Running with Maud and direct action against sanctioned violence

FBB is changing the distance of our staff’s Week Of Action charity 5k to 2.23 miles in solidarity with the #RunWithMaud campaign. (2.23 miles recognizes February 23rd, the day of Ahmaud Aubrey's racially-motivated murder.) The beneficiary of our virtual 5k remains organizations supporting people experiencing food insecurity, but the Ahmaud Aubrey story has become impossible to ignore as we gear up to run. Once again, a shocking act has exposed our enjoyment of the seemingly banal as a privilege made convenient to us by our appearance, class, and geography.

With that said, we recognize social media campaigns are among the most passive gestures one can take against sanctioned racial violence. Real change can only take place as the result of sustained organizational work alongside communities of color. We encourage fellow community members running for #SecularWeek to reflect on any privilege they may hold to run without fear, and to #RunWithMaud if they are so motivated. Moreover, though, we encourage these friends to also investigate measurable action they can take beyond the “Create Post” screen.

To help point you in the right direction, we’ve rounded up a few examples of POC-led organizations responding to issues of violence. Keep in mind the needs of any given local community will inform how POC organize and respond to issues affecting them. In addition to these resources, we encourage people to investigate what unique organizations may have been formed in your city or state in response to regional needs, perhaps by contacting some of the local chapters of some of the national organizations listed below.

POC-led organizations:

• NAACP: the nation’s largest civil rights organization, the NAACP is dedicated to securing progress for communities of color and all Americans.
• Black Lives Matter: a dynamic, chapter-based, international organization whose goal is to create a world where violence is no longer inflicted on Black people.
• Color of Change: works to empower members (Black Americans and allies) to make government more responsive to the concerns of Black Americans and to bring about positive political and social change for everyone.
• TransWomen of Color Collective: unites trans and gender nonconforming people of color to share their narratives and elevate them to leadership positions in the fight for collective liberation for the oppressed.
• Trayvon Martin Foundation: established by Sybrina Fulton & Tracy Martin in March of 2012 to provide emotional and financial support to families who have lost a child to gun violence.
• Incite! Women of Color Against Violence: a network of radical feminists of color organizing to end state violence and violence in homes and communities.
• Million Hoodies: a membership, chapter-based organization building a grassroots student-led human rights movement to end gun violence and reimagine safety and justice for all communities.
• National Action Network: one of the leading civil rights organizations in the U.S. with chapters nationwide. Founded in 1991 by Reverend Al Sharpton, NAN works within the spirit and tradition of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to promote a modern civil rights agenda.
• Black Organizing for Leadership and Dignity: a national Leadership Training Program designed to help rebuild Black social justice infrastructure in order to organize Black communities more effectively and re-center Black leadership in the U.S. social justice movement.
• Blackout Collective: full service Black direct action collective.
• Know Your Rights Camp: founded by Colin Kaepernick to empower young people of color and teach them how to interact with law enforcement.
• Movement for Black Lives: a coalition of groups across the United States which represent the interests of black communities.
• Puente (Arizona): a grassroots migrant justice organization based in Phoenix, Arizona that develops, educates, and empowers migrant communities to protect themselves and their families.
• Freedom Inc (Wisconsin).: Engages low- to no-income communities of color in Dane County, WI to end violence against people of color, women, those that non-traditionally gender identify, and youth.
• Organize Florida (Florida): a community-based, nonprofit member organization of low and moderate income people dedicated to the principles of social, racial, and economic justice.

Organizations led by white allies:

The burden of organizing for justice shouldn't be left solely to the communities affected.

• Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ): a national network of groups and individuals working to undermine white supremacy and to work toward racial justice.
• Organizing White Men for Collective Liberation: a national network mobilizing white men to learn, grow and take action against white supremacy and patriarchy.

FBB’s staff will be holding continued discussions in the days to come about how we can take meaningful action on the issue of racial violence moving forward.

If you would like to suggest a resource for this page or other actions our community may take to work with POC against racial violence, please contact us today.