How College Students Are Demanding Justice Right Now and What You Can Do to Join Them

On May 25, George Floyd, a 46-year-old black man in Minneapolis died after police officers handcuffed him and forcefully pinned him to the ground, after he repeatedly told them he could not breathe. The incident, which was recorded and shared on social media by bystanders, sparked local protests across the city. 

Now, in the last few days, nationwide protests against racism and police brutality in America have followed — protestors are marching for Floyd as well as Breonna Taylor, Tony McDade, and Ahmaud Arbery, other black individuals who were violently killed in recent months. 

If like our community you are feeling angry, confused, or helpless, you can join the fight to demand justice. Here’s what Her Campus followers are doing, and the resources you need to get started. 

“Signing petitions, emailing authorities, and using my platform to raise awareness.”

Now is certainly not the time to be silent because your voice does matter. To get started, here are some great petitions to sign:

• Sign #JusticeForFloyd, Color of Change’s petition demanding the officers who killed George Floyd are charged with murder. Since the petition (which has over 2 million signatures) was created, Officer Derek Chauvin has been arrested and charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter. There is still a call for murder charges to be prressed against all three other officers and to release protestors who were arrested immediately. 
• This petition, in honor of Breonna Taylor demands that the Louisville Metro Council pass new rules banning the use of no-knock raids, which was used to break into Breonna’s home. Once you sign it, it automatically contacts the appropriate government representatives. 
• Sign Run With Ahmaud’s petition, which will automatically send a letter to officials who have the power to make a difference in his case.
• Sign this petition for Tony McDade, a transgender black man who was killed by police in Tallahassee. 

“Donated to the Minnesota Freedom Fund.”

If you are able to donate right now, here are some places to get started:

• The Minnesota Freedom Fund, which helps to pay criminal bail and immigration bonds for those arrested during protests that cannot afford it.

• Northstar Health Collective, which provides medics for protesters.

• Communities United Against Police Brutality, an organization that was created “to deal with police brutality on an ongoing basis.” 

• Black Lives Matter, which supports the ongoing movement and fight to end white supremacy

“Doing my best to amplify black voices by sharing content made by black creators.”

Distributing wealth in America can affect long-term change, and it starts with supporting and shopping black-owned businesses. The Honey Pot Company and PUR Home are two brands that I already love and support, and am excited to shop from this list I bookmarked from Marie Claire. 

 

 

 

 

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@wholefoods @target @shopmedmen @walmart @saks @sephora @netaporter @barnesandnoble @homedepot I am asking you to commit to buying 15% of your products from Black owned businesses. . So many of your businesses are built on Black spending power. So many of your stores are set up in Black communities. So many of your sponsored posts are seen on Black feeds. This is the least you can do for us. We represent 15% of the population and we need to represent 15% of your shelf space. . Whole Foods if you were to sign on to this pledge, it could immediately drive much needed support to Black farmers. Banks will be forced to take them seriously because they will be walking in with major purchase orders from Whole Foods. Investors for the very first time will start actively seeking them out. Small businesses can turn into bigger ones. Real investment will start happening in Black businesses which will subsequently be paid forward into our Black communities. . Dont get me wrong, I understand the complexities of this request. I am a business Woman. I have sold millions of dollars of product over the years at a business I started with $3500 at a flea market. So I am telling you we can get this figured out. This is an opportunity. It is your opportunity to get in the right side of this. . So for all of the ‘what can we do to help?’ questions out there, this is my personal answer. #15PercentPledge . I will get texts that this is crazy. I will get phone calls that this is too direct, too big of an ask, too this, too that. But I don’t think it’s too anything, in fact I think it’s just a start. You want to be an ally? This is what I’m asking for.

A post shared by Aurora James ? (@aurorajames) on May 29, 2020 at 5:46pm PDT

 

This is only a short list of the many things you can do to not only demand justice right now, but long-term. We’re updating our “justice” Instagram Story highlight daily on @hercampus to continue to provide resources that can help you demand change.

• black lives matter
• justice resource guide