Resources in the Fight Against Police Brutality and Systemic Racism

Here’s how you can be useful to the cause
A protester raises a fist
Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images

The killings of George Floyd, Tony McDade, Ahmaud Arbery, and Breonna Taylor, and the shooting of Jacob Blake, are the most recent in a long history of horrific systemic racism and police brutality against Black people in the United States. Black communities have been at the forefront of so many major American musical movements, including jazz, rock’n’roll, hip-hop, soul, and house. Loving this music means acknowledging the racial injustice that begat it. The fight for justice and equality is a matter of basic human rights, and we stand in solidarity with those working to demand change.

Below is a list of organizations that we encourage you to learn more about, and to donate to if you’re able. We’ve also included suggestions on how to get involved with localized action in your communities.


The Milwaukee Freedom Fund provides support for protesters in the Milwaukee area, including Kenosha, Wisconsin, where, on August 23, Jacob Blake was shot in the back several times by Wisconsin police, reportedly in front of his three children. The Fund raises money for bail and court costs, and helps connect protestors with legal support. (Check out the Milwaukee Freedom Fund's Facebook page for more info.)

Grown out of New York’s first community bail fund in 2017, this national nonprofit provides bail assistance and pretrial support for low-income Americans. To help those arrested during one of the recent protests, you could also donate directly to a local bailout fund (more info below), or a number of different funds at once. (Check out the Bail Project’s Instagram for more info.)

Since its founding in 2018, Reclaim the Block has organized the Minneapolis community and city council to redirect funding from the police department toward policies that support community health and safety. (Check out Reclaim the Block’s Instagram for more info.)

Since 2017, this Black, queer, and trans-led Minnesota nonprofit has organized campaigns to cut police budgets, invest in community-driven safety strategies, train activists, and celebrate Black joy. (Check out Black Visions’ Instagram for more info.)

Launched by Black Lives Matter activists in 2015, Campaign Zero calls on lawmakers on every level to end police violence by implementing comprehensive research-based policy solutions.

Co-founded by Colin Kaepernick in 2016, this organization aims to advance Black and Brown youth education and self-empowerment through events and campaigns. KYRC recently started a legal defense initiative to assist protestors arrested in Minneapolis after the killing of George Floyd. (Check out KYRC’s Twitter for more info.)

Founded in 2014, M4BL is a coalition of groups—including the Black Lives Matter Network—that are dedicated to achieving political, cultural, and policy changes. (Check out M4BL’s Twitter for more info.)

Founded in 2013 in response to George Zimmerman’s acquittal, this chapter-based organization is dedicated to advancing the Black community’s economic, social, political, and educational freedoms, through a Black queer feminist lens. (Check out BYP100’s Twitter for more info.)

Since 1993, this LGBTQ-led nonprofit has organized across issues of race, class, gender, and ability, including campaigning for protections against police profiling. Their chapters across the South have addressed incarceration, policing, COVID-19, and more. (Check out SONG’s Instagram for more info.)

Other Ways to Get Involved

Individual donations are important for continuing anti-racist work, but meaningfully fighting against injustice requires consistent, shared organizing and advocacy. Call your local and state representatives to fight against cuts to social services while the law enforcement budget remains intact. Protest safely, should you feel comfortable doing so. Donate to local bail funds to assist in freeing protesters who’ve been arrested and others in need of pre-trial financial assistance. Consider joining your local mutual aid network to provide groceries and supplies to vulnerable neighbors, and foster the spirit of “solidarity, not charity” within your neighborhood. Start a reading group with your friends to educate yourselves on anti-racism, and collectively commit to donating monthly to grassroots groups in your community.

This post was updated on August 24, 2020 at 1:15pm Eastern Time.