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 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/
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 students are working with the Mid Atlantic Chapter of the Black Law Students Association and are in need of various resources, including:
If you have any information/resources please email: Mablsa.socialaction@nblsa.org
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.
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:
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?
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.
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
Find more news resources, and links to our news and newspaper holdings on our guide to News & Newspapers @ Pence Law Library
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.
Atlanta
Austin
Baltimore
Bay Area (San Fran, Oakland, San Jose, Vallejo, Santa Rosa, Santa Cruz)*
Birmingham, AL
Boston
Brooklyn
Buffalo, NY
Chapel Hill, NC/ Raleigh, NC -
Charleston, South Carolina
Charlotte -
Chattanooga
Chicago
Cincinnati, Ohio
Cleveland
Colorado
Columbia, South Carolina
Columbus
Connecticut
Dallas
DC/Maryland/Nova
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*
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.