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How to Safely Support a Justice Movement

June 2, 2020
stop racism

On May 25, 46-year-old Minneapolis resident George Floyd died after police officer Derek Chauvin pinned him down during an arrest by using his knee. Since, protests have erupted demanding justice for Floyd's death, just the latest example of inequality, racism, and police brutality in America.

If you're looking for a way to join the movement against racism, here are some ways you can take action now, from donating to supporting legal organizations.

To Donate

Official George Floyd Memorial Fund

To help cover the costs of everything from funeral and burial expenses to mental and grief counseling, lodging, and travel for all court proceedings, Floyd's brother, Philonise Floyd, started a GoFundMe to assist his family in their time of need. Additionally, a portion of these funds will go to the Estate of George Floyd, which benefits his children and their educational fund. To send cards, letters of encouragement, or contributions in the form of a check, you mail them to:

The Estate of George Floyd
c/o Ben Crump Law, PLLC
122 S. Calhoun Street
Tallahassee, FL 32301
Attn: Adner Marcelin

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The Bail Project

In its 10 years of operation, The Bronx Freedom Fund—New York City’s first community bail fund—served nearly 2,000 borough residents with 90 percent of cases closing without a criminal conviction. From that success, The Bail Project was born in 2017, which has provided free bail assistance and pretrial support to more than 10,000 people nationwide, while also working to advance bail reform. In the wake of the protests across the country, the Bail Project will its funds to provide assistance to protesters in cities where it has offices, including Chicago, Louisville, Houston, New York City, and St. Louis.

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The NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund

Founded in 1940 by legendary civil rights icon Thurgood Marshall, the NAACP Legal Defense Fund has spent the last 70 years advancing the goals of racial justice and equality. From legal victories in state and federal courts—which serve as the foundation for the civil rights that all Americans enjoy today—to increasing graduation rates among African American students, protecting voters across the nation, and decreasing disproportionate incarceration and sentencing rates, this legal organization works tirelessly to make America into a more just and inclusive society.

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On "Represent NYC", Alvin BRAGG, Former New York State Chief Deputy Attorney General and current Visiting Professor and Co-Director, Racial Justice Project at
New York Law School discusses the power dynamic around police brutality.

Know Your Rights Camp

In 2016, Colin Kapernick co-founded the Know Your Rights Camp, which was inspired by the pain and anger the former quarterback experienced after 26-year-old Mario Woods was fatally shot by five officers in San Francisco. Since then, the youth-empowerment initiative has traveled to seven cities, providing more than 1,400 brown and black kids and teens with legal knowledge for navigating violent encounters with police officers, as well as advice for how to thrive in the areas of health, self-empowerment and finance. In the wake of George Floyd's death, Kapernick set up the Know Your Rights Camp Legal Defense Initiative, a fundraiser that will help pay for the defense of protesters nationwide who may be in need of legal assistance.

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Equal Justice Initiative

Founded in 1989 by criminal-justice crusader Bryan Stevenson, the Equal Justice Initiative has spent the last three decades offering legal representation to people who have been illegally convicted, unfairly sentenced, or abused in state jails and prisons; challenging the death penalty and excessive punishment; providing re-entry assistance to formerly incarcerated people; and providing research and recommendations to help policymakers working on criminal justice reform. In 2018, the nonprofit unveiled the National Memorial for Peace and Justice, in Montgomery, Alabama, a six-acre site that honors the thousands of victims of lynching during the Jim Crow era.

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The American Civil Liberties Union

Since 1920, The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has worked tirelessly in all 50 states—as well as Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico—to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed by the Constitution and the laws of the United States. In the wake of George Floyd's death, the ACLU urged Minnesota Governor Tim Walz to ask Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, which happened on Sunday. Now, the ACLU will continue to call for a fully independent prosecution.

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Communities United Against Police Brutality

Formed after the death of Charles "Abuka" Sanders by Minneapolis police, Communities United Against Police Brutality is an all-volunteer organization that meets every Saturday to combat police brutality in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area through political and legislative action, education, research, and providing services and support for victims and their families.

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To Sign a Petition

#JusticeforFloyd

This petition from Color of Change demands that Mayor Frey block all four officers from receiving their pensions and ban them from working as police officers again; calls for Officers Thomas Lane, Tou Thao and J. Alexander Kueng to be charged; and to release any protestors who've been arrested. The petition currently needs 55,000 more signatures to meet its goal of 2,500,000. You can sign the petition at the link below or text "FLOYD" to 55156.

SIGN THE PETITION HERE

Justice for George Floyd

This Change.org petition—which is currently 200,000 signatures shy of its 6,000,000-signature goal—is also trying to get the attention of Mayor Frey and District Attorney Freeman to demand that the three other officers are held accountable for the death of George Floyd. In addition to signing the petition below, it is asking for people to send a 30-second video answering this question: What would justice for George Floyd mean to you? To submit a video (the deadline is 3 p.m. on Saturday, May 30), email georgefloydvideos@gmail.com.

SIGN THE PETITION HERE

Other Petitions To Sign