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Dear John,
In the wake of the police murder of George Floyd, protests across the U.S. are fueling the demand for divestment from policing—and investment in schools, health care, and transformative forms of justice that truly keep our communities safe. If you haven’t already, tell your governor to support defunding the police—and help move that money into programs that meet critical community needs.
We also want to thank everyone who donated to AFSC's Twin Cities Healing Justice Program. Your support is helping young people in Minneapolis and St. Paul lead the charge to undo institutional racism and build a more just future.
Here are this week’s resources to help you stay informed and support your activism.
We won't stop until we dismantle the whole racist system: In this moment of truth, we cannot lose focus on what’s important: Black Lives Matter. As a Quaker organization, AFSC is committed to working in solidarity with communities to end white supremacy and uphold the human dignity in of every person.
6 reasons why we must defund the police: U.S. cities collectively spend $100 billion a year on policing, while investments in education, health care, housing, and other critical programs go underfunded, particularly in poor communities and communities of color, writes AFSC’s Mary Zerkel.
We need to stand up for protesters—and say NO to Trump's militarized response: These tactics are the result of a decades-long escalation in the domestic use of militarized tactics and gear, and we cannot allow them to become normalized.
Sentenced to life as teens, they fear getting COVID-19 before getting a second chance: “These are people who walked into adult prison as children—and they are saying that what they are facing right now is more scary than that,” says AFSC’s Jacqueline Williams. (NBC)
Letter from Birmingham City Jail: What would Dr. King say today?: “As we take this difficult journey, we must expect tension and embrace it in order to grow,” wrote Quaker Victoria Greene in this 2015 reflection. “There will be no peace, no order until there is justice for all.”
Note to self: White people taking part in Black Lives Matter protests: Quaker activist Vonn New reminds white people: “Remember that you are there as support and in solidarity—it’s not about you.”
AFSC's pandemic response: Read more about how donations from supporters like you are helping communities worldwide respond to COVID-19.
Charitable gift annuity rates are dropping July 1: A gift annuity provides steady income that isn’t subject to stock market ups and downs. Find out more how you can lock in your rate while supporting AFSC’s work for social change.
Be well and take care.
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