Daily Donations: 6/12–6/14/2020
6/12/2020 Donations
First: Forward Through Ferguson
Forward Through Ferguson was formed in response to the murder of Michael Brown by Ferguson PD officer, Darren Wilson.
The Governor asked a group of regional leaders — The Ferguson Commission — to study the situation and prove a path toward change. Forward Through Ferguson (FTF) was established as a result. Embracing the Commission’s mandate, FTF centers impacted communities and mobilizes accountable bodies to advance racially equitable systems and policies that ensure all people in the St. Louis region can thrive.
FTF has a strong body of work in the form of many different actions that you can read about here.
You can join me and donate to Forward Through Ferguson here.
Second: Cori Bush Campaign for Congress (MO-1)
Keeping my political donation within the St. Louis Metro area, I also chose to donate to Cori Bush’s campaign for Congress in Missouri’s first district.
I didn’t know much about Bush previously, but over the course of the past few weeks I have seen her and heard her speak in the streets of St. Louis repeatedly at each of the protests I’ve attended. I think it is vitally important that we elect candidates who are beholden to the people and involved in the grassroots movements that are important to creating lasting change.
You can donate to Cori Bush here.
Third: Equal Justice Initiative
The Equal Justice Initiative is committed to ending mass incarceration and excessive punishment in the United States, to challenging racial and economic injustice, and to protecting basic human rights for the most vulnerable people in American society.
By now we know the disproportionate effect that the US’s mass incarceration problem has on the black community. The Equal Justice Initiative places this fight at the center of their mission. Founded in 1989, EJI is a nonprofit that provides legal representation to people who have been illegally convicted, unfairly sentenced, or abused in state jails and prisons.
EJI also works with communities as well as working on research and reports on the effect of mass incarceration in the United States.
You can donate to the Equal Justice Initiative here.
6/13/2020 Donations
First: Black Trans Advocacy Coalition
In a previous donation post I mentioned how unbelievably selfless and supportive the LGBTQ community has been in their support of the movement for racial equality and the end to police brutality.
Unfortunately, it seems that GOP leadership has taken the collective focus of the American public on these important issues as an opportunity to chip away at the rights and protections of the LGBTQ community — another historically oppressed group.
This past week Donald Trump’s administration repealed a law that provided equal health care protection to LGBTQ people.
This decision comes during Pride Month, a time that we should be celebrating the progress that we’ve made towards LGBTQ equality. I chose to donate to BTAC because, although we have made progress, one group that continues to receive terrible treatment, violence, and a lack of recognition is the trans community.
Just this week two black trans women were murdered in Ohio. This persistent violence towards this community of people is something that I have only recently become aware of and am just starting to learn about. This is why I think it is important to continue to support the organizations that look out for these communities — specifically organizations that are run by members of the community that understand the problems they are dealing with.
Established in 2011, The Black Trans Advocacy Coalition (BTAC) is the only national organization led by black trans people to collectively address the inequities faced in the black transgender human experience.
BTAC, through our national advocacy center and affiliate state chapters work daily to end discrimination and inequities faced in health, employment, housing and education to improve the lived experience of transgender people. BTAC’s work is based in peace building, community education, public policy initiatives, empowerment programs and direct services.
Black Trans Advocacy Coalition works with communities in the U.S. and across the globe to foster diversity, inclusion and equality for all people and is lead by the Black Transmen, Inc., Black Transwomen, Inc and Black Trans MX organizations.
You can donate to the Black Trans Advocacy Coalition here.
Second: Jaime Harrison (Campaign for Senate, SC)
This is one of the more interesting donations that I’ve made so far. I only recently learned about Jaime Harrison, but I’ve found myself reading quite a lot about him. I’d encourage anyone to read this really informative piece about him in the Atlantic.
My reason for donating to Harrison is that I believe he has a shot at unseating Lindsey Graham, one of the highest ranking Senators in the Republican Party. Prior to Donald Trump, Graham had been known as one of the more moderate candidates in the Senate. However, since Trump took office, Graham has become one of the most outspoken Trump supporters in Congress.
Harrison provides a rare opportunity to challenge a high ranking Republican senator in a traditionally red state. I do want to preface my donation by saying that Harrison is generally much more moderate than any candidate that I would donate to — however, I see this opportunity as too good to pass up!
You can donate to Jaime Harrison here.
Third: NPR
I’ve had the opportunity to interact with Austin’s local NPR station, KUT in my previous work where we were a supporting sponsor. There really is no better outlet for national and local news that National Public Radio.
Given their commitment to the communities that they serve and to providing accurate news in a time where misinformation is so widely spread, I wanted to make sure to donate to this organization.
I’d also encourage anyone to listen to and support their local NPR station — they are dependent upon community support!
You can donate to NPR here.
6/14/2020 Donations
First: Metro Atlanta Mutual Aid Fund
On Friday night Rayshard Brooks was killed by Atlanta police after being found sleeping in a Wendy’s drive thru. I found it incredibly telling that even amidst the current climate of protests and action against police brutality, Atlanta police still decided to use deadly force against another black man.
Thankfully, the officer involved in the shooting has since been fired, and Atlanta’s police chief has stepped down. While we continue to push for criminal charges against those involved and more systematic police reform, I wanted to make sure to donate to an organization that serves the amazing city of Atlanta.
The Metro Atlanta Mutual Aid Fund was created by community members from metro-Atlanta who have witnessed the needs of their neighbors as a result of the COVID-19 crisis. Beyond being a health crisis, COVID-19 has crippled economies and interrupted markets, causing wide-spread unemployment. This organization aims to help people disproportionately effected by this crisis navigate these uncertain times.
You can donate to the Metro Atlanta Mutual Aid Fund here.
Second: National Council for Incarcerated and Formerly Incarcerated Women and Girls
The United States is responsible for 30% of the world’s female incarceration, yet has only 5% of the world’s population. 80% of incarcerated women are mothers, and nearly all have a child under the age of 18. The National Council for Incarcerated and Formerly Incarcerated Women and Girls is based in Massachusetts and aims to ultimately end the incarceration of women. They promote community involvement and support, advocate for reproductive rights, and campaign for parental rights when parents are incarcerated. This organization is comprised of a network of formerly and currently incarcerated women and girls who have unique understandings of the issues stemming from the current criminal justice system and are working to remedy these issues in their communities. — Ellen P.
You can donate to the National Council for Incarcerated and Formerly Incarcerated Women and Girls here.
Third: The Marshall Project
The Marshall Project is a nonpartisan, nonprofit news organization that seeks to create and sustain a sense of national urgency about the U.S. criminal justice system.
The Marshall Project does some amazing journalistic work, covering and exposing many of the issues within our criminal justice system. I discoverered this organization through Keri Blakinger, a journalist for the Marshall Project, whose work has taught me a lot about the US prison system. I’d highly recommend following her on Twitter!
You can donate to the Marshall Project here.
Every day in June I’ll be making 3 donations — one to a cause in the immediate term, one to a cause in the medium term, and one to a longer term cause. If you’d like to get involved, let me know! I’d be more than happy to share ideas and take suggestions. You can find all of the causes I’ve donated to so far, HERE.