Following the murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis police, the Black Lives Matter Movement experienced a new wave of demands for justice. This time, leaders are determined to move past the hashtags and news cycles to continue to demand a change to the systematic racism that our country was built on. This new era of the movement is largely youth lead, and it has already proven to be extremely effective.
All 4 police officers involved in the murder of George Floyd have been charged, Breonna Taylor’s case has been reopened, and cities around the world are reconsidering their police spending and reinvesting in communities of color. This change is long overdue, but also only a small start to a long process of dismantling the racist foundations of the country.
Here is a list of what you can do to help right now:
(If reading in print, please see this article online at https://bhsledger.org/ for live links.)
Education:
Watch on Netflix
- 13th (documentary)
- Who Killed Malcom X? (documentary)
- Strong Island (investigative film)
- American Son (social issue drama)
- See You Yesterday (sci-fi drama)
- When They See Us (true crime docuseries)
- Explained: The Racial Wealth Gap (Explained series, final episode of season 1)
- Dear White People (dramedy series)
Read
- Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race by Reni Eddo-Lodge (nonfiction, narrative)
- Me and White Supremacy by Layla F. Saad (nonfiction, informational)
- How to be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi (nonfiction)
- Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates (nonfiction, autobiography)
- Heavy: An American Memoir by Kiese Laymon (nonfiction, autobiography)
- The Color Purple by Alice Walker (fiction)
- Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston (fiction)
- Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams (novel)
Listen on Spotify
- About Race with Reni Eddo-Lodge
- The Diversity Gap
- 1619 (The NY Times)
- Code Switch (NPR)
- POD Save the People
- What Matters
- Uncomfortable Conversations
- You’re Pretty For A Podcast
Action:
Donate:
- Black Lives Matter (https://blacklivesmatter.com)
- Massachusetts Bail Fund (https://www.massbailfund.org)
- George Floyd Memorial Fund (https://www.gofundme.com/f/georgefloyd?ufm_source=customer&utm_medium=copy_link-tip&utm_campaign=p_cp+share-sheet)
- Justice for Amaud Arbery (https://www.gofundme.com/f/i-run-with-maud)
- Tony McDade Memorial Fund (https://www.gofundme.com/f/in-memory-of-tony-mcdade)
- DONATE WITH NO MONEY! Play this YouTube video in the background of whatever you’re doing and do not skip the ads. All ad revenue will be donated to various foundations. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPC0J9z92-0)
Petitions:
- Justice for Breonna Taylor (https://www.change.org/p/andy-beshear-justice-for-breonna-taylor)
- Justice for Tony McDade (https://www.change.org/p/justice-for-tony-mcdade)
- Reopen Sandra Bland’s Case (https://www.change.org/p/texas-governor-i-want-sandra-bland-s-case-reopened)
Email and Text
- Defund Boston PD
- An auto-populated email template will pop up to urge government officials and council members to reallocate police budgets towards education, social services, and dismantling racial inequality. Fill in the blank spaces with your information and hit send.
- Mayor: defund12.org/boston
- Council members: defund12.org/boston-councilors
- Text “ENOUGH” to 55156
- Demand justice for Breonna Taylor
- Text “FLOYD” to 55156
- Demand justice for George Floyd
This is just the beginning. For more resources please visit BLM Resources.
BLACK LIVES MATTER
