If You Can't Attend a Protest, Here's How to Help in the Fight Against Racial Injustice

Powerful protests in response to the killings ofGeorge Floyd,Breonna Taylor,Ahmaud Arbery, and countless other Black Americans continue across the nation, with calls for reform and restitution in the face of police brutality. For many, the past week has served as a swift call to action both on the streets of major cities and at home. For a variety of valid reasons, not everyone may be able to attend a protest in person, but there are still plenty of ways to demand change and aid those in the march for racial justice. Here are a few ideas to get started:

Offer supplies

On-the-ground protestorscan benefit from supplieslike water bottles, snacks, hand sanitizer, ear buds, and eyewear, in addition to face masks and other Personal Protective Equipment amid the COVID-19 pandemic. If you can't physically provide these, consider donating to local organizations orcreators that will— which leads into our next point . . .

Donate

Many nonprofits and organizations work nonstop to support the families of slain Black Americans, as well as aid protestors with necessary resources, like bail fund, to continue their fight against injustice. If you are in a position to donate, check outthis list of nationwide and local organizations可以使用你的帮助。

Protest virtually

You don't have to leave your house to participate in a peaceful protest. For example, Bernice King (daughter of Martin Luther King Jr.) is holding an online protest every day this week to give people a virtual space to speak out. Another online protest will take place on Friday, June 5, at 3 p.m. ET toremember Breonna Taylor.

Sometimes, people are waiting for Someone to step up, speak out, shape change. You are Someone.

This is just one way we can put in work, virtually & globally, to move the needle for#justice.

Let’s use every space we have. Join with me.#OnlineProtest>https://t.co/SI0jt4VQaspic.twitter.com/3049KWkXUe

— Be A King (@BerniceKing)June 2, 2020

Sign petitions

Your name holds so much power. You can show solidarity toward movements and organizations, or demand justice simply bysigning a petitionor sending a text. A 15-year-old from Oregon set upa Change.org petitionto get the officers involved in George Floyd's death charged for their crimes. It became the biggest in the site's history. You can also text FLOYD to 55156 to signColor of Change's petitionorsign the Justice for George Floyd petitionon Change.org, along witha petition for Marshae JonesandAhmaud Arbery.

Provide childcare

Some families may find it educational to bring children to protests, while others may not. Provide a service to your family and friends who want to participate by offering to keep an eye on their kids, if your state's social distancing guidelines allow.

Buy from Black-owned businesses

Support for Black-owned businesses should be amplified and ongoing. Brother Vellies's Aurora James recently called for major corporations tobuy 15 percent of products from Black businesses, and consumers can implement similar goals in their everyday buying. Here are lists ofBlack-owned fashionandbeauty brands you can support.

Join an antiracist group in your area

Find your local organization where you can contribute today and every day moving forward, whether that be a Black Lives Matter group, aShowing Up For Racial Justicechapter, or another group active in your area. Start withthe W.G. Kellog Foundation's Racial Equality Race Guide如果你想要一个comprehensive list.

Reach out to government officials

Your local, state, and national leaders are meant to work with your interests at heart, so don't hesitate to make your thoughts and feelings clear to them. The USA.gov website hasdirect linksto contact your elected officials. You can also usea helpful templatefrom Instagram user @maasaipg to send a prewritten email about George Floyd specifically to Minnesota legislators.

Hire, promote, and refer Black talent within your organization

If you're in a position to offer employment opportunities to people, make a concerted effort to hire Black voices, particularly at the leadership level. What's more, do your part to actively confront and rectify wage gaps, whichdisproportionately affect Black women, so that existing and incoming employees are justly paid their worth.

Educate yourself

Being a better ally hinges on acknowledging that you don't have all the answers while committing yourself to continually learning and listening.Documentariesandbooks about systemic and individual racismoffer a good starting point. It's worth noting that it's not the responsibility of your Black peers and friends to provide insight. So — instead of asking others to put in the investigative and emotional labor — turn to existing resources, reading lists, and other educational material compiled by leaders and activist organizations.

Open a dialogue with family and friends

Though social media offers the ability to amplify Black voices and spread the messaging of the movement, engaging with those in your immediate circle andhaving difficult conversations about the realities of white privilege也是最重要的。根据不同的情况,你might be met with indifference or a defensive attitude at first, but you might also spark an internal dialogue or reckoning, and it's important that you try.

Vote

The presidential primary elections are already upon us and the general election in November will be here before we know it. Let your voice be heard at a local and national level. Change starts in communities and ripples out countrywide. Please remember to register to vote and do your own research aboutmail-in ballots.