Taking Action on Police Brutality from Home (Part II)
Last updated June 12, 2020
This post - a follow-up to Taking Action on Police Brutality from Home (Part I) - offers a more in-depth description of ways to support the fight against police brutality and the Black Lives Matter movement, from home.
1. Donate to anti-racist organizations and bail funds for protestors.
Here are some organizations accepting donations. This is not an exhaustive list, and WH SeniorLink makes no guarantees regarding these organizations.
Reclaim The Block
Organizes Minneapolis community and city council members to move money from the police department into other areas of the city’s budget that promote community health and safety.
We Love Lake Street
Works to rebuild Lake Street in Minneapolis by giving direct support to small businesses and nonprofit organizations.
NAACP Legal Defense Fund
National Bail Fund Network
Official George Floyd Memorial Fund
Here are some New York City bail funds:
Bailout NYC: bailout.nyc
The Bronx Freedom Fund: thebronxfreedomfund.org
2. Email or call your elected officials.
You can always call to talk about police brutality in general - but there are some specific proposals for which activists are calling that you can mention if you like. For example, the NYPD’s proposed budget for the 2021 fiscal year is nearly $6 billion, and many are calling for a budget cut of $1 billion, and that these funds be diverted to social services and education programs. If you support this proposal, or would like to voice support for any other causes or policy changes, email or call your elected officials and make your voice heard!
Here are some recommendations regarding police reforms from the NAACP that you may review and, if you support them, include in your call or email:
Revise law enforcement policies and training to emphasize de-escalation and alternatives to arrests;
Mandate external and independent investigations of police use-of-force incidents resulting in death or injury;
Create use-of-force policies that clearly state what information will be released publicly;
Establish a Serious Incident Review Board consisting of sworn staff and community members who will review cases involving officer-involved shootings and other serious incidents that have the potential to damage community trust;
Partner with the International Association of Directors of Law Enforcement Standards and Training to contribute to its National Decertification Index, which collects information about officers who have had their licenses or certifications revoked; and
Retain a nationally recognized police department implicit bias trainer who could work with the city's current consultant.
Email or call your New York City Council Member.
Here is the contact information for some council members in Washington Heights and the Bronx:
The Council Member for Washington Heights, Inwood, and Marble Hill is Ydanis Rodriguez. His email address is yrodriguez@council.nyc.gov, and his district phone number is 917-521-2616.
The Council Member for El Barrio/East Harlem, Mott Haven, Highbridge, Concourse, Longwood, and Port Morris is Diana Ayala. Her email address is Dayala@council.nyc.gov, and her legislative office phone number is 212-788-6960.
The Council Member for Claremont, Concourse Village, Highbridge, Morris Heights, Mount Eden, and Morrisania is Vanessa L. Gibson. Her email address is District15Bronx@council.nyc.gov, and her district phone number is 718-588-7500.
The Council Member for Bedford Park, Kingsbridge, Riverdale, Norwood, Van Cortlandt Village, Wakefield, and Woodlawn is Andrew Cohen. His email address is District11Bronx@council.nyc.gov, and his district phone number is 718-549-7300.
The Council Member for Morris Heights, University Heights, Fordham, and Kingsbridge is Fernando Cabrera. His email address is fcabrera@council.nyc.gov, and his district phone number is 347-5902874.
If your Council Member is not listed here, you can find your councilmember at council.nyc.gov.
Email or call your mayor.
New York City’s mayor is Bill de Blasio. You can submit an online message here: https://www1.nyc.gov/office-of-the-mayor/mayor-contact.page.
You may also wish to call the Mayor’s Office of Management and Development to ask that an emergency council meeting be called and to voice your support for defunding the police department, or any other measures. Melanie Hartzog is the Budget Director, and her number is (212) 788-5900.
3. Other ways to get involved
Participate in pen-pal programs with incarcerated individuals.
Regular letters of support can be extremely helpful and motivating for incarcerated people. This could be a great way to help out from home. Here is the link to a penpal program: https://www.blackandpink.org.
Write a letter of encouragement or support or send a card to the family of George Floyd.
The Estate of George Floyd
c/o Ben Crump Law, PLLC
122 S. Calhoun Street
Tallahassee, FL 32301
Attn: Adner Marcelin
Sign petitions, demanding justice for George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and a number of other victims of police brutality. Here is a link to a compilation of various petitions: https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/#petitions