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:
1132 Prince Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
Owner/Proprietor:
Phone: 703-299-2591
Email:
912 Canal Dr.
Chesapeake, VA 23323
Owner/Proprietor: Kenyatta Ingram
Phone: 929-445-7427
Email:
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:
633 West 35th Street
Norfolk, VA 23508
Owner/Proprietor:
Phone: 757-314-1943
Email:
3601 East Ocean View Avenue, Unit C.
Norfolk, VA 23518
Owner/Proprietor: Bro. Furqaan S. Ali
Phone: 757-374-4591
6220 B Indian River Rd.
Virginia Beach, VA 23464
Owner/Proprietor: A Partnership
Phone: 757-523-1399
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So You Want To Talk About Race by Ijeoma Olou
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Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?: And Other Conversations About Race by Beverly Daniel Tatum
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Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston
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Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates
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They Can't Kill Us All: Ferguson, Baltimore, and a New Era in America's Racial Justice Movement by Wesley Lowery
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White Rage: The Unspoken Truth of Our Racial Divide by Carol Anderson
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How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi
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Black Stats: African Americans by the Numbers in the Twenty-First Century by Monique W. Morris
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Choke Hold: Policing Black Me by Paul Butler
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White Fragility: Why It's So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism by Robin DiAngelo
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Eloquent Rage: A Black Feminist Discovers Her Superpower by Brittney Cooper
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Black Feminist Thought by Patricia Hill Collins
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White Fragility: Why It's So Hard for White People to Talk about Racism by Robin DiAngelo, PHD
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Beloved by Toni Morrison
Listen.
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#TellBlackStories
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Code Switch
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About Race
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Scene on Radio: Seeing White
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Momentum: A Race Forward Podcast
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The Diversity Gap
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Intersectionality Matters! Hosted by Kimberle Crenshaw
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The Stoop
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Still Processing
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Justice in America
Watch.
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The Hate U Give
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13th (Netflix)
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Dear White People (Netflix)
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If Beale Street Could Talk
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Just Mercy
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Fruitvale Station
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The Innocence Files (Netflix)
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.
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):
NORTHERN VA - pro bono or sliding scale services
City of Alexandria
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Joni Robin - 703-973-9704 -
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Edward Ungvarsky - 202-409-2084 - ed@ungvarskylaw
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Anna Dvorchik - 571-839-2301
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Ryan Campbell - 703-683-7070 -
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Tamika Jones - 703-835-9967
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Sylvano Alvarez - 703-899-0959 (English and Espanol)
Arlington County
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Meg Nerino - 703-969-0849 -
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Emily Beckman - 703-683-7070 -
Fairfax County
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Jeff Overand - 703-934-8580 -
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Che Rogers - 703-865-6353 -
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Hasina Lewis - 703-591-4507 -
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Anna Dvorchik - 571-839-2301
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Meg Nerino - 703-969-0849 -
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James Abrenio - 703-570-4180 -
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Wayne Kim - 703-662-1348 -
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Manuel Leiva - 703-352-6400 -
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Julie Hamilton - 703-675-6328 -
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Amy Bradley - 703-883-0208 -
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Vanessa Jordan - 571-326-9565 -
City of Falls Church
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Rachael Hammer - 703-217-7823
Greater Fredericksburg/Stafford County
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Rebecca Favret Medina –804-801-5939 -
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Chris Reyes – 540-372-4046 -
Loudoun County
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Sarah Welch - 703-530-9001 -
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Sarah Bruns - 703-777-1349 -
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Ryan Campbell - 703-991-6777 -
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Kelly King - 571-252-9887 - Kking@kellykingesq.com
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Robert Bruce - 571-335-1695 -
Prince William County
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Shawn Stout - 703-530-9001 -
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Jeanne Brown - 703-335-9390 -
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Johnda Scott - 571-402-2060
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Lisa Brown - 571-723-1158
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Jane Reynolds - 703-680-2358
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Jessica Foster - 703-361-5000 - jessica@fostermccollam **especially interested in helping Juveniles**
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Fernando Villarroel - 703-530-9001 - (English and Espanol)
CENTRAL VA - pro bono or sliding scale services
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Douglas Ramseur - (804)404-2654 -
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Steve Mutnick - 804-782-1111 -
Non-Legal Informational Resources
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Lainie Singerman -
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Johanna Gusman - 202-735-7524 -
Support Black artists, activists, and small businesses owners and operators wherever you can.
