Demonstrators chanted "Black Lives Matters" at the Philadelphia Museum of Art in protest to the murder of George Floyd.
Credit: Chase SuttonBeing silent right now means being complicit in the systemic murder of Black people in America. The chronic weaponization of racism in the United States is being confronted and challenged by thousands of protestors in response to the murder of George Floyd. As a white person, it is necessary that I recognize my voice is not the one that needs to be listened to and amplified right now.
However, not saying anything means choosing the side of the oppressor. Condemning the protests that are surging around the country in response to the murder of George Floyd means actively ignoring the perpetual injustices that result in the killing of Black people and logically lead to protests. White people who are using the protests as an excuse to rain more violence upon already vulnerable populations in the name of justice are putting Black people in even more danger.
If I were to write an opinion article without providing links to articles written by Black authors about the murder of George Floyd and the subsequent protests, I would be failing at my attempt to recognize my white privilege. My platform as a columnist means it is not only my responsibility to speak about the life-threatening issue of police brutality and systemic racism, but work to be anti-racist in what I write. In order to do that, I am choosing to cease using my own words, and instead provide links to the words and funds that directly amplify and support Black people and causes.
To my fellow Penn students: The median family income of a student from Penn is $195,500, and 71% come from the top 20 percent. I urge you to consider this as you read the links below.
Opinion articles about George Floyd’s murder:
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/29/opinion/george-floyd-minneapolis.html
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/30/opinion/george-floyd-police-funding.html
Support Black Lives Matter:
https://secure.actblue.com/donate/ms_blm_homepage_2019
George Floyd Memorial Fund:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/georgefloyd
Breonna Taylor Petition:
https://www.change.org/p/andy-beshear-justice-for-breonna-taylor
Support Ahmaud Arbery’s Family:
https://www.crowdpac.com/campaigns/395160/supporting-ahmaud-arberys-family
Tony McDade Memorial Fund:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/in-memory-of-tony-mcdade
Contact Mayor Frey to demand justice and accountability
Petition for the Minneapolis City Council to defund the police:
https://secure.everyaction.com/eR7GA7oz70GL8doBq19LrA2
Minnesota Freedom Fund:
https://minnesotafreedomfund.org/donate
Philadelphia Bail Fund:
https://www.phillybailfund.org/
The Brooklyn Community Bail Fund:
https://brooklynbailfund.org/donate
Louisville Community Bail Fund:
https://actionnetwork.org/fundraising/louisville-community-bail-fund/
National Bail Out:
https://secure.actblue.com/donate/freeblackmamas2020
Support the Black Visions Collective:
https://www.blackvisionsmn.org/about
Support the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund:
https://www.naacpldf.org/about-us/
Support Communities United Against Police Brutality:
https://www.cuapb.org/what_we_do
Support Unicorn Riot:
https://unicornriot.ninja/donate/
Support Reclaim the Block:
https://secure.everyaction.com/zae4prEeKESHBy0MKXTIcQ2
Support Know Your Rights Camp:
https://www.knowyourrightscamp.com/
Black-owned bookstores in Philadelphia:
https://www.harriettsbookshop.com/
Black-owned restaurants/coffee shops in Philadelphia:
https://www.facebook.com/winwincoffeebar/
http://cakesbydenises.com/denises/
Black-owned shops in Philadelphia:
https://www.facebook.com/AmazuluCollections/
https://www.blackandnobel.com/
https://www.charliesjeans.net/
https://www.culturedcouturegallery.com/
https://www.freedomapothecary.com/shop
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