John --
A few days ago, we emailed you about police foundations — private, corporate-sponsored groups that enable cops to terrorize Black people.
Police foundations exist to supplement police budgets outside of public oversight. They give cops weapons to “test” on Black and Brown communities. And they’re funded by some of the largest corporations in the world.
John, sign our petition to tell corporations like Starbucks, Target, and Coca-Cola: Divest from police foundations now.
If you've never heard of police foundations before, you’re not alone. They exist in the shadows on purpose, pulling strings and funneling money to cops behind closed doors. And that's one of the reasons why they're so dangerous.
We know that sunlight is the best disinfectant — and corporations won’t divest from policing unless their profits and reputations are at stake.
That’s why we need your help to take our public pressure campaign to the next level. Add your name to demand corporations divest from police foundations now.
Until justice is real,
Scott and the rest of the Color Of Change team
P.S. Here's the original email we sent you:
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Police foundations give cops surveillance tech, SWAT team equipment, and military weapons that are used to terrorize Black people. Tell Coca-Cola, Starbucks, Target, and Wells Fargo: Divest from police foundations now.
John -- what do Amazon, Starbucks, Target, AT&T, and Coca-Cola all have in common?
Yes, these are some of the largest, most well-known brands in the world, and they all released statements in support of Black Lives Matter this summer. But behind closed doors, these corporations are also top donors to police foundations — dark money groups that help cops acquire surveillance tech, military weapons, SWAT team equipment, and other tools used to terrorize Black people.
Join us to demand corporations like Coca-Cola, Amazon, Starbucks, and Target divest from police foundations immediately.
If you’ve never heard of police foundations, you’re not alone. Here’s the gist:
Police foundations are private, non-profit groups. They partner with corporations and wealthy donors to raise money to supplement bloated police budgets, fund policing programs, and purchase equipment for cops with little to no public oversight. And while police budgets are usually public documents that must be approved by local elected officials, police foundations exist as a backchannel to funnel corporate cash and resources toward law enforcement.
Across the country, corporate-backed police foundations directly support the continued hyper-surveillance of Black, Brown, and Indigenous neighborhoods. They enable the ongoing militarization and expansion of policing. And when activists began calling on corporations to cut ties with police, foundations in at least four major cities removed public information on their partners and board members.1
It’s up to us to push Amazon, Starbucks, Target, AT&T, and Coca-Cola beyond the statement — to demand they do more than pretend to be “woke” on social media.
If these corporations want to stand in solidarity with Black people, they must immediately divest from the police foundations and departments that harm Black people. Sign our petition now.
More than 200 police foundations across the U.S. allow corporations to contribute to police departments outside of public funds. Top corporate donors include Verizon, Walmart, Starbucks, Amazon, Bank of America, Target, Coca-Cola, Delta Airlines, Chevron, Wells Fargo, Waffle House, and many more.2
Almost all of these corporations have committed to do more to “fight for racial justice” and “stand with the Black community.” Yet they all continue to enable over-militarized police forces and the harm they cause Black communities.
From coast to coast, police foundations enable cops to terrorize Black and Brown people. Here's how:
- The Atlanta Police Foundation purchased 12,000 surveillance cameras to monitor already overpoliced Black neighborhoods.3 Just days after the police killing of Rayshard Brooks, the Coke-funded police foundation gave every Atlanta cop a $500 bonus.4
- At the behest of the city’s police chief, the Los Angeles Police Foundation asked Target to purchase controversial, invasive Palantir surveillance technology for the LAPD.5
- In the last three years, Philadelphia’s police foundation has spent almost $1.5 million “for PPD needs,” including long guns, drones, and Ballistic Helmets for the Philly Police SWAT unit.6
- New York’s police foundation has gone even further to expand policing and brags about furnishing New York cops with weapons to “test” on some of the most vulnerable communities. Former New York Police Foundation Chair Dale Hemmerdinger said it best: “I say we pay for failures. When the police department leadership wants to try something and [the police foundation] thinks it has value, then we give it a shot. We relieve the political pressure of trying things that might not work.”7
Hemmerdinger’s admission is as detestable as it is rare. Police foundations don’t have to disclose who their donors are or where their dark money goes. And police foundations aren’t just in major cities — they’re everywhere.
We know from experience that corporations won’t change their ways unless their profits and reputation are at stake. We also know that there’s strength in numbers, and we need you with us now.
We have the power to defend Black lives and hold police foundations and their corporate donors accountable. And together, with your help, we will.
Demand corporations divest from police foundations now.
Until justice is real,
Scott, Rashad, Arisha, Erika, Malachi, Leonard, Marybeth, Ernie, Madison, McKayla and the rest of the Color Of Change team
References:
1. "Police Foundations Scrub Corporate Partners and Board Members From Their Websites." Sludge.
2. "Corporate Backers of the Blue: How Corporations Bankroll U.S. Police Foundations." Eyes On The Ties, LittleSis.
3. "12K cameras to give Atlanta police broader window to city." AJC.
4. "Former Atlanta officer facing Rayshard Brooks murder charge gets $250,000 legal-fee boost." Fox News.
5. "Private Donors Supply Spy Gear to Cops." ProPublica.
6. "Philadelphia Police Foundation - ALMOST $1.5 MILLION FOR PPD NEEDS IN THE LAST 3 YEARS." Philadelphia Police Foundation.
7. "Law Enforcement's Secret Weapon: Police foundations support and even pioneer public-safety enhancements." Philanthropy Roundtable.
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Please help keep our movement strong.
