The unjustifiable murders of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and so many more have inspired uprisings not just in the United States but across the globe. The world is grieving, and we grieve with them. But the world is also angry, and rightfully so. For far too long, innocent people, especially minorities and persons of color, have been slaughtered by police with utter impunity, and now police are committing outright acts of terrorism against people protesting this injustice, against the press reporting on their heinous actions, and against innocent bystanders and even children that are not participating in any protests. Furthermore, state and federal officials up to and including the White House are using this as an excuse to implement the most egregiously fascist authoritarianism in the US.
This must end now. We must demand justice and accountability and we cannot stop until all police officers, their unions, and police departments are held to the highest possible standards and are mercilessly and unconditionally punished to the highest degree allowed by law when they brutalize the citizens they are sworn to protect, and when they shield the countless violent officers among their ranks. We must put an absolute end to the ongoing fascism, the empowerment of white supremacists, and the encouragement of violence all coming from our government. Anything less is entirely unacceptable.
Black Lives Matter. It's not just a movement, it's an indisputable truth. However, because of the racism that has been a cornerstone of the US since its inception (and still is to this day), Black Lives Matter remains controversial. The only thing that will destroy that cornerstone once and for all is education, acceptance, humility, equity (not just equality), and actively tearing down all institutions that reinforce this toxic and deadly culture. Now is the time not only to educate yourself and others, but to actively fight back against racism and its supporting institutions until they are permanently eradicated. Here is how you can do that:
Information and Resources
- Black Lives Matter - Official Website
- Ways you can help
- The frustrations behind the George Floyd protests
- 6 harmful consequences of the 'White Savior' complex
- How microaggressions can affect wellbeing in the workplace
- Maintaining professionalism in the age of black death is...a lot
- How racism shortens lives by impacting genes
- How racism harms children
- Police Violence Map
- National Police Accountability Project
- Campaign Zero - End police violence in America
- Protesting resources mega-list (Spreadsheet version - more frequently updated)
- How to protest safely during COVID-19
- Protest Safety Zine
- How to protect yourself from tear gas
- Phone apps to record and upload police misconduct (iOS and Android)
- Know your rights as a protester
- Lessons from Hong Kong protesters
- Video: Hong Kong protest tactics: occupy, disrupt, disperse, repeat
- Video: How Hong Kong protesters evade surveillance with technology