Community Action Resources 

Black Lives Matter: Actions & Resources

ACTION ITEM 1: Speak Out

 

It’s time to force ourselves out of our comfort zones and speak up about systemic racism to friends, family, neighbors, and coworkers. Silence isn’t helpful right now. Use your social media platforms to amplify the voices of black leaders and social justice organizations already in the fight. 

 

Follow and share twitter posts from @FairfaxNAACP; @SeanPerryman3; @Richmond4All; @ChelseaWiseRVA; @VAJusticeDems; @richmondvaTAP; @VAstudentpower; @vainterfaith; @JusticeFwdVa; @LegalAidJustice; @ACLUVA 

 

ACTION ITEM 2. Educate Yourself 

 

Read. 

 

Purchase books from black-owned businesses in Virginia and then commit to educating yourself and sharing these works with others for their edification as well: 

 

Harambee Books and Artworks

1132 Prince Street

Alexandria, VA 22314

Owner/Proprietor:

Phone: 703-299-2591

Email: info@harambeebooks.org

 

Riches In Reading

912 Canal Dr.

Chesapeake, VA 23323

Owner/Proprietor: Kenyatta Ingram

Phone: 929-445-7427

Email: info@richesinreading.com

 

Urban Moon Books: The Indie Author Outlet

Chesapeake Square Mall, 4200 Portsmouth Blvd

Chesapeake, VA 23321

Owner/Proprietor: Fanita Pendleton

Phone: 757-465-3858

Email: urbanmoonbooksandmore@gmail.com

 

House of Consciousness

633 West 35th Street

Norfolk, VA 23508

Owner/Proprietor:

Phone: 757-314-1943

Email: hocbulletin@gmail.com

 

Timbuktu Bookstore

3601 East Ocean View Avenue, Unit C.

Norfolk, VA 23518

Owner/Proprietor: Bro. Furqaan S. Ali

Phone: 757-374-4591

 

Positive Vibes

6220 B Indian River Rd.

Virginia Beach, VA 23464

Owner/Proprietor: A Partnership

Phone: 757-523-1399

 

  • So You Want To Talk About Race by Ijeoma Olou

  • Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?: And Other Conversations About Race by Beverly Daniel Tatum

  • Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston

  • Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates

  • They Can't Kill Us All: Ferguson, Baltimore, and a New Era in America's Racial Justice Movement by Wesley Lowery

  • White Rage: The Unspoken Truth of Our Racial Divide by Carol Anderson

  • How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi

  • Black Stats: African Americans by the Numbers in the Twenty-First Century by Monique W. Morris

  • Choke Hold: Policing Black Me by Paul Butler

  • White Fragility: Why It's So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism by Robin DiAngelo

  • Eloquent Rage: A Black Feminist Discovers Her Superpower by Brittney Cooper

  • Black Feminist Thought by Patricia Hill Collins

  • White Fragility: Why It's So Hard for White People to Talk about Racism by Robin DiAngelo, PHD

  • Beloved by Toni Morrison

 

Listen. 

  • #TellBlackStories

  • Code Switch

  • About Race

  • Scene on Radio: Seeing White

  • Momentum: A Race Forward Podcast

  • The Diversity Gap

  • Intersectionality Matters! Hosted by Kimberle Crenshaw

  • The Stoop

  • Still Processing

  • Justice in America 

 

Watch. 

  • The Hate U Give 

  • 13th (Netflix) 

  • Dear White People (Netflix) 

  • If Beale Street Could Talk

  • Just Mercy

  • Fruitvale Station

  • The Innocence Files (Netflix)

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ACTION ITEM 3. Donate

​

Only you know what you can afford to give right now. Please give what you can. Your financial wellbeing still matters. We need you to stay engaged and active for the long haul. 

 

Consider donating what you might have spent on summer travels or attending your friend’s canceled wedding. 

 

Fairfax County NAACP

Richmond Community Bail Fund

Roanoke Community Bail Fund
 

 

ACTION ITEM 4. Sign Petitions 

 

Justice for George Floyd (NAACP National) 

Demand Justice for Breonna Taylor (NextGen)

 

ACTION ITEM 5. Contact Speaker Eileen Filler-Corn

 

Contact Speaker Filler-Corn's office and demand that racial justice is added to the agenda for the General Assembly's August special session.

 

Email: DelEFiller-Corn@house.virginia.gov or call (804) 698-1041

 

Policing is a BUDGET line item, and needs to be on the agenda. Don't let office staff dodge the issue by saying that the agenda has to "meet the spirit of the Governor's call for assembly" so if this issue is not already related to the meeting it cannot be added. 

 

If they say this to you, simply remind them that it is in the budget and the budget needs approval, so it is within Madam Speaker's power to make this issue a priority. 

 

ACTION ITEM 6. Support Black Progressives

 

Step up to donate and canvass for black progressives in Virginia. Support electeds who have sponsored or supported progressive legislation. 

 

ACTION ITEM 7. VOTE

 

Please vote in every election you are eligible in. Officeholders have lasting impacts on the lives of all community members. 

 

Remember to vote on June 23rd in the Democratic primary (this is not applicable to all districts) and in November! 

 

Other important resources: 

 

For those participating in protests statewide and/or those who have friends and family members who are, here is a list of pro bono attorneys (see Google document for most current information): 

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NORTHERN VA - pro bono or sliding scale services

 

City of Alexandria 

  • Joni Robin - 703-973-9704 - joni@jonirobinlaw.com

  • Edward Ungvarsky - 202-409-2084 - ed@ungvarskylaw

  • Anna Dvorchik - 571-839-2301

  • Ryan Campbell - 703-683-7070 - KCLaw@kingcampbell.com

  • Tamika Jones - 703-835-9967

  • Sylvano Alvarez - 703-899-0959 (English and Espanol)

 

Arlington County

 

Fairfax County

 

City of Falls Church

  • Rachael Hammer - 703-217-7823

 

Greater Fredericksburg/Stafford County

 

Loudoun County

 

Prince William County

 

CENTRAL VA - pro bono or sliding scale services

 

Non-Legal Informational Resources

 

Support Black artists, activists, and small businesses owners and operators wherever you can. 

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