Here's What You Can Do - Social Justice Action Resources
I am pausing my blog content for the time being because there are more important things to focus on and work towards right now.
I, like many white people, want to help but aren't sure how to be truly effective. My friend, Autumn Joy, sent me these resources. Please join me in taking action:
1. Donate to mutual aid and Black-led organizing projects.
Here are some national organizations who could use your help (but do take the time to research organizations that are local to you):
*You can split a donation between these (and other) organizations here.
2. Donate to a bail fund.
If you’re able to, donate to a bail fund in your state so protesters who’ve been arrested can be released quickly (which is especially important during a pandemic). Check out this list of local bail funds in 31 states and make a donation.
3. Join a local protest.
Your local Black Lives Matter chapter is a great place to find out what local actions you can join right now.
4. Demand accountability from your leaders and law enforcement.
Read more about ‘The People’s Budget LA’ and how you can take action, HERE.
5. Speak up.
If you witness injustice, racism, and inequality call it out. That might mean having difficult conversations with people around us, including close friends and family members.
6. Watch.
Check out American Trial: The Eric Garner Story, a film about Eric Garner, who like George Floyd, was killed as a result of excessive force used by the police. When They See Us, a Netflix series about the Exonerated Five, which tells the story of five Black and brown teenagers who were racially profiled, coerced into false confessions in New York City in 1990, and spent years in prison for a crime they didn’t commit. 13th, a documentary on Netflix about the criminalization of Africa Americans and the U.S. prison boom.
7. Read.
There is a lot of great content circulating on social media about social justice at the moment. Here are a few articles that resonated with me, as well as a list of books that I highly recommend looking into:
4 Steps That I and Other White People Can Take to Fight Racism
These are just a handful of the ways to self education and take action, if you have additional resources that you’d like to share, please let me know @CaroleKirsch