Dear John,

As the end of the election approaches, many in the U.S. are concerned about the potential for increased tension, harassment, or even violence in our communities—especially against Black, Brown, LGBTQIA, Muslim, Jewish, and other groups targeted by white supremacists.  

It’s critical that we do all that we can to stand against hate and violence—and protect one another. To learn what to do when someone is being harassed, explore our bystander intervention page, where you will find do's and don'ts, resources to share online, and a recording of our recent online training.

3 ways you can help protect the integrity of our elections: We have resources to help you contribute to community safety at the polls and to efforts to ensure all votes are counted.  

Why it’s time to defund the police: Walter Wallace, Jr. should be alive today. And his killing by Philadelphia police is yet another example of why we must rethink the role of law enforcement in our communities—and reimagine what we truly need to ensure safety for all community members.  

From behind bars, people awaiting trial fight to vote: AFSC’s Joe Watson shares how thousands of people incarcerated in Arizona—who have not been convicted of a crime—are denied access to the ballot. (Law 360)

Community holds vigil after Border Patrol shoots, kills migrant at U.S.-Mexico border: “We’re here to reclaim our dignity, as border community-members, to say that we want a thorough, independent investigation. … We want those accountable to be held accountable,” says AFSC’s Pedro Rios (KPBS).   

Tell Congress: Stop funding cruelty against immigrants!: Take action today to defund Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), two agencies that have long separated families, caused the deaths of people seeking refuge, and terrorized our communities.  

Sharing your messages of hope: Thank you to everyone who responded to our invitation to share what gives you hope in these difficult times. Here are just some of the messages we received—please keep them coming!