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Resources for Supporting Protesters: Home

Introduction

As turbulent events relating to civil rights and social justice have unfolded across the country following the killings of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Ahmaud Arbery in Georgia, Breonna Taylor in Louisville, and many before them, many are seeking constructive ways to assist people advocating for civil rights and social justice. The resources here include links to social justice organizations, ways to support WCL students, petitions, links to bail funds, news sources, advice for protesters, relevant library sources and more. If you have resources that should be added to this page, please email kclay@wcl.american.edu.

DC Specific Resources

Supporting DC Protestors

DC Doesn’t Have a Bail Fund. Here’s How You Can Donate to Help Protesters. Organizers are asking for supplies like milk, goggles, suitcases, and more. Find out more information here: https://www.washingtonian.com/2020/06/01/dc-doesnt-have-a-bail-fund-heres-how-you-can-donate-to-help-protesters/

Local News

Support for WCL Students

WCL Solidarity Collective

WCL Students & Alumni are collecting supplies for the protests in DC. They are accepting donations through Venmo (@wcl-solidaritycollective). They can be reached at wclsolidaritycollective@gmail.com

 

WCL BLSA & MABLSA

WCL students are working with the Mid Atlantic Chapter of the Black Law Students Association and are in need of various resources, including:

  • Lawyers that are willing to work pro bono for protesters that have been arrested
  • Reputable funds that are collecting money for bail
  • Organizations that are collecting goods for protesters
  • Names/contact information for public officials that we can reach out to for reforms
  • Petitions
  • Volunteer opportunities for law students that are looking to help
  • Legal observer information
  • Any other resource that you think can help


If you have any information/resources please email: Mablsa.socialaction@nblsa.org

Advice to give to Protesters

1. LEGAL SUPPORT - CALL THE NLG JAIL SUPPORT HOTLINE

They should contact the NLG & L4BL line right now, or as back up have you do it, with full legal name, DOB, if they are undocumented (this is how they look them up in system). Call ASAP: 202-888-1731.

  • Say "I chose to remain silent" to the cops and absolutely nothing else
​2. SOCIAL SUPPORT

Write on their arms with sharpie contact info of multiple friends who could help them get home if they are released and manage social needs like:

  • do you have family members or pets who need care in the next 12 hours
  • what should I tell your boss, parents/family, or others, and after how long about your arrest?\
3. HEALTH SUPPORT

What do they need in terms of dealing with the COViD-19 exposure from tear gas coughing, being contained in the kettle*, or being kept in jail i.e. a place to isolate from family, a plan to get tested. Also, do they need medicine or other immediate care that you can advocate for?

4. LOCKDOWN PHONE 

They should put a number (NOT FACE ID OR FINGERPRINT) code on their phone immediately and, as an extra precaution, delete all protest-related text threads and info.

5. SOLIDARITY

Have them spread this to others in kettle/about to be arrested. Identify vulnerable people. Know there is a huge network of people who care.

*Kettle or Kettling is a tactic used by police to corral protesters that can lead to the arrests of peaceful protestors and bystanders

Resources for Protestors: Know your Rights and Related Information

Staying Safe During a Protest

Petitions

Ahmaud Arbery
George Floyd
Breonna Taylor
Tony McDade
Other Petitions
Other Advocacy

Social Justice Organizations

Justice Reform Organizations

Contact Elected Officials in your Jurisdiction

Library Resources

Use the library catalog to find library resources on related issues. These subject headings will help you find resources, in print and online about racial and social justice, organizing for action, police brutality, justice reform and related topics. 

Hastags to follow on social media

  • #EndPoliceBrutality
  • #GeorgeFloyd
  • #GeorgeFloydProtests
  • #Justice
  • #JusticeForAhmaud
  • #JusticeForAhmaudArbery
  • #JusticeForBreonnaTaylor
  • #JusticeForFloyd
  • #JusticeForGeorgeFloyd
  • #NoJusticeNoPeace
  • #PeacefulProtest
  • #Protests2020
  • #Riots2020
  • #RIPGeorgeFloyd
  • #SayTheirNames
  • #WeCantBreathe

Featured Resource: Lexis Practice Advisor Protester’s Rights Resource Kit

Organizations providing bail and supplies

National Bail Funds

  • Unicorn Riot is a non-profit media organization dedicated to fair, on-the-ground reporting on civil disobedience, police brutality and white supremacy. Donate here.
  • The Bail Project works nationally, including several cities where protests are taking place, including Los Angeles, Louisville, and New York City. Donate here.
  • Black News Channel is raising money to post bail for those being arrested in Minnesota, Los Angeles and elsewhere. Reach out to them at: jasonblackauthority@yahoo.com

Nationwide list of bail funds to get protesters out of jail https://bailfunds.github.io/

Jurisdiction Specific Bail Funds

Atlanta

Austin

Baltimore

Bay Area (San Fran, Oakland, San Jose, Vallejo, Santa Rosa, Santa Cruz)*

Birmingham, AL

  • No One Left Behind Fund to bail out protesters. Venmo @Starrobb and CashApp: $Starrobb.

Boston

Brooklyn

Buffalo, NY

Chapel Hill, NC/ Raleigh, NC -

Charleston, South Carolina

Charlotte -

  • Cash App: $WereStillHere
  • Venmo: ResistanceisBeautiful
  • Call: (980) 224-2097 bail support
  • PAYPAL = NCFreedomfund@gmail.com
  • CashApp = NcFreedomfund
  • https://twitter.com/cltuprising/status/1267302655153655810

Chattanooga

Chicago

Cincinnati, Ohio

Cleveland

Colorado

Columbia, South Carolina

  • Cash app/Venmo sodacitybail
  • 803-602-4589

Columbus

Connecticut

Dallas 

DC/Maryland/Nova

  • Venmo - @freedom-fightersdc
  • Cashapp $freedomfightersdc

Denver

Des Moines

Detroit

Durham, NC

El Paso, TX

Fargo & Morehead North Dakota

Fayetteville, NC 

Florida:

Grand Rapids / Western Michigan

Greensboro, NC - (PayPal/ to local organizers)

Harrisburg, PA

Hawaii

Houston

Indianapolis

Kansas City

Las Vegas

​Los Angeles*

Louisville

Madison, WI

Massachusetts

Memphis

​Miami

Milwaukee

Minneapolis

Minnesota

Montgomery, AL

Nashville

Nebraska 

New Orleans

New York

Oakland*

Ohio - Canton/Akron

Omaha

Orlando, Florida

Orange County, CA*

Philadelphia

Phoenix

Pittsburgh

Portland

Raleigh/ Chapel Hill

Richmond

Rhode Island

Roanoke

Rockford IL (and Winnebago County)

Sacramento*

​Salt Lake City, Utah

San Diego (inc La Mesa)*

San Francisco*

  • Bay Area Anti-Repression Committee Bail Fund is supporting protesters and working with the National Lawyers Guild San Francisco Chapter to run an arrest hotline: (415) 285-101. Donate here.

San Jose

Seattle

Silicon Valley/San Jose*

Toronto

Tucson

Tulsa

Washington State

Wilmington, DE

* NOTE: During the pandemic, California adopted an Emergency Zero Bail Schedule, setting bail at $0 for most misdemeanors and low-level felony offenses. The National Bail Fund Network is monitoring if the state will be faithful to the emergency measure in light of the protests.