We are in Solidarity with the Movement for Black Lives

Posted by 422sc on June 02, 2020

Banner that says "We are in solidarity with the movement for black lives," M4BL In defense of Black Life and illustrated images by Color of Change of Tony McDade, Nina Pop, Sean Reed, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and George Floyd

We want to recognize the outrage and grief of this moment. It is justified. We feel it, too. Though we can’t find the perfect words to share at this moment, our hearts are heavy as we witness the terror of white supremacy and state violence that has characterized our nation from its founding to this very day. Our condolences go out to the loved ones of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Sean Reed, Tony McDade, Nina Pop, Breonna Taylor, and the many other Black and brown lives that have been taken by police, hate groups, and individuals in this country, with little to no accountability, no justice, and no systemic change.

Black lives matter.

We are proud of the people who are taking to the streets in the midst of a pandemic to demonstrate that we will not stand for this any longer. We believe that at the heart of these protests is an unwillingness to accept a system that treats Black and Brown people as disposable. We are with our communities who are rising up, speaking out, and committed to building a better future. Our vision and our commitment to building more just and resilient economic systems has not changed; it has been reaffirmed. Together, we can and must build systems that are rooted in equity, reparations, democracy, and love.

We encourage broad participation in this week’s Movement for Black Lives Week of Action. We recommit ourselves to our 2016 Statement of Support for #Vision4BlackLives, in which we endorsed the Movement for Black Lives and their historic policy platform, “A Vision for Black Lives: Policy Demands for Black Power, Freedom & Justice.”

If you are looking for a space to put your energy, time, or resources, here are a few options:

The Movement For Black Lives: Support their work to build Black political power to influence national and local agendas in the direction of our shared vision for Black Lives
National Lawyers Guild: The National Lawyers Guild provides legal support for those protesting and organizing against injustice.
Black Visions Collective: Black Visions Collective believes in a future where all Black people have autonomy, safety is community-led, and we are in right relationship within our ecosystems.
Anti-Police Terror Project: APTP is a Black-led, multi-racial, intergenerational coalition that seeks to build a replicable and sustainable model to eradicate police terror in communities of color.
List of Bail Funds for Protestors across the Country: This list was created with the National Bail Fund Network and the Community Justice Exchange who organizes to end all forms of detention, criminalization, and surveillance.
May/June Bail Fund and Support List: This is a grassroots-led mutual aid compilation for needs specific to demonstrations taking place in Minnesota.
The Bail Project: is a national nonprofit organization that pays bail for people in need, reuniting families and restoring the presumption of innocence. In fighting mass incarceration, they aim to secure freedom for as many people as possible and ensure equal justice for all.
Poor People's Campaign: confronts the interlocking evils of systemic racism, poverty, and militarism. As a nation we are at a critical juncture — and we need a movement led by working people that will shift the moral narrative, impact policies and elections at every level of government, and build lasting power for poor and impacted people.
Color of Change: is the nation’s largest online racial justice organization that helps people respond effectively to injustice in the world around us. As a national online force driven by 1.7 million members, they move decision-makers in corporations and government to create a more human and less hostile world for Black people in America.
Mijente: is a national hub for Latinx and Chincanx organizing that advocates on behalf of those communities as well as other oppressed communities. It has been leading the charge within Spanish language media, attempting to bring awareness and solidarity with Black-led protests and organizations. It serves as a link between many Black-led organizations and Spanish-speaking communities, participating and leading in solidarity actions in several states.
Repaired Nations: is a pan-African network of support and resources that catalyzes the growth of cooperative ventures for a thriving and resilient future. Join Repaired Nations 12 week Instagram Live Book club to learn about the history of cooperative economics in the Black Community.
NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund: is the country's top legal firm fighting for racial justice. Through litigation, advocacy, and public education, it seeks structural changes to expand democracy, eliminate disparities, and achieve justice for all. It also defends the gains and protections won over the past 75 years of civil rights struggle.