#BLACKLIVESMATTER
The Griffin Theatre stands with the protestors, artists and activists fighting the systemic racism and inequality that plagues our country. We mourn the tragic murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and too many others. Although we are unable to produce theatre in the current moment, we are here, listening and learning. Black lives matter.
Groups to support and follow for information on the protests and on seeking justice.
CHICAGO/ILLINOIS ORGANIZATIONS:
Assata’s Daughters
is a Black-woman led organization that organizes young Black people in Chicago by providing them with political education, leadership development, mentorship, and revolutionary services.
https://www.assatasdaughters.org
Black Lives Matter Chicago Chapter
works to end state violence and criminalization of Black communities by deconstructing white supremacist, capitalist, patriarchy. https://www.blacklivesmatterchicago.com
Brave Space Alliance
performs social activism against discrimination, racism, and bigotry against queer people of color. It provides resources to marginalized communities including a food pantry. https://www.bravespacealliance.org
Chicago Alliance Against Racist & Political Repression
is a local chapter of the National Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression. This group addresses and fights against discrimination based on race and religion. https://www.caarpr.org
Chicago Community Bond Fund
raises money for bail for those arrested in the protests who cannot afford it. https://chicagobond.org
Chicago COVID-19 Hardship and Help
organizes mutual-aid to families that are hard hit by the virus. Families make requests to the organization. Volunteers fulfill those requests.https://transformativespaces.org
My Block, My Hood, My City
funds and organizes efforts to repair small businesses. It also provides aid to seniors for COVID-19. https://www.formyblock.org
Imagine Englewood
works to strengthen and empower the Greater Englewood community through teaching local youth and their families healthy living, environmental awareness, and positive communication skills. https://www.imagineenglewoodif.org They are also using funds for neighborhood clean-ups.
SOUL (Southsiders Organized for Liberty and Unification)
seeks to empower and support low income residents on the South Side. Currently, they are arguing for the release of arrested protestors and putting them in touch with legal services while spreading information about demonstrations/protests. http://www.soulinchicago.org
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS:
Black Youth Project 100
is a grassroots organization building a network focused on transformative leadership development, direct action organizing, advocacy, and education. Our membership core believes in the principles of decision-making, radical inclusivity, and is building a Black politic through a Black, queer, feminist lens. https://www.byp100.org
Color of Change
is an online organization that develops campaigns to challenge injustice, hold corporate and political leaders accountable, commission game-changing research on systems of inequality, and advance solutions for racial justice that can transform our world. https://colorofchange.org
Dignity and Power Now
is a grassroots organization grounded in the principles of abolition, healing justice, and transformative justice. Dignity and Power Now has multiple programs centered around activism, health and wellness, and leadership building. http://dignityandpowernow.org
Campaign Zero
supports the analysis of policing practices across the country, research to identify effective solutions to end police violence, technical assistance to organizers leading police accountability campaigns and the development of model legislation and advocacy to end police violence nationwide. https://www.joincampaignzero.org