#BLACKLIVESMATTER

The murder of #AhmaudArbery at the hands of white vigilantes and the police murders of #GeorgeFloyd in Minnesota, #TonyMcDade in Florida, and #BreonnaTaylor and #DavidMcAtee in Kentucky have left us reeling. Once again, we are forced to not only face the realities of the violence, brutality, and death our Black brothers and sisters have endured in America for hundreds of years, but the lack of justice that follows when their human rights are violated.

We cannot remain silent and we demand the killers of innocent Black people be brought to justice. The United Democratic Club remains committed to taking action towards eliminating racism within the justice system. We must listen to Black leaders and amplify Black voices. It is our duty to do the work to educate ourselves on the effects of systemic racism and white privilege, and the resulting impact on the Black community not only here in San Francisco, but throughout the nation.

We are re-committing ourselves to engaging our membership on issues of discrimination, racial injustice, and advocating for equality and equity. As a club, we will provide resources and calls to take action to our membership. We will hold our elected officials, law enforcement, city departments, and commissions accountable for any action or inaction to address or fix issues related to racial violence or injustice, including that which is perpetrated by those who are sworn to protect and serve.

To our Black United Democratic Club members: know that we stand with you, support you and love you.

Sincerely,

Kayleigh Lloyd, President

Chasel Lee, VP — Internal Operations

Nadia Rahman, VP — Communications

Bobak Esfandiari, VP — Political Engagement

Noelle Bonner, VP — Events

Lauren Feuerborn, VP — Member Engagement

Derek Lee, VP — Finance

Regardless of where you live, there are ways to help. Nothing we’ve seen over the past few days — racism, police violence, suppression — is new. This is the moment to commit to the fight and see it through to the end.

Educate, Donate, Advocate, Demonstrate
This website compiles ways to educate yourself and be productive in supporting the protests, including links to donation funds for victims of police violence as well as protesters and Black-owned businesses; ways to make calls, texts, and emails to demand justice; and resources for protesters themselves.

On the ground in Minnesota, the Minnesota Freedom Fund has asked that donations be directed to Reclaim the Block, Black Visions Collective, and North Star Health Collective.

Community Building
Even when protests subside, more will need to be done. Learn how to do more in your community beyond demonstrations.

Learn
Make sure you’re actively listening to the voices of Black people, including in your social media. Follow more people like teacher and author Clint Smith; CEO of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Center, Bernice King; and DeRay McKesson, activist and co-host of Pod Save the People.

Allyship
White organizers — use this time to make sure your organizations are as representative and inclusive as they can be.

Read

• White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo
• The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander
• The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin
• A More Beautiful and Terrible History by Jeanne Theoharis
• Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race by Reni Eddo-Lodge
• Between The World And Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates
• They Can’t Kill Us All by Wesley Lowery
• Your Silence Will Not Protect You by Audre Lorde
• How to be an Anti-Racist by Ibrahim X. Kendi
• White Rage by Carol Anderson, Ph.D.