Thank you to our friends at 350.org for providing many of these great resources

As we continue to see police and citizen violence on Black people, most recently with the deaths of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and George Floyd, what must we do to reform the carceral system and dismantle white supremacy? 

The work of addressing white supremacy is critical to building a climate movement rooted in justice. There is no just recovery for climate, without addressing the systemic extraction, harm and violence towards Black communities. Building a movement rooted in the needs of those most oppressed is the only way we can achieve liberation and justice for all. 

We don’t live single-issue lives, and this is not a single-issue movement. Ecological degradation, systemic racism, economic inequality, social inequity – these issues are all deeply interlinked, and connected by the same root causes – colonialism, extractivism, and an economy built for profit and corporation — all at the expense of our health, safety & democracy. 

350 Colorado stands with the Black Lives Matter movement and is committed to working with Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) communities from across Colorado to hold our leaders accountable to the injustices forced on communities of color. We pledge to work to dismantle the systems of oppression that not only make communities of color targets for violence, but also targets of toxic pollution. 

Below are some ways you can take action today to support black lives in Colorado and work to dismantle systemic racism. 

1. Make space for Black people to grieve. Do what you can to be an active and present supporter and acknowledge the ongoing trauma Black people face every day. 
2. Follow the leadership of Black communities. The key concept here is to pause and listen. Whether you are at a protest or on social media, we must follow the desires of those who are being impacted.
3. Dig deep. This month during Black History Month we encourage you to commit to some time for reflection, education, and action for black lives. Use this month as a launch point for a renewed and deepened commitment to dismantling systemic racism within the climate movement and society. Review the resources below so you can learn how to be a champion for justice and celebrate black lives every day of the year.

Immediate Actions

• Elijah McClain was murdered by Aurora police in August of 2019. The only people to face charges are the activists who led peaceful protests demanding justice. Sign the petition to drop the charges against the leaders of the movement for justice for Elijah and hold the police accountable.
• Discuss the rise of white supremacy and eco-facism. Two articles to begin: The Climate Movement Must Be Ready to Challenge Right-Wing Environmentalism and The Antler-Guy Isn’t a Climate Activist. He’s an Eco-Fascist
• Text ‘ActionNOW’ to 90975 to get regular updates about actions you can take.
• Movement for Black Lives, and Black organizations from across the country, are demanding and fighting for what needs to be done right now to stop the spread and lasting harm of COVID-19 but we are also demanding a recovery that benefits everyday people, not just big corporations. Sign the petition here.

Groups and Organizations to Support

• Colorado Freedom Fund 
• Black Lives Matter 5820 
• NAACP Colorado – Wyoming Chapter
• Colorado Black Women for Political Action 
• Black Lives Matter
• 80 Black Owned Businesses to Support in Colorado
  • Or check out FiveFifths, the largest list of black-owned restaurants and online businesses on the internet.
• Blackout Coalition – Supporting just and equitable banking 
• Support Black Owned
• Black Wall Street 
• Racial Justice Network 
• 100+ Black Owned Businesses to Support in Denver
• Follow The Frontline, The Movement for Black Lives (M4BL) & the Poor People’s Campaign to stay updated about events and resources (check out their social media as well).

Resources

• • Explore this map that pains a holistic picture of intersecting environmental, social, and health impacts experienced by communities across Colorado. MEJ’s maps display the intersecting environmental, public health, and socioeconomic disparities experienced by low-income communities and communities of color, allowing users to identify disproportionately impacted communities. This cumulative impacts approach combines this data into a single indicator of cumulative environmental justice impact.
  • Learn with Race Forward’s online Building Racial Equity series, a collection of interactive trainings for those who wish to sharpen their skills and strategies to address structural racism and advance racial equity.
  • Read The climate movement’s silence – On insidious anti-blackness in climate activism, and the rise of Climate Chad by Emily Atkin.
  • Here’s a FAQ on Building a Police-Free Future from the Black Visions Collective that can be useful to share with friends/ family new to thinking about defunding and abolishing police.
  • 350.org global trainings manager, Daniel Hunter authored an organizing guide to accompany Michelle Alexander’s The New Jim Crow that is now available in Spanish and the English and Spanish versions are free and downloadable here.
  • Consider these critical questions from Austin Channing about protesting, “looting”, and violence against African Americans. Move beyond the hashtags and allow what’s happening to transform the way you think about justice, policing, harm, violence. 
  • Read this resource on why safe communities don’t have more police but instead prioritize more community resources.
  • This document is intended to serve as a resource to white people and parents to deepen their anti-racism work. If you haven’t engaged in anti-racism work in the past, start now. 
  • Be witness to the unbearable grief of Black mothers. Between COVID-19 and police brutality, the burden of grief is yet another risk to Black mothers’ health.
  • People Can Only Bear So Much Injustice Before Lashing Out. As the media denounces the Minneapolis protesters, it’s worth remembering that it takes incredible strength to practice nonviolence in the face of murder and oppression.
  • How to respond to “riots never solve anything!”

Watch webinars from 350 Colorado and partners on Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion topics. See the playlist here and a few examples below: