At Studio Gallery, we strongly believe in equality and safety for all people. We are outraged and saddened by the murder of George Floyd and every other unjust death. We stand with our black brothers, sisters, and non-binary friends; not just now, but always. We encourage our community to do the same, and to support those in need. Please do your part. If you are not able to attend protests, you can continue to educate yourself and share helpful information via social media and other communication resources, and vote for candidates committed to remedy these injustices. Most of all, you can advocate for the eradication of racism in our communities through donations to worthy organizations that are aligned with your interests. Below is a list of five D.C.-based organizations and GoFundMe campaigns that actively support the #BlackLivesMatter movement. All gratefully accept financial donations. Please read to the end of the list if you would like to learn how you can help crucial organizations even if you do not have funds to give.
Black Lives Matter D.C.
Starting out from the basement of the MLK library, Black Lives Matter D.C. has flourished immensely over the last three years. Volunteers have been tirelessly fighting to support black communities and eradicate the racism that endangers them, and through their hard work they have accomplished much. As stated on their website, their core programming has expanded to include “weekly Black-only healing sessions, monthly meetings & open houses, art and activist community building, and cultivating a rapid response team.”
2. GoFundMe: Directly Support D.C. Protesters
While Washington D.C. does not implement bail the same way that other places do, you can still support protesters here by donating to these two GoFundMe’s. The first link (left) will help protesters to pay for supplies such as food, water, milk (for combating the effects of tear gas), gas masks, first aid kits, and more. As of June 1st, these funds are also being distributed as bail funds for protesters who have been taken into police custody. Donations sent to the second link (right) will go to “copwatch, protest support, jail care/support, representational support, and all other related support”.
3. The ACLU
“With more than 1.5 million members, nearly 300 staff attorneys, thousands of volunteer attorneys, and offices throughout the nation, the ACLU fights government abuse and vigorously defends individual freedoms including speech and religion, a woman’s right to choose, the right to due process, citizens’ rights to privacy, and much more.” They have been tirelessly pushing for racial justice, and are at the moment even “filing a class-action lawsuit against Minnesota’s state and local law enforcement officials to ensure that police officers who target journalists are held fully accountable for their unlawful actions.” To support the ACLU and their much-needed work, please consider donating below.
4. The NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund
The NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund is a nonprofit and “America’s premier legal organization fighting for racial justice. Through litigation, advocacy, and public education, LDF seeks structural changes to expand democracy, eliminate disparities, and achieve racial justice in a society that fulfills the promise of equality for all Americans. LDF also defends the gains and protections won over the past 75 years of civil rights struggle and works to improve the quality and diversity of judicial and executive appointments.” You can support their valuable work by clicking the links down below.
5. GoFundMe: Support George Floyd’s Family Directly
If you would like your donations to directly support George Floyd’s family at this tragic time, please use the links below to do so. Note: Please make sure that you donate to them through these links, as there have been multiple fake GoFundMe’s set up to profit off of this tragedy.
How To Donate If You Don’t Have Money To Spare
YouTuber Zoe Amira has created a video that will easily allow you to donate to BLM-supporting organizations without spending a dime of your own money. You can watch her video and/or play it in the background on repeat, and 100% of the revenue from the ads will be used to support advocacy and “associations that offer protester bail funds”, as well as help pay for family funerals. Please turn off your ad-blocker and enjoy the video! Other Youtubers have followed Amira’s lead, so feel free to browse YouTube and find similar videos. Many of these videos highlight work made by black artists, so that while you contribute to BLM donations, you can also support the arts!
From staff contributor Halley Stubis.