Redwood Voice stands unquestionably and unflinchingly in support with the Black Lives Matter movement and the ongoing protests. We also recognize our team, though small, is a fully white crew and therefore come from positions of privilege. As such, when we show our support, we will make sure to keep ourselves out of the narrative—we’ve all seen white folks, even celebrities and organizations, attending protests and taking selfies for “internet clout” or “bonus points” and the like. Not to mention those who use their privilege to assume that they have a say in the matter, and that they can berate or antagonize these people fighting for their lives. The fact that there are so many White people who rally against and talk down on the movement, believing they have control or a say in it, is itself a demonstration of their privilege.
Just needed to denounce those really quick. Pretending those are not things going on just means that they’re happening unchecked.
For these reasons, this page will be a list of resources in order to connect our community in the fights for Black lives all across our nation. This article will be updated when updates and new information are available, and will be listing organizations, bonds, and fundraisers that you can donate and support in order to support protesters, as well as other means of support if applicable. Also, you can click the images to go the websites/applicable links for the organization.
Minnesota Freedom Fund
At this point in time, the Minnesota Freedom Fund is actually recommending that you do not donate to them—they have become positively over-saturated with support, and they are turning people to other means of support, meaning they are still a good hub for information. The fund, which has been used to bail out protesters who are arrested for exercising their first amendment right, is asking people to donate to the family of George Floyd and local organizations that are Black & BIPOC led.
From their Twitter account:
You can support Floyd’s family and the Official George Floyd Memorial Fund at their GoFundMe Page here.
Black Visions Collective
Black Visions Collective is a Minnesota-based aimed at teaching transformative justice principles, dedicated to amplifying Black autonomy and leadership in communities. You can donate to them here, and learn more about them on their website. Their Twitter also provides important updates, including important information regarding protests.
Reclaim the Block
Reclaim the Block has made it a mission to defund the Minneapolis Police Department and to commit to community-led safety strategies instead of investing in the police. You can read more about them on their website. You can donate to them here.
Bail Funds By City
All across the nation, people are being arrested and shown violent retaliation by power-hungry police, who at this point aren’t even being stopped by the fact they’re on video. [See: National Guard firing riot control rounds at citizens on their porch.] [See: Minneapolis Police opening fire and throwing tear gas at CNN Reporters.] [See: White man unaffiliated with police instigating protesters with assault rifle, but he’s white so instead of all those videos you’ve been seeing of peaceful protesters being beaten by cops they just let him go peacefully.] I can keep doing this but you get the idea.
So despite those protests a bunch of privileged, gun-toting white guys did a few weeks ago to protest COVID-19 closures since they felt it breached their rights (Remember those guys? Remember how very little was done and how peaceful and negotiable things were?) claiming their first amendment rights were being infringed on (they weren’t, by the way), it’s actually happening now with a complete turn around of how it’s being handled. That’s right, the first amendment right these people were claiming are being breached is actually happening now (and I don’t know about you, but I’ve not heard them speak up on it.)
In lieu of this, numerous bail funds have been created in most cities where a major protest has taken place. You can find them below:
BAY AREA Anti-Repression Committee Bail Fund: Donate and learn more here.
BROOKLYN Bail Fund: Donate here, learn more here.
CHICAGO Community Bond Fund: Donate here, learn more here.
COLORADO Freedom Fund: Donate and learn more here.
FLORIDA Justice Center: Donate here, learn more here.
FORT WAYNE Legal & Medical Fees For Protesters: GoFundMe Page here.
JACKSONVILLE, Florida Community Support Fund: GoFundMe Page here.
LOS ANGELES – Peoples City Council Freedom Fund: This GoFundMe is going towards several resources such as bail funds, but additionally medical bills and transportation costs for protesters, and direct support to Black Lives Matter Los Angeles.
LOUISVILLE Community Bail Fund: Donate and learn more here.
MADISON Uprising #JusticeForGeorgeFloyd: GoFundMe Page here.
MASSACHUSETTS Bail Fund: (Different from Massachusetts Freedom Fund) Donate here, learn more here.
MONTGOMERY Bail Out: Donate here, learn more here.
NASHVILLE Community Bail Fund: Donate here, learn more here.
NORTH CAROLINA Community Bail Fund of Durham: Donate here, learn more here.
PENNSYLVANIA (Dauphin County) Bail Fund: Donate here, learn more here.
PHILADELPHIA Bail Fund: Donate and learn more here.
PORTLAND PDX Protest Bail Fund: GoFundMe Page here.
RIVERSIDE Legal Support Fund: Donate here.
SALT LAKE CITY – Support protesters arrested by SLCPD: GoFundMe Page here.
VEGAS Freedom Fund: Donate and learn more here.
26 Ways to Support Black Liberation Without Protesting
Below is an article from Beyond The Streets that we thought would be helpful. If you want to lend your support even further than donations and spreading resources, you can follow these to become more active.