Following the tragic death of George Floyd, protests and petitions have become common place around the globe, as we all fight to stop systemic racism.
As many take to the streets to protest for the Black Lives Matter movement, many are looking to other ways to support. Currently, non-for-profit organisations and charities are working around the clock to fight the needless killings of people of colour across America.
However, America’s fight for racial equality is a harsh reminder of how racism is disturbingly prevalent in Australia.
It’s time to recognise that the same injustice has been dealt to our Indigenous population for years, and it must stop.
At least 432 Indigenous Australians have died in custody since 1991, with five Indigenous Australians dying in custody in the past year, with Indigenous Australians being 12.5 times more likely to be in prison than non-Indigenous Australians.
These confronting statistics must register nationwide and change must happen. Which is why providing help and becoming a strong and consistent ally is vital. From supporting businesses to signing petitions, there are multiple ways to lend your support.
While financial donations are another effective way to aid in the fight for justice, it can be overwhelming to figure out where your money will make the most impact.
If you are in a position to donate and support these causes, below is a non-comprehensive list of Australian and International organisations and charities that can use our help.
International Organisations
Official George Floyd Memorial Fund
If you’re looking for a way to financially assist the Floyd family, George’s brother Philonise Floyd, has set up a GoFundMe page for anyone who is interested in donating. All donations will be going straight to George Floyd’s family in order to cover funeral costs, grief counselling, court costs and education costs for his children.
Donate here.
Color of Change
Color of Change is an organisation that leads multiple efforts to improve and support Black communities. Donations to Color of Change will go towards ending cash bail and putting a stop to racial violence.
Donate here.
The Bail Project
The Bail Project is a fund dedicated to combating mass incarceration at the front end of the judicial system in the United States. The premise of the fund is that they will pay bail for people in need, in order to reunite families and restore the presumption of innocence. The fund maximises every dollar they receive, with 100% of donations used to bringing people home.
Donate here.
Reclaim The Block
Created in 2018, Reclaim The Block organises Minneapolis communities and city council members in order to move money from the police department to other areas of the city’s budget to promote community health and safety. Reclaim The Block works to strengthen community-led safety initiatives and reduce reliance on the police.
Donate here.
NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund
NAACP is a legal organisation in America, that fight specifically for racial justice. The organisation seeks structural changes to expand democracy, eliminate inconsistencies and achieve racial justice to fulfil their promise of equality for all of America.
Donate here.
ACLU
Running for 100 years, The American Civil Liberties Union focuses on establishing new privacy protections for government surveillance, ending mass incarceration and preserving the right to vote or have an abortion. The ACLU fights the toughest civil liberty cases and defends Americans from government overreach.
Donate here.
Black Visions Collective
Black Visions Collective is a foundation that envisions a world in which all Black Lives Matter. Their mission is to use the guidance of their ancestors as well as their own experiences with racial discrimination, to dismantle systems of oppression and violence in the United States.
Donate here.
Australian Organisations
Healing Foundation
The Healing Foundation is a national Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisation that work with communities to address the ongoing trauma caused by forced removal of children from their families. The organisation also works with communities to create a place of safety, providing an environment for Stolen Generation survivors and their families to tell their stories and take charge of their own healing.
Donate here.
Change The Record
Change The Record is Australia’s only national coalition run by Indigenous Australians. Their mission is to end the incarceration of Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander people, as well as putting a stop to family violence. Change The Record work towards two main goals: to close the gap in rates of imprisonment and to cut the disproportionate rates of violence by 2040.
Donate here.
ANTaR
Since 1997, ANTaR has been working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations on rights and reconciliation issues. ANTaR is an independent network of organisations within Australia that are all working in support of Justice, Rights and Respect for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in Australia. Committed to social justice and human rights, including the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous peoples, they believe in speaking up about injustice and inequality.
Donate here.
National Justice Project
A not-for-profit legal service, The National Justice Project work to advance human rights by representing and giving voice to the vulnerable, who may otherwise be unable to find legal representation. They are committed to ensuring equal access and status under the law and work to identify systemic injustice in the Australian judicial system. The National Justice Project looks to bring change to systemic problems of abuse and discrimination.
Donate here.
The Northern Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency (NAAJA)
NAAJA offers proficient legal services to Indigenous people in the Northern Territory. The agency ensures that all their clients have real access to justice. NAAJA works on using their extensive practical experience with justice issues to provide legal services that can successfully tackle law and justice issues for Indigenous people.
Donate here.
Bridging The Gap Foundation For Indigenous Health And Education
The Bridging The Gap Foundation’s objective is to fund the research into health and education, in order to address the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians access to health and education opportunities and outcomes. The charity offers donators to request that their donation be prioritised for a specific area of work, including but not limited to, specific research areas, endowment funds and scholarships for Indigenous researchers.
Donate here.
