(HULK)
(Smash)
When the Black Lives Matter movement first started, my initial reaction was that is ridiculous, all lives matter equally.
A little bit of time went by and I stopped feeling like that. About the time the guy who was a caregiver for a mentally disabled teen got shot in the street, I'd simply had enough. I woke up to that fact that while yes, all lives matter, black lives were simply not being treated with the same respect as white lives. And it deserves to be more than spotlighted, it needs to be changed.
Then the most recent events, and now I feel angry about this happening. I've always been a support the police/military kinda guy, but I just can't support the insanity that is happening with our police forces any more. My reaction right now is basically WTF are they doing?!?! How is this still happening!?!?
I realize I'm later to the party than I should've been. But now that I'm here, what can I do to help? I can figure out how to donate $, I'm talking about what can I actually do to help directly? TIA. Any good suggestions, I'll edit into this post for anyone like me who wants to help.
Suggestions:
Find ways locally to support those who want increased accountability of police. Vote for judges, state senate, mayors etc.. Campaign for those who will fight against the thick blue line.
Here are six concrete ways to move yourself and the white people in your life into action.
A little bit of time went by and I stopped feeling like that. About the time the guy who was a caregiver for a mentally disabled teen got shot in the street, I'd simply had enough. I woke up to that fact that while yes, all lives matter, black lives were simply not being treated with the same respect as white lives. And it deserves to be more than spotlighted, it needs to be changed.
Then the most recent events, and now I feel angry about this happening. I've always been a support the police/military kinda guy, but I just can't support the insanity that is happening with our police forces any more. My reaction right now is basically WTF are they doing?!?! How is this still happening!?!?
I realize I'm later to the party than I should've been. But now that I'm here, what can I do to help? I can figure out how to donate $, I'm talking about what can I actually do to help directly? TIA. Any good suggestions, I'll edit into this post for anyone like me who wants to help.
Suggestions:
Find ways locally to support those who want increased accountability of police. Vote for judges, state senate, mayors etc.. Campaign for those who will fight against the thick blue line.
Here are six concrete ways to move yourself and the white people in your life into action.
- Give to Black-led organizing for Black liberation. A list of suggested organizations is available here.
- Join the SURJ chapter near you. There are over 150 SURJ chapters organizing for for Black Lives across the country. If there isn’t already a chapter near you, start a new chapter. We can help you get started.
- Join a national meeting by conference call Tuesday July 12th to connect with others, hear from local organizers in Baton Rouge and the Twin Cities, and discuss plans for nationwide mobilization. Register even if you can’t make the live call. We’ll send you the notes afterwards.
- Hold a house meeting. Gather your friends and neighbors this weekend to talk about what is happening and what we can do. If you can’t host at home, a picnic table in the park or coffee shop will do. A guide to support you is available.
- Organize a canvass to talk to other white people on their doorstep about what is happening and bring them into the movement for Black lives. Never done it before? It’s ok, we’ve got a toolkit that will help you get started. We also host weekly calls for coaching and support.
- Join us in the streets. Now is the time for white people to be visible, courageous and relentless in our public opposition to racism and the state-sanctioned murder of Black people. There are no bystanders when the business of police murder is funded with our tax dollars and runs with our silent consent, and when police union contracts keep police officers who kill from being held accountable. Black people and people of color are targeted by the police and racist vigilantes everyday in their homes, cars, schools, workplaces and in the street. It’s time for white people to say enough is enough publicly and powerfully. If there’s no one in your community protesting, you can start. All you need is two friends and some signs. Email us at andrew@showup4rj.org if you need support.
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