Thousands of people across the country are taking to the streets to protest after George Floyd was killed when a police officer kneeled on his neck for eight minutes. This isn’t the first time a person has died at the hands of police brutality. Breonna Taylor, Tony McDade, Oscar Grant, Michael Brown, Eric Garner and many more Black people have been victims of police violence. Protesters are demanding justice and the end of police brutality.
Some people may not be able to join a protest, especially due to the dangers of the COVID-19 pandemic. Luckily, there are many ways you can still make an impact from home. Here are some organizations you can support to help protesters and give back to your community.
Know Your Rights Camp
Colin Kaepernick’s Know Your Rights Camp provides education, empowerment and advocacy in Black and brown communities. Currently, the organization is using its donations to pay the costs of legal services for detained protesters in Minneapolis. You can also help by donating here.
Kaepernick is a football player who has spoken out against police brutality and systemic racism for years. During his career in the NFL, Kaepernick famously kneeled during the national anthem to protest police violence and racial injustice in the U.S., inspiring other NFL players and professional athletes to do the same.
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)
Established in 1909, the NAACP is a well-known and highly respected civil rights organization. According to its website, the NAACP works to “ensure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights” for all communities. Supporting the organization helps fight racial hatred and discrimination.
Some of the organization’s founding members were famous civil rights activists, including W. E. B. Du Bois, Mary White Ovington, Moorfield Storey and Ida B. Wells. Today, the NAACP continues to fight for civil rights with initiatives in political lobbying, publicity and legal support.
Campaign Zero
Campaign Zero, a national advocacy organization, works with data-based research to form policy solutions to end police violence. The reform group analyzes data such as racial disparities in traffic stops, the number of police officers that are charged with violent crimes, underreported police killings and the impact that violent officers have on other officers.
The research is critical in developing new ideas to save lives. Some of the group’s proposals include police body cams, better training, limited use of force and more community oversight. You can join the cause by donating here.
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)
The ACLU is committed to protecting the civil rights of all citizens from government abuse. Founded in 1920, the organization has been involved in countless high-profile cases, including Brown v. Board of Education, Roe v. Wade and fighting the internment of Japanese Americans.
With the help of staff attorneys and volunteer attorneys, the ACLU has defended many vulnerable communities throughout its history. Today, the organization’s work is no different. The group has responded to the killing of George Floyd and worked to support protesters across the nation. You can help them fight important civil rights battles by donating here.
Black Lives Matter
In 2013, Black Lives Matter was formed in response to the slaying of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin. The widely recognized organization works tirelessly to stop violence inflicted on Black communities and to end white supremacy.
According to its website, the group “acknowledges, respects and celebrates differences and commonalities.” They also “work vigorously for freedom and justice for Black people and, by extension, all people.” Support the group’s campaign for justice by donating here.
Other Important Organizations to Support:
Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ) – Mission: “SURJ is a national network of groups and individuals working to undermine white supremacy and to work toward racial justice. Through community organizing, mobilizing, and education, SURJ moves white people to act as part of a multi-racial majority for justice with passion and accountability.”
The Equal Justice Initiative – Mission: “The Equal Justice Initiative is committed to ending mass incarceration and excessive punishment in the United States, to challenging racial and economic injustice, and to protecting basic human rights for the most vulnerable people in American society.”
The Official George Floyd Memorial Fund – Mission: “This fund is established to cover funeral and burial expenses, mental and grief counseling, lodging and travel for all court proceedings, and to assist our family in the days to come as we continue to seek justice for George.”
Minnesota Freedom Fund – Mission: “Minnesota Freedom Fund pays criminal bail and immigration bond for those who cannot afford to as we seek to end discriminatory, coercive, and oppressive jailing.”
National Bail Out – Mission: “The National Bail Out collective is a Black-led and Black-centered collective of abolitionist organizers, lawyers and activists building a community-based movement to support our folks and end systems of pretrial detention and ultimately mass incarceration.”
