Our Climate stands in solidarity with those across the world who are standing up to systematic racism and police brutality. We remain committed to fighting for racial justice in our work and empowering young people to do the same in their communities. Our Climate has been and will continue suspending our original digital programming until further notice to center Black and Idigenous voices, and provide space for action in honoring the lives of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, Tony McDade and all other victims murdered by the police. We stand in solidarity with the global movement demanding an end to systematic racism, anti-Blackness, and police brutality. Please join us by taking action in your community. We’ve collected a few resources below if you need help getting started. Friends, there is work to be done. We want to be clear that this solidarity statement is nowhere near sufficient action or an end to this conversation. Our Climate’s team is reevaluating both our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Action Plan and our organizational Policy Principles to center policies that uplift and are shaped by Black communities and actively support The Movement For Black Lives’ demands: 1. Demand the rights of protesters are respected 2. Divest from police and invest in Black communities 3. Immediate relief for Black communities 4. Community control 5. An end to the war against Black people. We are committed to dismantling white supremacy culture and making our programs and resources accessible, meaningful and grounded in equity for our youth leaders, especially our Black and Indigenous climate champions of color. Climate justice is unattainable without racial justice, and we stand committed in the fight for both. Thank you for fighting for a better world alongside us, Our Climate
A (By No Means Exhaustive) List of Places to Donate
There are so, so many amazing BIPOC-led organizations out there — we highly recommend researching, following, donating, and getting involved with a community group near you. Here are a few to get started from “A Guide to AllyShip: Black Lives Matter and All Cops Are Bastards” American Civil Liberties Union protect voting rights, demand vulnerable people in prisons, jails and immigration detention centers be released, fight to ensure reproductive health care National Police Accountability Project protect rights of individuals in their police encounters Advancement Project tackling inequity with innovative strategies and community alliance Change the NYPD working to end discriminatory policing practices in New York The Movement for Black Lives working to make Black political power a force able to influence national and local agendas in the direction of their shared Vision for Black Lives The Marshall Project journalism-focused nonprofit focused on criminal justice reform Unicorn Riot worker-managed non-profit media organization Equal Justice Initiative end mass incarceration, excessive punishment, and racial inequality The Bail Project pays bail for people in need National Bailout Black-led and Black-centered collective of abolitionist organizers Know Your Rights Camp Kaepernick’s org to advance the liberation of minority groups Black Emotional & Mental Health Collective committed to the healing of Black communities Southern Poverty Law Center litigation, education, and other forms of advocacy to fight hate Places to Donate: Black Lives Matter a further list of organizations and causes
Resources For Acting Remotely
Petitions To Sign By Black Lives Matter Text or Call By Black Lives Matter Guide to Posting About Racism as a white Person A handy social media guide (thanks to our youth leader Kala for the recommendation!) Get Cops off Campuses Students: email administrators at your school or campus urging them to remove police from campus Make Racial Justice a Required Subject Students: Email professors and teachers urging them to feature texts by Black authors, civil rights history, racial justice, and anti-racism resources in curriculums Get Involved in Your Community Ask your elected officials to hold police accountable and pledge #NoCopMoney. Follow local resistance efforts for racial justice, defunding police, and building community resources. Supporting Protests Not everyone can physically join protests – but if you are able, donating sunblock, water bottles, packaged snacks, or even masks to protestors goes a long way! Center Black Voices Elevate Black voices in your work and follow Black content creators, artists, and activists. Share their work. Check out this blog post: 8 Black Youth Climate Activists You Need to Know, from our friends at Alliance for Climate Education. Here is a resource to protect yourself online in the fight for racial justice.
Support Black Owned Business
Again – so many great choices out there and a great way to give support. Here are a few resources to search your area Support Black Owned Businesses Directory by Intentionalist Support Black Owned Businesses Official Black Wallstreet Directory Support Black Owned Restaurants Directory by Eat Black Owned Black Owned Small Businesses on Etsy
Read, Educate, Share
White folks: commit to educating yourself on how to be the best ally and share resources with friends, community, and family. Here are a few digital resources to get started: Dismantling Racism (DRWorks) Resources By Dismantling Racism Read Up on the Links Between Racism and the Environment By Somini Sengupta for the New York Times 75 Things White People Can Do For Racial Justice By Corinne Shutack A Guide to Allyship: Black Lives Matter A List of further resources + information on police brutality and how we can stop it. Justice in June compiled by Autumn Gupta A list of texts, videos, and action items for allyship We recognize that everyone comes to this work from different paths, and “showing up” for the movement looks different for everyone. We hope that this list will be a jumping off place, but by no means an end to your journey. This is a movement, not a moment. Whatever your role in this movement may be, be sure to follow BIPOC leadership, stay safe, and take care of one another. We stand with you.