How To Support Black Lives Matter Following The Death Of George Floyd
Protesters across America are taking action against racial injustice. Here are some ways to help the cause.
This piece was originally published on Oxygen.com.
As protests — mostly peaceful but some impacted by violence — following the death of George Floyd continue across the nation, one thing seems clear: the history of racial injustice and police brutality targeting people of color, particularly black Americans, has led the country at a tipping point.
Floyd, a black man, died May 25 in Minneapolis while lying on the ground, unarmed and handcuffed, while his white arresting officer, Derek Chauvin, pressed his knee against his neck for nearly nine minutes, including after Floyd became unresponsive. Police had been responding to reports that a man had attempted to use a counterfeit $20 bill.
Floyd’s death has been classified as a homicide by the Hennepin County Medical Examiner’s Office, and Chauvin was charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter in the case last but only after the protests began. It was reported Wednesday that his murder charge was upgraded to second-degree. The three other officers — Thomas Lane, J. Kueng and Tou Thao — present at the time Floyd died were charged Wednesday with aiding and abetting second-degree murder, following activists’ calls for their prosecution. The state of Minnesota has also filed a human rights complaint against the Minneapolis Police Department for Floyd’s death.
In the days since Floyd’s killing, demonstrators have hit the streets in mass, both large cities and elsewhere around the country, to fight for racial justice. For those who can’t make the front lines, there are plenty of other ways to assist the cause. We at Oxygen.com have rounded up organizations that you can support:
American Civil Liberties Union Foundation
The ACLU fights against civil right violations in courts, legislatures and communities.
Black Lives Matter has become one of the biggest social justice movements in modern time. They are dedicated to ending violence aimed at black people and ending white supremacy. Many of the George Floyd protests have been organized under the Black Lives Matter banner.
Campaign Zero is a police reform organization and campaign that aims to end police brutality in America.
Community Change empowers low-income individuals, particularly people of color, and fights for a more equal society.
Color of Change is a nonprofit civil rights advocacy organization with a goal of strengthening the political voice of African-Americans.
The Martin Luther King, Jr., Center for Nonviolent Social Change
The King Center dedicates itself to inspiring new generations to carry forward with Martin Luther King Jr.’s unfinished work and causes.
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)
The NAACP fights to eliminate race-based discrimination and fights for justice for all.
National Police Accountability Project
The National Police Accountability Project is a nonprofit dedicated to ending police abuse through both legal action and educational programming.
The National Urban League fights to help African Americans to secure economic self-reliance, parity, and civil rights.
Colin Kaepernick — the NFL quarterback who became a civil rights activist in 2016 for his peaceful protesting during games — founded Know Your Rights Camp, which holds educational seminars across the country for black and brown youth. It has also teamed up with defense lawyers in the Minneapolis area to help provide legal resources.
North Star Health Collective is a group of health care providers who create safer environments for protesters.
Race Forward partners with communities, organizations, and sectors to strategize ways to advance racial justice.
Reclaim the Block works with city council members in Minneapolis to redistribute money from the police department to other parts of the city's budget which promote community health and safety.
The Southern Poverty law Center is a nonprofit civil rights group dedicated to fighting hate and bigotry.
Unicorn Riot is a nonprofit media collective dedicated to exposing social issues plaguing society with on-the-ground coverage.
Bail funds and legal funds for protesters
These national organizations help bail out protestors who have been arrested:
Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law
This site lists all bail organizations by state.
For the latest reporting on the George Floyd protests from NBC News and MSNBC’s worldwide team of correspondents, including a live blog with minute-to-minute updates, visit NBCNews.com and NBCBLK.
