NOLA Protest safety equipment
Donation protected
Selam y'all. My name's Sarah (Saar-uh). I use he, they and she pronouns and I'm an organizer with Southern Solidarity, a grassroots organization in Bulbancha (New Orleans, LA). Southern Solidarity delivers food and medical supplies to 300 unhoused people everyday and we organize with the unhoused around the fight for permanent housing.
- - -
On the evening of June 3, 2020, thousands were mobilized in Bulbancha by the murder of George Floyd, against white supremacy and police terror. As-is the narrative the nation-over, the cops at this protest needlessly used violence against anti-racist protestors.
The New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) silo’d protestors on the Crescent City Connection, as they did during Hurricane Katrina. NOPD deployed tear gas, a military-grade chemical weapon; they shot rubber bullets; they physically attacked protestors with batons; and they detained 4 protestors.
We originally, in the wee morning hours of June 4th, were fundraising bail money to ensure that we could get these 4 comrades out as quickly as possible. We do not leave our own behind.
Seeing as the protestors, as of 7am CST on June 4th, have been safely-released to us with bail paid, this fund will now be used to fundraise for protective gear so we can protest smarter and longer.
- - -
The first $19,000 raised of this fund is being donated to directly to Black trans leadership of Bulbancha, to secure protection against policing which includes protective equipment, safer living conditions and whatever else is needed to ensure that Black trans people are safe against police brutality.
We donate this portion to Black trans people, because by-and-large, Black trans people are *still* marginalized within not only the Black Lives Matter movement, but all--literally ALL--other movements bound up in our liberation. It is critical that we are protected and empowered if this struggle is to win. Our donation is only but a bare-minimum step in the right direction, and we encourage all others with a viable platform to use it, or even build a platform, to do the same for Black trans communities in your locale.
- - -
We are keeping this GoFundMe active so we may continue to fundraise for protective equipment. Our new goal has been increased to include the broader community, which includes and is not limited to protestors on the streets. We truly believe everyone has a role to play in this moment.
Our new goal as of May 8th, is $30,000.
With love and solidarity,
Southern Solidarity <3
- - -
On the evening of June 3, 2020, thousands were mobilized in Bulbancha by the murder of George Floyd, against white supremacy and police terror. As-is the narrative the nation-over, the cops at this protest needlessly used violence against anti-racist protestors.
The New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) silo’d protestors on the Crescent City Connection, as they did during Hurricane Katrina. NOPD deployed tear gas, a military-grade chemical weapon; they shot rubber bullets; they physically attacked protestors with batons; and they detained 4 protestors.
We originally, in the wee morning hours of June 4th, were fundraising bail money to ensure that we could get these 4 comrades out as quickly as possible. We do not leave our own behind.
Seeing as the protestors, as of 7am CST on June 4th, have been safely-released to us with bail paid, this fund will now be used to fundraise for protective gear so we can protest smarter and longer.
- - -
The first $19,000 raised of this fund is being donated to directly to Black trans leadership of Bulbancha, to secure protection against policing which includes protective equipment, safer living conditions and whatever else is needed to ensure that Black trans people are safe against police brutality.
We donate this portion to Black trans people, because by-and-large, Black trans people are *still* marginalized within not only the Black Lives Matter movement, but all--literally ALL--other movements bound up in our liberation. It is critical that we are protected and empowered if this struggle is to win. Our donation is only but a bare-minimum step in the right direction, and we encourage all others with a viable platform to use it, or even build a platform, to do the same for Black trans communities in your locale.
- - -
We are keeping this GoFundMe active so we may continue to fundraise for protective equipment. Our new goal has been increased to include the broader community, which includes and is not limited to protestors on the streets. We truly believe everyone has a role to play in this moment.
Our new goal as of May 8th, is $30,000.
With love and solidarity,
Southern Solidarity <3
Organizer
Sarah Mamo
Organizer
New Orleans, LA
