Last week in Minneapolis, George Floyd, a Black man, was killed by a white police officer who pinned him to the ground while three other police officers stood by and did nothing.
George’s death, which closely followed the unjust deaths of Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor, has yet again brought the issues of police violence and racial inequality to global attention.
People in cities across the United States held protests throughout the weekend, and continue to organize this week, calling for racial justice and an end to police brutality. But even if you’re not able to be on the streets raising your voice, there are several ways you can get involved. Here are just some of the meaningful ways to take action right now:
If you’re able to, donate to a bail fund in your state so protesters who’ve been arrested can be released quickly and won’t have to spend long periods of time in jail pre-trial (which is especially important during a pandemic). Check out this list of local bail funds in 31 states and make a donation.
Donate to mutual aid and Black-led organizing projects. Please take some time to research local organizing efforts in your area, but here are some national organizations who could use your help:
You can split a donation between these (and other) organizations here.
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.
If you don’t feel comfortable going to a protest during the pandemic, there are other ways you can show solidarity with those protesting. Buy a box of water bottles, some snacks, or hand sanitizer and leave them on the street with a sign for protesters who may need these resources.
A mixture of water and baking soda can also help neutralize the effects of tear gas, so if you’re able to, you can also leave gallons of water and boxes of baking soda out for protesters who may encounter tear gas from police.
Check in with your friends, family, co-workers, and loved ones who may be affected or feeling this moment particularly hard.
Demand accountability from your leaders and law enforcement. We need real policy reform right now. For example, New York State is currently considering the repeal of 50-a — a law that shields police from disclosing misconduct to the public and allows the police to deny accountability. This law impedes racial justice and enables wrongful conviction. You can call New York lawmakers and ask them to repeal 50-a today.
Speak up. We all need to be vocally anti-racist and call out injustice, racism, and inequality when we see it. That may mean having difficult conversations with people around us, including close friends and family members.
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. And if you haven’t already, watch 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.
It’s on all of us to do our part in the fight for justice and against police violence.
Thank you,
—The Innocence Project Team
The Innocence Project exonerates the wrongly convicted through DNA testing and reforms the criminal justice system to prevent future injustice. www.innocenceproject.org
