It’s been a heavy week, John.
In cities across the country, protesters are being tear gassed, assaulted, and jailed by their local police. About 4,000 people have been arrested across the United States while calling for justice for George Floyd and defending Black lives.
These peaceful protests across the country – and the world – are examples of righteous rage against racism and injustice that’s gone unchecked for far too long.
We must all rise up to meet this moment and demand change. There are many ways you can help out right now. Whether that’s joining protests, posting on social media, or educating yourself, we trust that you will make the best decisions for yourself and your community.
If you can’t take action in person, donating money (while alone isn’t enough) is one crucial way we can all support this movement. Together we can help make sure that everyone who is rising up for justice is able to get home safety – whether or not they can afford to pay their freedom and post bail. That’s why we’re trying to raise $35,000 today to a group of bail funds, mutual aid funds, and racial justice organizations across the country.
Chip in $5 to frontline protesters →
The recent murders of Black lives illustrate what it means to be Black in this country. As the case of George Floyd makes clear, the presence of police even for the slightest thing can be a death sentence for Black people.
It is clear – especially in light of the police response to these demonstrations – that our safety comes from the community, not the police. The only way we’re going to stop this endless cycle of police violence is by defunding the police and investing in our communities instead.
We’ve seen the human toll of disinvestment in our communities through COVID-19, which has taken Black lives at an alarming rate. From health care, education, and criminal justice, Black people are the most vulnerable to every harm in our society.
What we’re experiencing is not new. The legacies of freedom fighters of the past have taught us that our demands for change will be met with force. But we will not let up, and that’s why we must support community bail funds, mutual aid funds, and racial justice organizations who are leading this fight.
We will not go back to the way things were. We are ready to rise.
Natalie
P.S. - Go to defendingblacklives.org to learn more about what you can do in the days ahead wherever you are.
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