How to support from home.

There’s a wide variety of reasons you may not be able to join the frontlines at this time - all of which are valid. But you should not feel that it precludes you from being involved and helpful in the movement! Here are some ideas for engagement.

Also visit the BLM resource page which will direct you in ways to engage.

Support Online Calls to Action

Within Philly:

1. Support the demands of the Black Philly Radical Collective.

2. Tell the School District of Philadelphia: We want #PoliceFreeSchools!

3. Hold Penn accountable for their actions and funding that support police brutality and systematic racism.

4. Tell Mayor Kenney and City Hall that their amended budget is NOT the defunding that we’ve asked for and that we will continue to make our voices heard. Email all 17 Philadelphia City Council Members, their staffers, Mayor Kenney, and the Managing Director by filling out this form and learn more here

5. Demand the resignation of Montgomery County Comissioner Joe Gale for his racist remarks against BLM.

Nationally:

6. Petition that UCF relieve Charles Negy of his position at UCF due to his racist remarks on social media.

7. Demand justice for Breonna Taylor whose life was violently taken away from her by Louisville Metro Police. Demand that the men resposible be fired and charged with murder to the fullest extend of the law.

   • The Breonna Taylor campaign has launched a PR initiative to help build greater support. They are asking for donations.

Support Financially

This list is not exhaustive!

Within Philly:

• Black Lives Matter Philly
• Womanist Working Collective (Black women and femme centered community organizing group)
• Bread and Roses Fund (Support community-based groups in building movements for racial equity and economic opportunity)
• Black and Brown Workers Cooperative (BBWC)
• Philadelphia Bail Fund
• Philadelphia Community Bail Fund
• The Philadelphia Liberation Center (They hosted the enormous June 6th protest). Make a donation to them on PayPal at liberationphil@outlook.com or on Venmo @phillyliberation
• Contribute to the North Philly Peace Park Project
• Help black trans women in Philly secure housing
• Project SAFE Philly (Project SAFE is a grassroots, direct-service and peer-based advocacy organization)
• Mutual Aid Philly
• Reclaim Philadelphia
• The Youth Art & Self-Empowerment Project
• Support the release of Mumia Abu Jamal
• Philly for R.E.A.L Justice

Minneapolis-based:

• Bail funds, individuals funds, and organizations
• Organizations sourced by Reclaim the Block

Nationally:

• Food not Bombs
• The Real Justice PAC

Support your Loved-Ones and Community

I saw a woman who owned a holistic healing center offer her space during last Saturday’s protest for black community members that needed to rest. Center your black friends and community members however you can, whether that’s through physical space you own, or in your conversations.

Support local community organizations and companies that are uplifting the black community, like these 8 based in Philly.

List of black-owned restaurants to order from:

Support Protests & Organizers

Even if you can’t participate in the actual protest, there is so much behind the scenes man-power required to make them successful. You may be able to play a specific role such as being a tent medic, distributing water, snacks, and masks during the pre-march rally, or organizing or participating in jail support. Utilize the event discussion board (often on Facebook) to contact organizers and engage with other participants who are organizing these parts.

With SEPTA being (extra) unreliable these days, I’m seeing a lot of people who live outside of the city looking for a means of transportation. If you have a car, you can volunteer to bring people to the protest, or shuttle supplies between supply sites that are being organized prior to the event. Organizers may also formally crowd source volunteers through online forms - again, watch the event discussion board.

Leverage your online space and host a bail fundraiser through your social channels. (Philadelphia Bail Fund, Philadelphia Community Bail Fund).

If you feel comfortable, and depending on how the protest unfolds, there may be people stranded in the city that need a safe space to spend the night. If you have the space, consider offering it.