FROM KSW STAFF
As we mourn for the lives of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, Sean Reed, and the exhausting number of victims of state sanctioned violence, and witness the uprising happening in Minnesota and across the country, we send our utmost care and love to Black communities across the country, who, once again, must reckon with these horrible injustices imposed upon them.
Since the onset of this global pandemic, the rise in Asian American hate crimes has reminded us that our place in this country is conditional and our communities remain vulnerable to racist violence. KSW’s roots lie in the Civil Rights struggle of the ‘60s and our struggle is connected to those of all marginalized people in this country. Our demand for justice must include Black communities, Indigenous communities, those whose place in this country was brought about by force.
Black people should not experience this violence in isolation. As fellow people of color, we ask our Asian American community to speak out against anti-Black racism, donate to funds that will assist those most affected by these actions and help them build towards autonomy and self determination within their communities, and help end anti-Black racism within our own community.
For those seeking to donate to mutual aid causes here are some links:
The Bay Area Anti Repression Community
Official George Floyd Memorial Fund
Official Ahmaud Arbery “I Run with Maud” Fund
National Bail Out #FreeBlackMamas
Justice for Kenneth Walker Fund
Split Your Donation Among 40 Different Community Bail Funds
Other Links
Color of Change (record a video calling for justice for George Floyd)
20+ Allyship Actions for Asians to Show Up for the Black Community Right Now
Justice for Breonna Taylor Petition
And here are some additional links on furthering anti-racist work provided by KSW Presents curator, Michelle Lin
Anti-racism resources - google doc of anti-racism resources (articles, podcasts, how to talk to children guides, orgs, etc.)
Letters for Black Lives - templates to discuss anti-blackness to families
Teaching for Black Lives - curriculum and teaching resources
#GetFreeWrites - list of writing prompts on police brutality and racist violence by Dark Noise Collective
image by Robin Hilkey at Color of Change