Far from ‘we’re all in this together’, the pandemic has emphasised the social inequalities and institutionalised racism running deep in the veins of our societies. Systemic failures have been felt the hardest by folks who are migrants, asylum seekers, people of colour, Minceiri, disabled, queer, transgender, non-binary, sex-workers, homeless and working class. It is now well-documented that BAME people have lost the most loved ones, and have paid the highest price for the state’s callous and racist attitudes. Belly Mujinga’s death on 5th April made it violently clear that racism kills, and has continued to kill throughout this pandemic. The cold blooded killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis on 25th May by Derek Chauvin has now sparked worldwide involvement in the largest Black Lives Matter movement in history.

We have been thinking how best to support the movement without taking space away from those we need to be listening to and following. It is on all of us to dismantle the racist system we live in: we must take direction and learn from those most disadvantaged and brutalised by systemic violent racism, while contributing time, energy and ideas. We must work beyond this moment, and organise in our communities to build lasting change.

We’ve compiled a list of actions for people, both as an alternative to attending protests in person this weekend and as a way to continue organising beyond them. So many people and groups have been putting out resources, which we’ve included under ‘other lists/twitter threads’.

We’d especially like to highlight existing lists by BLM and BLM UK:

  1. BLM list of resources to support George Floyd and the BLM movement - https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vSrT26HMWX-_hlLfiyy9s95erjkOZVJdroXYkU-miaHRk58duAnJIUWKxImRkTITsYhwaFkghS8sfIF/pub 
  2. BLM UK document on how to support Black lives in the UK, including template letter/email to your MP - https://docs.google.com/document/d/10iIz_pFB8DzPkwddc8dcmJdJ0ZMITfTs7lvs4uyusZk/ 

In our list we’ve focused on the UK and Ireland specifically as this is where the groups that form our coalition work. This is in no way to disregard the importance of showing continued support and solidarity with protests in America, but a decision taken to show support specifically for the BLM protests planned across the UK and Ireland over the weekend.

For US specific information, the BLM link above contains a hugely useful and comprehensive list of US actions, groups and fundraisers.

This list will be updated regularly whenever new information is shared with us. If you’d like us to add anything, just contact us on Facebook, Twitter, or email us at demandsfromapandemic@gmail.com 

Contents

Immediate actions as an alternative/addition to joining the demonstrations

Long-term actions

Other lists/twitter threads

Reading lists/other resources

Fundraisers

Petitions

Immediate actions as an alternative/addition to joining the demonstrations

  • Hang a sign/banner in your window, street or local park
  • Drive past the protest with a banner in your car
  • Organise a local demonstration in your area, with neighbours
  • Have conversations with friends and family who are posting racist information
  • Train as a legal observer - if you can go outside but can’t be part of the protest directly
  • Support protestors with food, childcare, or be an emergency contact for friends attending
  • Write to your MP to demand change and justice
  • Write to TDs demanding an end to Direct Provision

Long-term actions

  • STOP calling the police - think about realistic alternative actions in a scenario where you would be expected to call the police, talk to people in your community, support and fund prison abolition groups, join reading groups
  • Campaign against school exclusions and “secure schools”
  • Support migrant justice campaigns working to abolish Direct Provision in Ireland and end detention, No Recourse to Public Funds and the hostile environment in the UK
  • Build community resistance to immigration raids and evictions from asylum accommodation
  • Join ongoing/regular protests
  • Join a union - challenge your racist boss, demand justice for workers like Belly Mujinga, migrant workers and undocumented workers, and tackle housing discrimination in your community
  • Support existing campaigns for justice for victims of racist policing - the US police are notorious for killing black people, but the UK and Irish cops do it too
  • Sean Rigg Justice and Change Campaign

 https://seanriggjusticeandchange.com/ 

  • If you’re not black, work on your allyship
  • Stand against Europe’s violent border regime - pushbacks of people attempting land and sea crossings to Europe have become more violent during COVID-19, with dozens of deaths resulting from police and border guard violence documented over the last months

Other lists/twitter threads

Reading lists/other resources

Fundraisers

For US fundraisers, including the bail and family support fundraisers please see the BLM list.

Petitions