Minneapolis Protest Support
Donation protected
We are trying to provide a single place where people can donate to the efforts to protect and support protesters in Minneapolis and St. Paul, MN in the wake of George Floyd's death and subsequent NON-arrest of his killers.
We are a group of citizens that has been coming together to help provide medical care, food, water, supplies, and relief to protesters and surrounding community.
Money donated will go to:
- Supplies if we need to purchase them on an as-needed basis (but THANK YOU to the HUNDREDS who have made in-kind donations)
- Medical needs for those injured in protests (contingent upon verification of medical bills and ability to distribute
- Money not able to go to the two above causes will be split between: Minnesota Freedom Fund, Black Visions, Reclaim the Block, and North Star Health Collective.
Full Story:
My name is Allie Lawler. I am a software consultant, DEI advocate, and volunteerism enthusiast living in St Louis Park, but I've also lived in St Paul and Minneapolis over the last five years, and was born in the MSP suburbs.
Thursday Morning, May 27th, I woke up after a night of following news of protests and violence, and could no longer not do something. I saw a call for donations for teams performing medical services on the ground in St Paul's Midway neighborhood (where a large protest was gathering), and planned to shop, donate, and join the protest. After shopping for supplies, I went to drop them off and found a large need for anyone with medical experience to be supplied up, so I got a med bag and went out to the Midway Target parking lot. Below is a link to a video of my experience from that night.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CAw7qlclM1L/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet
As violence increased, our teams secured shelter and a base at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in the Midway, who agreed to help without hesitation. Overnight, the church turned into an operations base, donation location, and distribution facility for other areas needing help. We were flooded with people looking to help, and have since evolved into a massive donation and distribution machine not only for the Midway neighborhood, but for anyone seeking supplies and help in MSP.
This page was created out of a need to have a central place to donate. Our immediate need is paying for supplies that we are lacking at the donation site on a day-by-day basis. Second priority is to pay for the medical bills of protesters injured over the course of any protesting activities (our related medical teams have brought several to the hospital). Third, with any funds leftover, we will be getting money into the hands of organizations run by and working to serve the Black and BIPOC communities of MSP, including Black Visions Collective MN, Black Immigrant Collective, Isuroon, and more.
Money withdrawn is being held in the BLC bank account (they are a nonprofit), and myself and the executor of that account are in full agreement that we will first be paying back the many folks making supply runs to Costco for food and toiletries. Next, we will be addressing any of those medical cost requests, validating with medical bills. Then we will donate to the groups listed above.
On a personal note, I have seen a tremendous outpouring of generosity and support in the last few days as we've gotten our station up and running. Myself and the group running the BLC Midway operations are beyond humbled by the hundreds pouring in every day to help. But I also want you to know that the work does not stop here. While supporting the community physically with needed supplies to keep people fed and healthy is important, it is critical that for those who haven't already, you use this as a turning point to actively fight racism on an individual and systematic level at every opportunity.
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
We are a group of citizens that has been coming together to help provide medical care, food, water, supplies, and relief to protesters and surrounding community.
Money donated will go to:
- Supplies if we need to purchase them on an as-needed basis (but THANK YOU to the HUNDREDS who have made in-kind donations)
- Medical needs for those injured in protests (contingent upon verification of medical bills and ability to distribute
- Money not able to go to the two above causes will be split between: Minnesota Freedom Fund, Black Visions, Reclaim the Block, and North Star Health Collective.
Full Story:
My name is Allie Lawler. I am a software consultant, DEI advocate, and volunteerism enthusiast living in St Louis Park, but I've also lived in St Paul and Minneapolis over the last five years, and was born in the MSP suburbs.
Thursday Morning, May 27th, I woke up after a night of following news of protests and violence, and could no longer not do something. I saw a call for donations for teams performing medical services on the ground in St Paul's Midway neighborhood (where a large protest was gathering), and planned to shop, donate, and join the protest. After shopping for supplies, I went to drop them off and found a large need for anyone with medical experience to be supplied up, so I got a med bag and went out to the Midway Target parking lot. Below is a link to a video of my experience from that night.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CAw7qlclM1L/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet
As violence increased, our teams secured shelter and a base at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in the Midway, who agreed to help without hesitation. Overnight, the church turned into an operations base, donation location, and distribution facility for other areas needing help. We were flooded with people looking to help, and have since evolved into a massive donation and distribution machine not only for the Midway neighborhood, but for anyone seeking supplies and help in MSP.
This page was created out of a need to have a central place to donate. Our immediate need is paying for supplies that we are lacking at the donation site on a day-by-day basis. Second priority is to pay for the medical bills of protesters injured over the course of any protesting activities (our related medical teams have brought several to the hospital). Third, with any funds leftover, we will be getting money into the hands of organizations run by and working to serve the Black and BIPOC communities of MSP, including Black Visions Collective MN, Black Immigrant Collective, Isuroon, and more.
Money withdrawn is being held in the BLC bank account (they are a nonprofit), and myself and the executor of that account are in full agreement that we will first be paying back the many folks making supply runs to Costco for food and toiletries. Next, we will be addressing any of those medical cost requests, validating with medical bills. Then we will donate to the groups listed above.
On a personal note, I have seen a tremendous outpouring of generosity and support in the last few days as we've gotten our station up and running. Myself and the group running the BLC Midway operations are beyond humbled by the hundreds pouring in every day to help. But I also want you to know that the work does not stop here. While supporting the community physically with needed supplies to keep people fed and healthy is important, it is critical that for those who haven't already, you use this as a turning point to actively fight racism on an individual and systematic level at every opportunity.
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
Organizer
Allie Lawler
Organizer
Minneapolis, MN
