This year has already been challenging with the world in an uproar dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic. But, when George Floyd was killed by Minneapolis, Minnesota Police on May 25th, everything changed. After a convenience store employee called police on Floyd for allegedly using a counterfeit $20 bill, he was arrested. Floyd was then pinned down by an officer with his knee in his neck, only to die minutes later after uttering ‘I Can’t Breathe!’
Since that day, the world has been protesting in the streets from New York, LA, Minnesota and Washington to Paris, Japan the UK and more. The four Police officers involved were all arrested and charges have been upgraded due to the 14 days of public protests. The officer who was kneeling on George Floyd Mr. Chauvin, was charged with second-degree murder. The remaining three, Thomas Lane, J. Alexander Kueng and Tou Thao were charged with with aiding and abetting second-degree murder. George Floyd was laid to rest yesterday in his hometown of Houston, TX in a private ceremony with family and friends. All Sharpton issued a powerful sermon while Kim Burrell sang an amazing tribute song.
George Floyd’s death was a wake up call for us to realize all the lives lost to police brutality throughout the years. It urges us to remember the lives of Breona Taylor, Eric Garner, Ahmaud Arbery, Sandra Bland, Michael Brown, Akai Gurley, Tamir Rice, Freddie Gray, Philando Castile, Stephon Clark, Botham Jean, Atatiana Jefferson and others. These innocent lives taken too soon in the light of injustice. Black Lives Matter!
We need to do more and the fight will continue and here’s how you can help! There are several ways you can do your part to contribute to the fight for racial justice and equality right now. To view the full Anti-Racism Resource document click here. Take a look below for various organizations to follow and donate.
George Floyd Memorial Fund – covers funeral and burial expenses, mental and grief counseling, lodging and travel for all court proceedings, and to assist Floyd’s family in the days to come. Donate
Minnesota Freedom Fund – community based nonprofit that combats the harms of incarceration by paying bail for low-income individuals. Donate
Black Lives Matter – fight to end state-sanctioned violence, liberate Black people, and end white supremacy forever. Donate
Black Visions Collective – create the conditions for long term success and transformation for all Black People. Donate
Reclaim The Block – organizes Minneapolis community and city council members to move money from the police department into other areas of the city’s budget that truly promote community health and safety. Donate
Campaign Zero – police reform campaign which proposes research-based policy solutions to end police brutality in America. Donate
National Bail Out – Black-led and Black-centered collective of abolitionist organizers, lawyers and activists building a community-based movement to support and end systems of pretrial detention and ultimately mass incarceration. Donate
Be Sure To Sign the Petitions
Justice for George Floyd – Sign
George Floyd Killers Brought to Justice – Sign
White House Petition – Sign
Justice for Breona Taylor – Sign
Justice for Ahmaud Arbery – Sign
Organizations to Follow