Around the United States, and across the globe, Black Lives Matter and other protestors have taken to the streets to protest against police violence, specifically the murders of Black Americans at the hands of the police, as well as systemic and interpersonal racism in the last few weeks. SSDP stands in solidarity with the Movement for Black Lives and the protests demanding justice, freedom, and safety for Black Americans. In response to the protests, police violence has risen and police have responded with increased force. The movement to defund American police forces has gained strong momentum.mIn places like Minneapolis, we are even seeing elected officials promise to disband their police force altogether and replace it with a new institution that will better serve communities. In light of these events, we’ve changed our report card this month to include actions you can take, funds you can donate to, and resources you can read to better educate yourself on anti-racism and white supremacy. Read through to educate yourself and get involved.

In solidarity, 

Your SSDP team

Action Alerts 

• Call on Congress to act on police violence.
• Demand justice for Breonna Taylor.
• US Members: Write your legislators to reallocate police budgets toward education and social services
• Colorado: Tell Governor Polis and your state representatives to support Senate Bill 20-217, which proposes multiple promising reforms for Colorado police officers
• District of Columbia: Demand the Judiciary Committee and your Councilmember oppose a budget increase of $18.5 million for DC police.
• Los Angeles: Call Mayor Garcetti and your city councilmembers to adopt a #PeoplesBudget and defund LAPD
• Michigan: Call members of the State Senate’s Judiciary Committee and encourage them to support automatic expungement of cannabis offenses (HB5120)
• New York State: Tell Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins, Speaker Heastie, and Governor Cuomo to repeal 50-a which would make disciplinary records of police officers available to the public 
• RSVP to our Virtual Lobby Day where we will be pressing Congress to act on addressing police violence and accountability and adopt comprehensive federal marijuana reform.
• Oakland: Demand Oakland’s Budget Director, City Administrator, and your city council member reduce funding for OPD.
• Oregon: Attend our June 16th phonebank with the ACLU of Oregon and IP44 to decriminalize drug possession
• Demand MORE and support U.S. federal legislation legalizing marijuana with reparative justice.

Organizations, campaigns, and funds to donate to

Direct aid for victims’ families

• Official George Floyd Memorial Fund
• Official Gianna Floyd Fund – George Floyd’s daughter
• Official Peace and Healing Fund for Darnella Frazier – Woman who filmed George Floyd’s murder
• I Run With Maud – Fund for Ahmaud Arbery’s mother
• Justice for Breonna Taylor
• Justice for David McAtee

Support for protestors

• Black Trans Protestors Emergency Fund
• Black Earth Farms Delivery Food Fund – food delivery to Black protestors in Oakland
• Gas Mask Fund for Black youth protestors in Minneapolis
• Master list of bail funds/legal help funds by city
• NAACP Legal Defense Fund

Community Support

• Okra Project – provides home-cooked, healthy meals and resources to Black trans people 

Local organizations

• Black Lives Matter local chapters
• Black Visions Collective – Black, queer-led organization in Minnesota devoted to Black liberation

Local campaigns

• Communities United for Police Reform – New York organization calling for NYPD budget cuts
• People’s Budget LA – campaign to defund LAPD
• Philly We Rise – campaign to defund Philadelphia police
• Reclaim the Block – Minneapolis organization devoted to reallocating police funding to other parts of the city budget 

National Organizations

• Black Lives Matter
• Color of Change
• Fair Fight – organization founded by Stacey Abrams to end voter suppression 
• NAACP

Recommended Reading and Resources

• Betty Aldworth: “Be Water!”: seven tactics that are winning Hong Kong’s democracy revolution
• Rachel Wissner ‘11: The answer to police violence is not ‘reform’. It’s defunding. Here’s why, Video: Expanding the Table for Racial Equity #3: White Privilege – Dr. Robin DiAngelo
• Erica Darragh ‘14: Me and White Supremacy workbook
• Vilmarie Narloch, PsyD ‘09: Scaffolded Anti-Racist Resources
• Rob Hofmann ‘16: Ohio State student government demands university cut ties with Columbus Police, citing ‘injustices against the black community’ & protesters
• Stacia Wallis ‘05: Five Racist Anti-Racism Responses “Good” White Women Give to Viral Posts & The Only Kind of Response That’s Acceptable
• Luis Montoya ‘16: How to be an Antiracist – Ibram X. Kendi

From the blog

• How to protect yourself while protesting
• SSDP Statement of Solidarity with the Uprisers and the Movement for Black Lives
• SSDP UK Committee Statement of Solidarity

Upcoming events and days of action

These events include those which are hosted by SSDP global, or by SSDP chapters, or in which we are partners or co-hosts, or feature an SSDP member as a speaker. If your chapter is hosting an event that you’d like listed, please let your SSDP staff member know. 

• June 26 | Everywhere | Support. Don’t Punish. Global Day of Action