For the past 12 years, The Campaign has remained committed to recognizing the intrinsic value of human life, that justice for all and community empowerment cannot be only words but a daily practice. As we continue to advocate against gun violence, The Campaign must shape our work around the reality that Black Americans are targets of racially motivated violence of all kinds, and this must stop. We stand with communities across the country as we grieve the loss of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, David McAtee and thousands of other Black lives that have been taken by acts of unjustifiable, unconscionable police violence.

But we must do more. Those of us who are White Americans must fully recognize our complicity in allowing the sickness of racism to permeate our country and its institutions.

In the words of author James Baldwin, “Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced. It is certain, in any case, that ignorance, allied with power, is the most ferocious enemy justice can have.”

We must commit to educating ourselves to the truth and severity of racial injustice. Our Black Americans have been crying out for centuries, only for those cries to fall on deaf ears. Those of us who are White Americans must not place the burden on the Black Community to teach White Americans – yet again. And we must face the reality that we are not nearly as far down the road to racial equality as many White Americans had hoped. It is that false hope that rendered many White Americans willfully blind to the suffering of Black Americans around us.

It is this awakening that leads us now to the streets and to the ballot box. As we stand with peaceful protesters around the country in demanding justice and change, we encourage you to support organizations led by Black leaders, some of whom we have worked with, that promote and foster self-directed community empowerment (see below signature line).

We, at The Campaign To Keep Guns Off Campus, recognize that it is no longer enough to not be racist. We must be consciously, deliberately and assertively anti-racist. Join us in our commitment to holding ourselves as individuals, and the institutions we serve, accountable for the equal treatment of all people.

The Campaign to Keep Guns Off Campus

 

Please Support the Work of the Following Organizations

In Florida

ACLU of Florida – https://www.aclufl.org

Black Voters Matter Florida – https://www.blackvotersmatterfund.org/florida

Circle of Brotherhood – https://www.circleofbrotherhoodmiami.org/support-us

Dream Defenders – https://dreamdefenders.org

Florida Rights Restoration Center – https://floridarrc.com/

Tallahassee Community Action Committee – https://www.facebook.com/tallycac/ 

In Georgia

Black Voters Matter Capacity Building Institute https://www.bvmcapacitybuilding.org

Working in Georgia Rural Communities: When Leaders Meet https://www.facebook.com/whenleadersmeet/ Donate via The Campaign To Keep Guns Off Campus (fiscal sponsor)

Nationally

Black Voters Matter Capacity Building Institute https://www.bvmcapacitybuilding.org

Brooklyn Community Bail Fund – https://brooklynbailfund.org

Good Kids Mad City (Chicago, IL) – https://www.facebook.com/GKMC2018/

Homies Unidos (Los Angeles, CA) – http://homiesunidos.org/donate/

Life Camp (Jamaica, NY) – https://lifecampgivingtuesdaynow.funraise.org/

Mothers Against Police Brutality (Dallas, TX) – https://mothersagainstpolicebrutality.org/donate/

ROCA (Baltimore, MD) – https://donate.rocainc.org/give/96380/#!/donation/checkout

Resources

Watch “Just Mercy”, available free across multiple platforms.

Learn About Anti-Racism, These 10 Books Are a Start: https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/want-learn-anti-racism-10-211700935.html