You may come to us mostly for critter-shaped pom poms, sweet recipes and tips about creativity. But it’s been a harrowing week of events, and they can’t be ignored.

On May 25th, an African-American man named George Floyd died while a police officer pinned him down and knelt on his neck for more than eight minutes. George was unarmed. His last words: “I can’t breathe.”

Seeing the footage across our newsfeeds, it was impossible not to feel upset and horrified. But while we watch protestors in the US rally against yet another case of police brutality towards black Americans, we can’t forget that racism is rife in our own country, too.

Much like the US, Australia was built on both slavery and the genocide of First Nations people, and the effects of colonisation continue today. More than 400 Indigenous people have died in police custody since 1991 – people like Rebecca Maher, Veronica Marie Nelson Walker, David Dungay and Tanya Day. Aboriginal people make up only 2 per cent of the national population, but 27 per cent of the prison population (many locked up for petty crime); they’re refused medical care, and their children are 10 times more likely to be removed from their homes. These are the awful facts we have to face while channelling our anger and energy into changing a broken system.

Below, you’ll find a number of organisations working towards racial justice in the US and Australia, which you can support with donations, among other ways. If you can, consider regularly donating to First Nations causes and Indigenous-run organisations, too. Hit the books and educate yourself on the Indigenous history you may not have learnt at school. Understand that racism is about a lot more than just saying mean things. Figure out how you can bring about political change, and have hard conversations with those around you. We all have so much work to do.

SOCIAL JUSTICE ORGANISATIONS YOU CAN SUPPORT IN THE US

The Bail Project – a non-profit reducing incarceration rates

Black Visions Collective – a social justice organisation based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where George Floyd was killed

Reclaim the Block  – an organisation focused on community-led safety initiatives

Minnesota Freedom Fund – an organisation fighting Minnesota’s bail system

Official George Floyd Memorial Fund – a fund to help cover George Floyd’s funeral and support his family as they move through court proceedings

NAACP Legal Defense Fund – a law firm fighting for racial justice

WAYS TO SUPPORT JUSTICE FOR INDIGENOUS AUSTRALIANS

Indigenous-led protests in solidarity with US protestors will be held on June 6th in Melbourne and Brisbane

Justice for David Dungay fund – a fund to support the family of David Dungay Junior, an Aboriginal man who died in a Sydney jail in a similar way to George Floyd

FreeHer – a fund used to pay off fines and warrants in Western Australia and free Aboriginal people from prison

Warriors of the Aboriginal Resistance (WAR) – a youth collective fighting for Aboriginal rights

Grandmothers Against Removals – an organisation advocating against the forced removal of First Nations children from their families

National Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander Women’s Alliance – an organisation that empowers and advocates for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women in Australia

Head here for a list of more legal services and NFPs you can support. 

Update: Path To Equality has compiled a directory of resources, including places to donate, reading material and Indigenous-run businesses to support. 

FURTHER READING

What is racism and how to spot it

Justice for Tanya Day

We must bear witness to black deaths in our own country by Amy McQuire

Illustration by Charlotte Allingham