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Shut up and Run: 26.2 Miles For Racial Equality

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Hello everybody, my name is Chris Cioffi. I am a 22-year old White American from Massachusetts who has been privileged enough to witness racism without experiencing it. With the recent injustices that have been going on in our nation, now is the time for action. We have spent too long watching Black Americans die at the hands of police along a slew of other racial atrocities that have been committed against them.

As a White American, I will never understand the struggle that some of my fellow citizens experience on a daily basis. I will never lose a job from exerting my right to protest (Colin Kaepernick). I never talked to my family about how to handle an interaction with the police so I don't get killed (Arian Foster). I will never be shot while going on a run (Ahmaud Arbery). I will never be killed in my own home at the hands of the police officers that are sworn to protect me (Breonna Taylor) I will never be shot for legally carrying a firearm (Philando Castile). I will never have a police officer's knee on my neck, stripping me of my final breaths (George Floyd & Eric Garner). This is the smallest sample size of Black Americans who have been wronged by the systemic racism that America was literally founded upon.  

In 2018,  star basketball player Lebron James was told to "Shut up and dribble " by Fox News Host Laura Ingraham for sharing his thoughts on the political discourse after a racial slur was graffitied on his home. Recently, she quickly turned to defend Saints Quarterback Drew Brees after he made a comment against the peaceful kneeling protests of 2016 saying that he will never agree with the athletes participating who were "disrespecting the flag." This type of double standard is not acceptable in our society; if I were Lebron James, I would be "Fn tired"  of that treatment too. 

In the spirit of Ingraham's comments, I have decided that as a White American, it is my turn to be silent. I will simply "shut up and run." I will run a marathon to raise funds for the NAACP. The event will start around 8AM on June 9th. I will be livestreaming the event on Instagram .  I am by no means a long-distance runner. I have only ever completed an unofficial half marathon at a time of 1:58:47. 

To hold myself accountable, I will also be making a $250 contribution. Your donation is a small victory in the enduring battle against racism we have to fight as a nation. If you cannot make a monetary contribution, please consider donating your time in some way, shape or form. I encourage you to partake in some form of activism by signing petitions, calling officials and demanding change , attending protests, or having uncomfortable conversations with friends and family. In the spirit of "shut up and run," I urge you to signal boost Black business owners, artists, musicians, visionaries, and creators on your own platform. You can make a difference in pushing the needle towards a more equal America.

Don't want to donate to this cause, but still want to make a difference? Here is a list of other places that you should consider.

The road to a better future is not a sprint. It's a marathon. 

More information about Naacp Legal Defense & Educ Fund Inc (Ldf) below:

The NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund is America's legal counsel on issues of race. Through advocacy and litigation, LDF focuses on issues of education, voter protection, economic justice and criminal justice. We encourage students to embark on careers in the public interest through scholarship and internship programs. LDF pursues racial justice to move our nation toward a society that fulfills the promise of equality for all Americans.
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    • $5
    • 4 yrs
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Organizer

Christopher Cioffi
Organizer
Boston, MA
NAACP-Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc.
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