As we continue to see police and citizen violence on Black people, most recently with the deaths of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and George Floyd, we must ask ourselves, what must we do to dismantle the carceral system and white supremacy?
The work of addressing white supremacy is critical to building a climate movement rooted in justice. There is no just recovery for climate, without addressing the systemic extraction, harm and violence towards Black communities. Building a movement rooted in the needs of those most oppressed is the only way we can achieve liberation for all.
This violence and white supremacy is not new – it is a tale as old as settler colonialism. And it must end. We invite you to do your own work, particularly white people and non-black people of color. Here are some immediate actions you can take:
First, make space for Black people to grieve. Do what you can to be an active and present supporter and acknowledge the ongoing trauma Black people face everyday.
Immediate Actions
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- Sign this petition, from Reclaim the Block, calling on the Minneapolis City Council to become visionary leaders by pledging to defund the Minneapolis Police Department.
- Join M4BL’s National Call to Action Call to hear from Organizers in Minneapolis and across the country.
- Text ‘ActionNOW’ to 90975 to get regular updates about actions you can take.
- Call Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey at (612) 678-2100.
- Join a socially distant protest and justice caravan this Saturday, May 30th at 2 pm.
- If you live in Minneapolis or in a neighboring town, drop off supplies at the Holy Trinity Lutheran Church (2730 E 31st St). Here is a list of supplies needed. List of supplies needed can be found here.
Groups to Support
Resources
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- Consider these critical questions from Austin Channing about protesting, “looting”, and violence against African Americans. Move beyond the hashtags and allow what’s happening to transform the way you think about justice, policing, harm, violence.
- Read this resource on why safe communities don’t have more police but instead prioritize more community resources.
- This document is intended to serve as a resource to white people and parents to deepen their anti-racism work. If you haven’t engaged in anti-racism work in the past, start now.
- Be witness to the unbearable grief of Black mothers. Between COVID-19 and police brutality, the burden of grief is yet another risk to Black mothers’ health.
- People Can Only Bear So Much Injustice Before Lashing Out. As the media denounces the Minneapolis protesters, it’s worth remembering that it takes incredible strength to practice nonviolence in the face of murder and oppression.
- How to respond to “riots never solve anything!”
Image from PBS
Share these resources and actions with your community. Rejecting the feeling that nothing can be done about white supremacy is key, and it starts with taking action and listening to the people most impacted by our racist system.