort to stop senseless gun tragedies.
Many citizens are currently going hungry. The Food Bank of New York City does more than just aim to eliminate hunger throughout the five boroughs. It champions programs for children (currently one out of every six kids goes hungry in the city) and is undertaking elevated programs to expand its reach during the COVID-19 crisis.
Venture House is a New York City non-profit community-based mental health agency and a member of Clubhouse International. The organization helps empower adults who are living with mental illness achieve recovery through access to employment, education, affordable housing and an environment driven by meaningful and engaged relationships.
Black Visions Collective is a Black, Trans, and Queer-led organization dedicated to creating systems transformation through Black and collective liberation. Committed to expanding the power of Black people across the Twin Cities metro area and Minnesota, BLVC also delivers mobilization and action goals as part of a national coalition that aims to advance a shift in public narrative that connects to long-term change.
Black Lives Matter Global Network
Founded in 2013 in response to the acquittal of Trayvon Martin’s murderer, Black Lives Matter is a global organization whose mission is to eradicate white supremacy and build local power to intervene in violence inflicted on Black communities. Its #WhatMatters2020 campaign focuses on ensuring candidates are held accountable for the issues that systematically impact Black and under-served communities across the nation.
Reclaim the Block organizes Minneapolis communities and council members to move money from the police department into other areas of the city’s budget that promote community health and safety. The organization backs policies that strengthen community-led safety initiatives and reduce the reliance on police departments.
The National Bailout Collective is a Black-led organization that bails out Black mothers and caregivers, and provides them with holistic supportive services. It also works with groups across the country to transform harmful systems, support ongoing bail reform efforts and create resources for organizers interested in ending pretrial detention.
Composed of Pan-African and Pan-Indigenous farmers, builders and educators, the Black Earth Farms Collective focuses on establishing food sovereignty in low-income and houseless communities in Berkeley, Oakland, Emeryville and Richmond. The organization is currently delivering free food to Black people that have been arrested and bailed, injured or traumatized during Oakland uprisings.
Founded in 2015, Unicorn Riot is an educational non-profit media organization of artists and journalists dedicated to exposing causes of social and environmental issues around the world. The platform amplifies stories by producing livestreams of political rallies and protests that are funded by viewer donations.
Communities United Against Police Brutality
This Twin-Cities based organization was created to target police brutality and empowers local people to resist the abuse of authority by police organizations with new structures. CUAPB also supports survivors of police brutality and families of victims.
Demand Justice for Tony McDade
Demand Justice for Tony McDade is a petition that allows you to send an email to the State Attorney, Chief of Police, Mayor, City Commissioners and City Manager demanding that an unbiased investigation into the murder of Tony McDade is opened and that specific actions will be taken to overcome the racism and transphobia widespread in the Tallahassee Police Department.
