By now, you’ve heard the news. On Monday, May 25, George Floyd, a 46-year-old African-American man, died in custody after being taken in by the Minneapolis police for reportedly using a counterfeit check at a grocery store.
Outside of the grocery store, Floyd was handcuffed and pinned to the ground by officer Derek Chauvin, who pressed his knee into Floyd’s neck, while other officers—Thomas Lane, Tou Thao, and J. Alexander Kueng—stood by and watched, ignoring onlookers begging for Chauvin to get off of him.
The disturbing interaction was filmed and quickly shared online, the four officers involved in the incident have since been fired, and the FBI is also investigating. On Friday, Derek Chauvin, the former officer who pinned Floyd with his knee, was arrested and charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter. The other three officers had yet to be charged. As protestors across the country stand up to this injustice, police departments are reacting with violence and displaying the brutality of the American circular system.
Here are just a few ways you can help demand justice for Floyd and support anti-racism efforts across the country.
• The Bail Project, a nonprofit that aims to mitigate incarceration rates through bail reform.
• Black Visions Collective, a black, trans, and queer-led social justice organization and legal fund based in Minneapolis-St. Paul.
• The Minnesota Freedom Fund, which pays criminal and immigration bail and bond for people who cannot afford it.
• The Brooklyn Bail Fund, which helps pay bail for those who cannot afford it.
• The NAACP Legal Defense Fund, which supports racial justice through advocacy, litigation, and education.
• Communities United Against Police Brutality, which operates a crisis hotline where people can report abuse; offers legal, medical, and psychological resource referrals; and engages in political action against police brutality.
• Northstar Health Collective, a St. Paul–based organization that provides health services and support at protests.
• The ACLU, which provides legal services and support for a broad range of people with civil rights complaints.
If you decide to participate in a local protest, wear a mask. Bring hand sanitizer, and if you can, maybe pack a few extra water bottles, for yourself and for others who might need them. Try to maintain as much distance from others as possible, and not to touch anyone else if you can.
