Mass demonstrations have erupted across the US and other major cities around the globe, to protest the systemic injustices carried out against black people, not least seen by the recent deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and Breonna Taylor.
Signaling that enough is enough, thousands have taken to the streets of Los Angeles, Seattle, Chicago, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Miami, New York City, in what has now been six days of ongoing protests - some peaceful, some violent - to call for an end to police brutality, and the racism that is so deeply entrenched in America and the western world writ large.
If you would like to support the Black Lives Matter movement at this critical time, we have rounded up a few resources below:
- If you are able, donate to Black Lives Matter, HERE.
- You can get involved in your local Black Lives Matter chapter. The full list is can be found HERE.
- Donate to a bail fund for protestors. The Action Bail Fund organized by Black Lives Matter LA gives 100% of donations to support bail, fees, and medical costs.
- Donate to The Peoples City Council Freedom Fund.
- The Brooklyn Bail Fund can be found HERE.
- A useful Twitter thread on other bail funds can be found HERE.
- Donate to the National Police Accountability Project, which helps protestors find legal counsel.
- Sign a petition that is asking for all the officers involved in Floyd's death to be brought to justice. You can find it HERE.
- The Justice for George Floyd petition can also be found HERE.
- Racial justice educator and lawyer, Rachel Ricketts, has shared a number of anti-racism resources, addressing white privilege, amongst other things.
- A comprehensive list of information for protestors, as well as other resources, can be found HERE.
- A list of mental health resources for black people can be found HERE.
- Watch this video, published by Black Lives Matter, on the death of George Floyd:
To read:
- 75 things white people can do for racial justice
- White Fragility: Why It's So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism, by Robin DiAngelo
- They Can't Kill Us All: Ferguson, Baltimore, and a New Era in America's Racial Justice Movement, by Wesley Lowery
- Why I'm No Longer Talking to White People About Race, by Reni Eddo-Lodge
Per The New York Times, curfews have been ordered by over two dozen mayors, the most since 1968. But despite this, many protestors have stayed into the night, and looting and vandalism has taken place in many cities, as well as violent clashes between the police and demonstrators.
The national mood has been evoked by chants of George Floyd's final words: "I can't breathe" - which are the same as those uttered by Eric Garner six years ago, while being held in a police chokehold.
It has once again become a rallying cry for protestors, highlighting the anger felt by the black community and those who stand in solidarity with them, but this time, post the election of Donald Trump to the White House.
George Floyd, a 46-year-old unarmed black man, passed away on May 25 following his arrest in downtown Minneapolis. Video footage showed ex-cop Derek Chauvin kneeling on his neck for over eight minutes, after Floyd was accused of using a counterfeit $20 bill.
On February 23, 25-year-old black man Ahmaud Arbery was shot dead by two white men in Brunswick, Georgia, after a four-minute chase. However, it was only when a 36-second video of his killing started making the rounds on the May 5 that three men were apprehended for his murder.
And 26-year-old Breonna Taylor, an EMT, was killed after officers forced their way inside her home on March 13, as part of a narcotics investigation. A subsequent lawsuit filed by Taylor's family claims that the officers were not looking for Taylor or her boyfriend, but for a suspect who was already in police custody.
"Breonna Taylor was shot at least eight times by the officers' gunfire and died as a result," the lawsuit reads. "Breonna had posed no threat to the officers and did nothing to deserve to die at their hands."
...Despite some protests becoming violent, there have also been some moments amid the protests that people on Twitter have shared so that they could be celebrated. They can be found below:
The resources in this article along with the work of these charities can help teach us how to play our part and better educate ourselves. Please use and share where you can.
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