Protective Gear for Protesters
Donation protected
Help equip Black organizers and protesters with urgently-needed safety gear. Your contribution will go directly toward the purchase of one of the items listed below. Wherever possible, we will purchase items from Black-owned businesses.
PROTESTERS HAVE REQUESTED THE FOLLOWING PROTECTIVE ITEMS:
Goggles ($5 each)
Washable Reusable Masks ($15 each)
Pepper Spray ($20 each)
Stun Gun ($25 each)
Walkie Talkie ($25/pair or $250 for a box of 20)
Shin Guards ($30/pair)
Helmet ($50 each)
Body Armor ($500 each)
Protective Backpacks ($700 each)
WHY DO PROTESTERS NEED PROTECTIVE GEAR?
In the days leading up to November 3rd, protesting is becoming increasingly unsafe for people fighting against racial oppression and police brutality across the country. It is now becoming a necessity for those who engage in protests to have protective gear such as helmets, goggles, masks, shin and arm guards, body armor, and even bullet proof vests, regardless of how peaceful protests are.
The non-lethal bullets police officers have been using at protests are not actually rubber but are metal rounds with a “rubber casing” and have caused serious permanent injury to protesters including concussions, broken bones, and blindness. Worst yet, less lethal rounds can be lethal if shot in the neck, face or head. But as we have seen in the shooting death of David McAtee by National Guardsmen at a protest in Louisville, Kentucky, police are not above using live ammunition on crowds of protesters. Police use of tear gas, pepper balls, sound cannons, and other weapons have also been known to cause serious permanent injuries. In addition, we have just learned that the government was considering using heat rays to disperse protesters this summer . The use of these weapons has not had their intended effect of dissuading people from exercising their right to protest, but the use of these weapons does make the distribution of safety gear among protestors imperative.
Likewise, a growing number of shooting incidents involving white nationalist groups have been cropping up at protests. The Boogaloo groups in particular are specifically interested in inciting armed violence against protesters because they believe doing so will bring about a race war. These are individuals who will use live ammunition and other lethal weapons on protesters, and as we have seen in Kenosha, be fully supported by police officers. As tensions rise and more protesters encounter more of these groups, some of which carry assault rifles and military grade arsenals, having the necessary protective equipment will become a matter of life or death.
Sadly, In light of the death of Oluwatoyin Salau and the assault of Iyanna Dior at a protest this summer, low level self-defense equipment such as pepper spray and stun guns are also important, particularly for women and the LBGTQ+ community so that they can show up to protests safely. The presence of aggressive, predatory, and reactionary actors at these actions require that people are prepared with the necessary self-defense gear.
PLAN FOR DISTRIBUTION
A Black organizer and friend based in Washington, D.C will be distributing these items at protests in Washington, D.C. as well as sharing them with Black organizers in other cities, like Kenosha, WI, Portland, Rochester, NY, Chicago, and NYC to distribute.
CAMPAIGN ORGANIZER'S ACCOUNTABILITY
We will post frequent updates about how the money you contribute is being spent, with photos and receipts, so you can see that your donation is making an immediate difference in the safety of our young , Black leaders in volatile areas around the country. Every cent that you donate, minus credit card processing fees (standard 2%), will go exclusively toward purchasing and distributing protective gear.
IF YOU CAN'T MAKE A DONATION, BUT CARE ABOUT BLACK LIVES AND PROTESTER SAFETY
1. Share this campaign widely on your social media platforms, email it to your radical retired uncle with money to spare, text it to your friends, and use good ol' word of mouth to put the campaign in front of people who can contribute financially (or who can help us spread the word). There are many peoples' lives at stake here, so don't give up on helping just because you are cash-strapped.
2. Join our fund raising team and commit to reaching out to 3 - 5 specific people you think would make a contribution of any amount. Just hit the "Contact" button on the campaign page and send us a message that you'd like to be part of the team, and we'll send you an invitation.
THANK YOU FOR STOPPING BY AND LEARNING ABOUT THIS CAMPAIGN!
PROTESTERS HAVE REQUESTED THE FOLLOWING PROTECTIVE ITEMS:
Goggles ($5 each)
Washable Reusable Masks ($15 each)
Pepper Spray ($20 each)
Stun Gun ($25 each)
Walkie Talkie ($25/pair or $250 for a box of 20)
Shin Guards ($30/pair)
Helmet ($50 each)
Body Armor ($500 each)
Protective Backpacks ($700 each)
WHY DO PROTESTERS NEED PROTECTIVE GEAR?
In the days leading up to November 3rd, protesting is becoming increasingly unsafe for people fighting against racial oppression and police brutality across the country. It is now becoming a necessity for those who engage in protests to have protective gear such as helmets, goggles, masks, shin and arm guards, body armor, and even bullet proof vests, regardless of how peaceful protests are.
The non-lethal bullets police officers have been using at protests are not actually rubber but are metal rounds with a “rubber casing” and have caused serious permanent injury to protesters including concussions, broken bones, and blindness. Worst yet, less lethal rounds can be lethal if shot in the neck, face or head. But as we have seen in the shooting death of David McAtee by National Guardsmen at a protest in Louisville, Kentucky, police are not above using live ammunition on crowds of protesters. Police use of tear gas, pepper balls, sound cannons, and other weapons have also been known to cause serious permanent injuries. In addition, we have just learned that the government was considering using heat rays to disperse protesters this summer . The use of these weapons has not had their intended effect of dissuading people from exercising their right to protest, but the use of these weapons does make the distribution of safety gear among protestors imperative.
Likewise, a growing number of shooting incidents involving white nationalist groups have been cropping up at protests. The Boogaloo groups in particular are specifically interested in inciting armed violence against protesters because they believe doing so will bring about a race war. These are individuals who will use live ammunition and other lethal weapons on protesters, and as we have seen in Kenosha, be fully supported by police officers. As tensions rise and more protesters encounter more of these groups, some of which carry assault rifles and military grade arsenals, having the necessary protective equipment will become a matter of life or death.
Sadly, In light of the death of Oluwatoyin Salau and the assault of Iyanna Dior at a protest this summer, low level self-defense equipment such as pepper spray and stun guns are also important, particularly for women and the LBGTQ+ community so that they can show up to protests safely. The presence of aggressive, predatory, and reactionary actors at these actions require that people are prepared with the necessary self-defense gear.
PLAN FOR DISTRIBUTION
A Black organizer and friend based in Washington, D.C will be distributing these items at protests in Washington, D.C. as well as sharing them with Black organizers in other cities, like Kenosha, WI, Portland, Rochester, NY, Chicago, and NYC to distribute.
CAMPAIGN ORGANIZER'S ACCOUNTABILITY
We will post frequent updates about how the money you contribute is being spent, with photos and receipts, so you can see that your donation is making an immediate difference in the safety of our young , Black leaders in volatile areas around the country. Every cent that you donate, minus credit card processing fees (standard 2%), will go exclusively toward purchasing and distributing protective gear.
IF YOU CAN'T MAKE A DONATION, BUT CARE ABOUT BLACK LIVES AND PROTESTER SAFETY
1. Share this campaign widely on your social media platforms, email it to your radical retired uncle with money to spare, text it to your friends, and use good ol' word of mouth to put the campaign in front of people who can contribute financially (or who can help us spread the word). There are many peoples' lives at stake here, so don't give up on helping just because you are cash-strapped.
2. Join our fund raising team and commit to reaching out to 3 - 5 specific people you think would make a contribution of any amount. Just hit the "Contact" button on the campaign page and send us a message that you'd like to be part of the team, and we'll send you an invitation.
THANK YOU FOR STOPPING BY AND LEARNING ABOUT THIS CAMPAIGN!
Organizer
Mike Ellis
Organizer
Ithaca, NY
