Petitions + Fundraisers + Action Items
(Last updated 8/26/20, 8:50 AM EST)
Jacob Blake, 29, was shot 7 times in the back as he entered a car where his three children were seated. He is now paralyzed from the waist down & fighting for his life.
Here's How You Can Demand Justice:
Text JAKE to 55156 to demand the immediate firing and arrest of the officer who shot Jacob Blake in front of his children
Sign the petition calling for justice for Jacob Blake to arrest the cops who killed him
Federal Government Petition for Justice for Jacob Blake
Donate to Jacob Blakes's Family
Donate to the Milwaukee Freedom Fund which is assisting protesters in Kenosha with bail funds, here.
Keep Scrolling for More...
Black Lives Matter YouTube Stream
(new video as of 8/26/20)
20 films with beautiful & educational black stories and 20 Black owned Beauty/makeup brands to support. All proceeds to Peoples City Council Freedom Fund LA & Campaign Zero. We can live in a world where the police don't kill people by limiting police interventions, improving community interactions, and ensuring accountability.
We can live in a world where the police don't kill people by limiting police interventions, improving community interactions, and ensuring accountability. (added here 8/26/20)
Peoples City Council Freedom Fund LA
The L.A. activist group Peoples City Council stages protest actions on a variety of issues around social and economic justice. Recently, the local group has been lobbying for a city budget that reduces the share of public funds used to pay for the LAPD. (added here 8/26/20)
Black Lives Matter Official Petition
We call for an end to the systemic racism that allows this culture of corruption to go unchecked and our lives to be taken. We call for a national defunding of police. We demand investment in our communities and the resources to ensure Black people not only survive, but thrive.
Hands Up Act Petition
Punish police for shooting unarmed citizens. We need legislation now that prohibits police officers from shooting unarmed citizens. If there isn’t a weapon found after someone has been shot (therefore, unarmed) by a police officer, then I propose that the officer should receive a mandatory 15-year prison sentence.
Mandatory Life Sentence for Police Brutality Petition
Far too many times police brutality has got off with just a slap on the wrist while families are left to grieve the loss of a loved one at their hands. The justice system’s protection of their own at all cost leaves civilians and especially people of color feeling not protected or served but hunted. It’s time to put an end to this gross injustice.
National Action Against Police Brutality & Murder
Prosecute police who murder unarmed individuals. Petition is being made before the Attorney General of the United States to not only act on behalf of the people of the United States but to fulfill the obligations of office.
Abolish Prison Labor in the USA Petition
Prison labour is a form of modern American slavery used by multiple large corporations across the world. Under the 13th amendment to the United States Constitution, slavery was merely reformed rather than abolished.An example of one of the most extreme cases of prison labour happens in Texas and Florida, where prisoners are forced to work in fields without any pay. Companies like McDonald's, Wal-mart and many more use slave labour to cut down on production costs despite being more than able to use other ways. Racial justice in the USA cannot be achieved until prison labour is abolished completely.
A full list of companies that use prison labor can be found here
Justice for Ahmaud Arbery! I Run with Maud!
(added here 6/4/20)
On February 23, 2020, 25 year-old Ahmaud Arbery was chased and gunned down by Travis McMichael, son of retired Brunswick investigator Greg McMichael, under the father’s and son’s pretenses of witnessing a burglary in Satilla Shores of Glynn County. McMichael’s account of the deadly encounter with Arbery was not released until nearly 6 weeks following the shooting.
Minneapolis Petition to Defund the Police
George Floyd's murder by MPD officer Derek Chauvin, and the Minneapolis Police Department's escalated violence against the city's grieving Black community, Minneapolis is in desperate need of visionary leadership. We have called on the Minneapolis City Council to become these visionary leaders by pledging to defund the Minneapolis Police Department and invest in the resources that really keep us safe and healthy, especially in Black communities, Indigenous communities and communities of color.
Breonna Taylor Petition
Breonna was asleep at home when a rogue task-force of the Louisville police broke down her door in the middle of the night and murdered her. They were attempting an illegal drug raid in the wrong neighborhood for a suspect that they'd already arrested earlier that day. The police officers have yet to be arrested or charged. Breonna's family saw no progress in their fight for justice, so they reached out to our team at the Action PAC. We need all hands on deck!!!
Breonna Taylor Petition ColorOfChange.org
#JusticeforBre: Police officers who killed Breonna Taylor must be FIRED.
Breonna Taylor Website
She was brutally shot and killed by police in her own home. She did nothing wrong. Our fight for justice for Breonna begins today. Call 502-735-1784 to demand justice for Breonna right away.
Tony McDade Petition
Demand Justice for Tony McDade
On May 27th, 2020, Tony McDade, a black transgender masculine person was shot five times in the back and killed by a Tallahassee Police Department (TPD) officer. TPD, notorious for its racism, white supremacy, and transphobia has consistently misgendered Tony and refused to release the officer’s body camera footage and/or admit their wrongdoing in murdering and misgendering an unarmed black trans person.
Disbarment of George E. Barnhill
We are calling for the disbarment of prosecutor George E. Barnhill. We feel his decision to sit on the case of Ahmaud Arbery's murder for three months was out of prejudice/racism and a personal relationship with the murderers.
Pass the Georgia Hate Crime Bill
Sign our petition seeking the Georgia State Legislature pass House Bill 426 relating to Hate Crimes. The Bill: Over the past three years, the Georgia State Legislature has failed to pass a hate crime bill. Georgia is one of four states without a hate crime law. House Bill 426 relating to Hate Crimes has passed the Georgia House and is stalled in the State Senate. Specifically, if passed, the bill will enact “the Georgia Enhanced Penalties for Hate Crimes Act.”
Justice For Joāo Pedro
14-year-old Joāo Pedro was killed by the Rio de Janeiro police. In 2019 alone, Rio police killed 1,814 people; an all time record. The victims mostly being young black males. Joāo was shot at his home and his body was taken by the Rio de Janeiro police. His family waited 17 hours until receiving news of his whereabouts. They finally found his dead body at a medical examiner’s office. The family counted 72 bullet marks on the walls of the house. Cops say Joāo died in a shootout started by criminals. Neighbors say that is a lie. The escalation in police killings comes after Governor Wilson Witzel promised to, “dig graves,” and shoot criminals, “in their little heads,” to stop crime.
Willie Simmons Petition
He has served 38 years for a $9 robbery. In 1982, Army veteran Willie Simmons, was prosecuted under Alabama's habitual offender law. He was convicted of 1st-degree robbery and sentenced to life without parole for stealing $9. Simmons has spent the last 38 years in prison.Over the years Mr. Simmons has filed several appeals without any legal assistance. All of his appeals were denied, and based on a 2014 change in Alabama laws, it appears that he has no appeal options left.In the interest of justice Governor Kay Ivey should commute Mr. Simmons sentence.
Justice for Belly Mujinga (added here 6/4/20)
This petition exists to help find and prosecute the individual who assaulted Belly Mujinga at London Victoria whilst knowingly being infected with COVID-19. This cruel and senseless act of unprovoked violence ultimately likely lead to her death at the hands of this relentless virus and the hospitalisation of her colleague.
Fire Racist Criminal Michael J Reynolds from the NYPD
Call/Email these people to Demand Justice
All you have to do is copy and paste the body provided in the link above, email addresses are provided
Demand Racial Data on Coronavirus (added 6/7/20)
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Donate to Black Lives Matter
Fund the movement.
National Black Justice Coalition (added 6/5/2020)
Did you know you use your Sephora points to donate here?
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT ENDING CASH BAIL
Resource for information on what is wrong with cash bail and how to fix it
DONATE ONCE TO MULTIPLE BAIL FUNDS added 6/2/2020
If you want to help bail out protestors but don't know where to send your money, Act Blue put together a secure page that will split your donation between 30+ bail funds across the U.S.
National Council For Incarcerated & Formerly Incarcerated Women and Girls
Ending incarceration for women and girls. Repealing the 1994 crime bill and redirecting federal resources away from all relevant punitive programs is necessary.
National Bail Fund Network Directory of Bail Funds
The National Bail Fund Network is made up of over sixty community bail and bond funds across the country. We regularly update this listing of community bail funds that are freeing people by paying bail/bond and are also fighting to abolish the money bail system and pretrial detention. Note that this directory is currently limited to community bail funds that are regularly paying bail/bond within the criminal legal or immigration detention systems for community members as their central action. The directory does not include the many legal defense funds that allied organizations hold that may include bail support and the numerous community-based organizations that periodically pay for bail and bond.
National Bail Out
The National Bail Out (NBO) is a Black-led and Black-centered collective of abolitionist organizers, lawyers and activists. They are reuniting families, creating a national community of leaders who have experienced incarceration.
Minnesota Bail Relief Fund Donation
*Do Not Pay Them Via Venmo, They Do Not Have A Venmo* The Freedom Fund remains committed to #FreeThemAll. We say again: it is wrong to cage people, to jail those who are not a risk to themselves or their communities, to imprison those who cannot afford to pay the ransom of bail, and to hold in detention those whose “crime” is being born in a different part of the world.
Louisville Bail Relief Fund
The Louisville Community Bail Fund exists to not only bail out folks, but provide post-release support to get them from jail, fed, and to a situation of safety
New York City Trans Bail Fund
The Emergency Release Fund is a member of the National Bail Fund Network, a national consortium of over 60 community bail funds that use the regular payment of bail as well as strategic bail out actions in campaigns to end money bail and pretrial detention in both the criminal legal and immigration detention systems.
Black Visions Emergent Relief Fund- Queer/Trans Relief
Our goal is to ensure Black, Queer and Trans people are well, as we all navigate the COVID-19 crisis together. Your support will provide economic relief to those most directly impacted and/or unable to qualify for government assistance.
Black Visions Collective
BLVC is committed to a long term vision in which ALL Black lives not only matter, but are able to thrive. What we know to be true in order to create this world is that oppressed people, especially Black people, need to build collective power in order to create systems transformation. Through the development of powerful strategic campaigns, we seek to expand the power of Black people across the Twin Cities metro area and Minnesota.
Reclaim the Block Fund
Support our work to make sure Minneapolis funds real investments in community safety!
Bail Relief Fund for Columbus, Ohio Protestors for Breonna Taylor PayPal
Support #JusticeForGeorgeFloyd Protesters in Atlanta
LGBQT Freedom Fund
The Freedom Fund posts bail to secure the safety and liberty of people in jail and immigration detention, focusing on LGBQT. We work to build a critical mass against the mass detention of LGBTQ individuals.
Redirecting people and resources to those providing mutual aid, advocacy, and services to the hardest-hit communities.
Pittsburgh Bail Fund
A coalition of individuals and groups from around Pittsburgh are mobilizing to create a network of people providing aftercare resources for folks getting out of Allegheny County Jail. Evidently, people are frequently released from jail in uncomfortable and unsafe conditions: in cold weather without proper clothing or shoes, without bus fare, without phone calls to friends or family, and in plenty of other circumstances that make reentry challenging. UPDATE MAY 30: TO OFFER SUPPORT FOR PROTESTORS WHO MAY BE ARRESTED DURING JUSTICE FOR GEORGE FLOYD DEMONSTRATIONS, VENMO: PGH-FREEDOMFUND. IF NEEDED, WE ARE ALSO OFFERING 1,000$ IN BAIL MONEY FOR DEMONSTRATORS.
Donors Choose
Funding for teachers’ projects to bring more diverse and/or antiracist booksinto their [virtual] classrooms, Thank you Julia
National Action Against Police Brutality & Murder GoFundMe
Black Creators, Tastemakers, & Influencers to Follow Added 6/7/20
It's time to show our support and diversify our social media feeds with these amazing creatives.
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Not A Cent Until We See Change (by @deb0nair)
Help stop the Philly police from getting a $14 MILLION increase on June 9
^^ SUCCESS!!! THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO EMAILED & DID WORK, THE $14 MILLION INCREASE WAS REJECTED.
THIS CAMPAIGN IS NO LONGER ACTIVE. PICK ANOTHER ONE FROM THIS LIST!
Philadelphia Law Enforcement Reform Petition (Submitted by Chantal Norman, Esq. @xoxo_channn on 6/4/2020)
The policies we are demanding are as follows:Declaration of Racism as A Public Health Emergency & Use of Restorative Justice, Defund/Decrease Budget of the PPD, Use of Non-Police Emergency Responders, End Qualified Immunity, Recreate the Hiring Process, Implement Continuous Training and Evaluations, Enforce Body Cameras, Make Use of Force and Violence A Last Resort, Implement Inappropriate Force, Bystander Training and Public Reporting Systems, End Property Seizures, Give Citizens More Control Over Review Boards
Philadelphia Bail Fund
The Philadelphia Bail Fund is working urgently to free as many of our neighbors as possible during this pandemic. There is an urgent need to post bail as COVID-19 threatens people in jail, where crowded living quarters and inadequate health care make conditions ripe for a viral outbreak.
Philly Community Bail Out
The mission of the Philadelphia Community Bail Fund is to end cash bail in our city. Until that day, we post bail for our neighbors who cannot afford to pay.
Community Fund for Bond & Legal Support for Immigrants by New Sanctuary Movement of Philadelphia
An interfaith, multicultural immigrant justice movement organizing communities to end injustices against immigrants, regardless of status. The only fund in Philadelphia directed by immigrant families and led completely by those personally impacted by detention.
Black Lives Matter Philly
Join the Movement to fight for Freedom, Liberation and Justice
Reclaim Philadelphia has been reclaiming and restoring political power back to people since 2016. Reclaim Philadelphia endorses and supports progressive candidates and policies that fight for a vision of putting working people before the profits of corporations and the super rich. The People’s Platform, created in partnership with Neighborhood Networks, is our foundation for transforming the Democratic Party and what is politically possible.
Decarcerate Philly - Educate & Get Involved
No new prisons. Decarcerate Philly is a grassroots campaign working to end mass incarceration in Pennsylvania. We demand that PA stop building prisons, reduce the prison population, and reinvest money in our communities.
Support Black Owned Philly Restaurants (document made by @katelyn.nellis, added 6/4/2020)
A comprehensive list of restaurants, neighborhoods they are in, whether they offer takeout or delivery, phone number, and website for each one
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75 Things You Can Do for Racial Justice
(Continually Updated)
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Things to Understand
(Provided & written by an incoming first year medical student at PCOM)
● Understand why Black people cannot rely on voting/legislature, policies, laws, and law enforcement to affect change in their communities.
○ Voting and “following the constitution” have rarely helped the Black community (even with the Emancipation, slavery still existed afterwards and still exists, in a way, today).
○ Protests, organizing, rebellions, rioting, however, have led to change.
○ In fact many of our laws/legislation past and present were/are made to specifically antagonize Black communities (separate but equal, jim crow, segregation, voter ID laws, school funding determined by property tax, to name a few).
● Understand that the Black community is disproportionately carrying the burden of this pandemic for many reasons.
● Understand the helplessness Black people feel about change in our country.
● Understand the rhetoric, narrative, and word choices when reporting on Black protests and actions - they will always be criticized: peaceful protests (i.e. Colin Kaepernick), Black athletes and celebrities using their influence to draw attention to injustice (i.e. Lebron James), civil disobedience (i.e. MLK) etc.
● Understand this by listening to the Black community DIRECTLY and BELIEVING them. Follow Black voices on media, read Black authors and journalists, watch Black media/films etc.
● Understand why it’s uncomfortable for you to talk about race with Black people
● Understand why it’s uncomfortable for you to talk about race with other White people
○ Read "White Fragility" Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism by Robin DiAngelo.
● Understand that this is an ongoing fight that will require continual work and learning
De-Personalize It, Don’t make this about yourself
(Provided & written by an incoming first year medical student at PCOM)
The purpose of people reaching out to you and wanting to help inform you is rooted in care for the people in their lives.
● You are meant to feel uncomfortable. The Black community is voicing the pain and atrocities that the White community and system has continually done to them.
● If we feel uncomfortable/offended being called out it’s because we need to hold ourselves accountable for participating in White privilege/supremecy.
● Be aware of how you respond to someone who brings up an issue/problem they had with you. Black folk are not here to comfort you or manage your tears when they have their own to deal with.
● Also if you decide to post on social media: avoid the “performative anger” of posting your anger on media to absolve yourself and then doing nothing further to take action. This isn’t about you
● If you recognize you are participating in anti-Blackness or White-privilege, don’t be defensive or take it as a personal attack on who you are. Take Action.
● Be appreciative that your Black/POC friends respect you and want you to do better.
● I trust and believe that you want to do and be better.
EMAIL ACTION:
Send it to: police@minneapolismn.gov
Hello,
My name is ___ and I am a resident of ___. I’m emailing today on behalf of the George Floyd case. I’m calling for the prosecution of Derek Chauvin #1087 and his partner Tou Thao #7162 to the fullest extent of the law and that you will not rest until that happens.
George Floyd was arrested under an implied, non-violent crime and bystanders claim that he never resisted his arrest. The approach that the officers chose to take was one that resulted in murder and must not be taken lightly.
Black Lives Matter.
Regards.
YOUR NAME
Official George Floyd Memorial Fund / Cards
Anyone wishing to send cards, letters of encouragement and/or contributions in the form of a money order or check, may do so by mail at:
The Estate of George Floyd
c/o Ben Crump Law, PLLC
122 S. Calhoun Street
Tallahassee, FL 32301
Attn: Adner Marcelin
All checks must be made out to: The Estate of George Floyd
Anti-Racism Resources
Link to Doc of Anti-Racist Resources
Link to Journal Prompts to understand white privilege
Link to post of actions to take
Books to educate on white privilege
Anti-Racism Resources for Non-POC
Educate yourself: do research and listen to those who are speaking about issues.
Recognize your privilege: you don’t need to be white for this one. this privilege does not mean you don’t face problems including racism it just means that for numerous reasons you are not affected the same as Black people by white supremacy and institutionalized racism
Use your voice: help raise awareness by talking about this issue and use your platforms no matter their size to speak up. It’s very important to address you anti-Black/racists friends and family members
Sign petitions: this is one of the easiest actions you can take. please sign petitions
Donate: sharing resources and money is an important part of being an ally. if you can please donate some money, any amount counts.
Information for Protests
Do not take/share pictures and videos of protestors
If possible leave your phone home or turn it off
Make sure to wear face coverings and to protect your identity by wear plain clothing and unidentifiable shoes
If you’re non-black, especially white, it's important that you use your privilege to protect Black protestors ie. standing between them and the police
Write an emergency phone number on an unexposed part of your body
Do not bring ID with you
Go in groups
3 spoons of baking soda per glass of water to help with burning from tear gas/mace
● Protect protester’s identities, especially on social media. It is dangerous to be identified;
you may be sought out by law enforcement or groups with violent intentions.
○ Report/delete videos with protestor’s identities. Repost with blurred faces
○ Secure tool for blurring faces/identifiable features and scrubbing metadata
(Thank you Nevon and @everestpipkin on twitter)
BOOKLIST
Complied by @thebryreed on twitter! Support them here:
Cashapp- $BryR Venmo- @BryReed
Are Prisons Obsolete Angela Davis
Malcolm X (1964) The Ballot or the Bullet
http://www.edchange.org/multicultural/speeches/malcolm_x_ballot.html
Martin and Malcolm by James Baldwin (1972)
Assata Shakur’s Autobiography (1987)
https://libcom.org/files/assataauto.pdf
The Master’s Tools Will Never Dismantle the Master’s House by Audre Lorde (1979)
https://www.muhlenberg.edu/media/contentassets/pdf/campuslife/SDP%20Reading%20Lorde.pdf
The Invention of Women by Oyěwùmí (1997) (this requires institutional access or creativity)
https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.5749/j.ctttt0vh
Toni Morrison’s Nobel Prize Speech (1993)
Fidel Castro’s History Will Absolve Me (1953)
https://www.marxists.org/history/cuba/archive/castro/1953/10/16.htm
Toni Morrison (2015) No Place for Self-Pity, No Room for Fear
W. E. B. DuBois Why I Won’t Vote (1956)
http://www.hartford-hwp.com/archives/45a/298.html
Thread of More Books
https://twitter.com/earthmarx/status/1266017029557010434?s=21
@GoldWomyn on twitter: Website with booklist and pdfs
Support them here: Cashapp- $byahwon