Activism & Allyship Guide

June 2, 2020

If we are to advance the cause of racial justice, it has to be done both in the moments when we are outraged and in the quiet moments when there isn’t a new hashtag borne out of a specific moment of injustice. It is about changing attitudes and beliefs that ultimately lead to actions. It is hard work, to be sure, but it is the real work that will move the needle.

These resources are designed to help people on their Allyship journey. Being an ally does not start and stop during moments of convenience and inconvenience. Being an ally is a journey of commitment to understanding the dynamic realities marginalized people face.

Immediate Actions

● Be an active ally

● Do not remain silent. Be heard so that others know you do not condone injustice

● Consider watching the video of George Floyd (trigger warning: it will make you extremely uncomfortable) or read How do you kneel on a neck for nine minutes? If you choose not to, ask yourself why you’re choosing not to, and examine what you can learn from that introspection in moments of public outcries and uprisings

● Demand justice by supporting online petitions or making calls to local leaders

● Leverage your own networks to help educate others about the injustice that has occurred

● Allies, show up and make your voice heard: If you are a white ally, you can march with Black protesters or form a line to defend them

● Financially support organizations on the ground in the impacted place(s), especially those that are Black, Indigenous and/or People of Color Led

● Direct other people to the resources you find and are supporting, including voices who are educating you about the issues

● Check on your friends and colleagues, particularly those who are Black

● If you manage Black employees, be sensitive to the trauma that they are dealing with when one of these instances occurs and manage with compassion In moments of perceived calm

● Here is a list of anti-racism resources; Educate yourself about the history of inequities that have marginalized Black people

● Engage in a Daring Discussion with someone about a topic that you don’t understand or would like to understand better

● Support national and local organizations who are working to uplift, center, empower and liberate Black people and communities – preferably those that are Black-led

● Educate yourself about the laws and policies that will negatively impact Black communities and advocate against them

● Support elected officials and candidates with agendas that support the voices of the most marginalized people

● Get civically engaged by voting in every election, but also supporting efforts to protect people’s right to vote (like volunteering for election protection or participating in get-out-the-vote activities)

Active Campaigns

In Support of George Floyd

● Sign this petition to demand the police officers that strangled George Floyd are charged or text George Floyd to 5515

● Call (612) 324-4499 to be connected with offices that have the authority to charge the officers in the murder of George Floyd

● Donate to the Minnesota Freedom Fund directly or through Benevity to help provide bail for people protesting against the killing of George Floyd or to learn about other local organizations on the front lines

In Support of Breonna Taylor

● Sign this petition to demand charges are filed in the death of Breonna Taylor or text ENOUGH to 55156

● Call 502-735-1784 to demand justice for Breonna right away

● Support the Louisville Community Bail Fund to help bail out protestors

In Support of Ahmaud Arbery

● Sign this petition to remove the local prosecutors from office who failed to move forward with Arbery’s case

● Donate to Ahmaud’s family with this fundraiser In support of the Black community

● Advocate for police reforms as noted by the lawyers for these three cases

● Participate in Black Out Day on July 7

Data Sources

● Learn about The Citizens Police Data Project

● Mapping Police Violence

● Data on Racial Economic Inequality

Daring Discussion Guides

The goal of “Daring Discussions” is for participants on different sides of a given issue to learn about one another’s personal experiences and perspectives as a starting place to gain compassion, respect, and stronger relationships. Participants are asked to commit to avoiding judgment, defensiveness, and anger and to try to express any negative feelings and different views constructively from a place of giving as opposed to being oppositional or needing to be right.

To become an ally, you must seek an understanding of the lived experiences of a particular person or group of people. Here is the Daring Discussions toolkit to help guide you through meaningful conversations with someone about a topic or set of topics that will help you build empathy and compassion for marginalized people.

Allyship Interventions

● 20+ Allyship Actions for Asians to Show Up for the Black Community Right Now

● Anti-racism resources

● Learn about the 75 Things White People Can Do For Racial Justice

● Revolution: Hear Malcom X, Angela Davis, MLK Jr., and others speak out

● BLM: A Playlist Books/Articles/MediaThis list below is not exhaustive and should be considered a starting point for anyone looking to learn more about the history of inequities and how they were created. There are many other articles, books, podcasts, and other media that you can use to further your own self-awareness.

Articles

● Affirming Black Lives without Inducing Trauma

● The Person You Mean to Be: How Good People Fight Bias by Dolly Chugh

● Why We Need to Talk About Race

● The Enduring Solidarity of Whiteness by Ta-Nehisi Coates

● Racial Microaggressions in Everyday Life

● The Intersectionality Wars

● What is Intersectionality and What Does It Have to Do with Me?

● We Need Co-conspirators Not Allies: How White Americans Can Fight Racism

● The 1619 Project

● Bear Witness, Record, De-escalate; How race may affect what bystanders are called to do in cases like George Floyd’s

Books