How to Support Black Lives Matter

On May 25, George Floyd, a 46-year-old African American man, died after he was pinned to the ground for nearly nine minutes by a white police officer. The killing gave rise to protests in at least 140 cities across the United States and globally in Australia, Britain, France and Germany under the network of Black Lives Matter, an international human rights movement that campaigns against violence and systemic racism toward black people. While Floyd's death marked the beginning of these most current protests, black people have always been disproportionately targeted and killed by police officers. 

Progress and justice mean that we all must be actively anti-racist and allies. The fight against systemic racism is never over, but taking real action is one way we can create change. 

Outpost Club is committed to creating safe spaces and communities across the United States through modern co-living — we encourage people from different backgrounds to come together and form a diverse community. It is essential that our members always feel welcome in their house and know that there are protections in place in the case they do encounter discrimination or racism. For this reason, we include an anti-discrimination clause in our leases that is actively enforced. We will also be making a donation to Black Lives Matter to support the groundbreaking work of this movement and will continue to work on being impactful allies moving forward.

We've rounded up a few ways that you can contribute to the cause and become a better ally.  

• Educate yourself: Understanding white privilege and systemic racism is one necessary step toward becoming an informed ally. Here's a great reading list you can refer to; consider creating a book club with a group of friends to hold yourself accountable. We also recommend checking out The 1619 Project, which examines the "consequences of slavery and contributions of black Americans." 
• Donate what you can: Whether you're supporting a bail fund for protestors who have been arrested, contributing to the Black Lives Matter movement itself, or the National Police Accountability Project, giving money is one great way to show support. For long-term change, consider making monthly donations to a group like the ACLU or local initiatives in your area. 
• Support black-owned businesses and creators: If you're about to online shop or order in from a local restaurant, you can choose to support a black-owned business. Check out these businesses in New York City, New Jersey and San Francisco. 
• Share on social media: Amplify black people's voices on social media by sharing and retweeting their posts. You can also share donation links or petitions to sign on your digital platform!
• Go protest: Know your rights, protest peacefully and be prepared. If you're trying to find out where your local protests are, check out the Instagram @justiceforgeorge and add your city to the end of the tag (@justiceforgeorgenyc)— many of these accounts provide live updates on where you can join in. 
• Sign petitions: If you aren't able to donate, petitions are a cost-free way to create change. Here are 30 petitions to start with — you can also sign here to defund the police. 

Photo by Nicole Baster on Unsplash