In honor of Janisha R. Gabriel, Solidaire’s former communications lead who passed away on September 6, 2020, Solidaire, has moved $2,000,000 to date of the Black Liberation Pooled funds towards urgent and immediate needs of movement leaders facing threats of violence and a heightened risk of danger due to the current political climate in the U.S. We recognize that the movements in defense of Black lives are targets of increased state repression and vigilante violence and cyberattacks and trusted providers of security, legal and protection services should also be bolstered during this period. We commit to ensuring that the leaders and organizers associated with social movements have the resources they need immediately for personal security and protection. We also invite targeted key funders to join us in this effort.
As of January 6, 2021, Solidaire Network is reactivating the Janisha R. Gabriel Movement Protection Fund in response to the increased threats movements for liberation face resulting from white supremacist violence. The tactics utilized by the far-right at the United States Capitol on this day is only one manifestation of their attempt to instill terror. What is not often seen are the ways in which those with the same ideology target, harass and harm Black organizers and activists working towards systemic change and in defense of Black lives.
While we chose to close the fund in December due to decreased requests for urgent protection funding, with today’s events continuing to unfold, we anticipate a need for this fund in the coming days. We are dedicated to our people and are determined to move resources with the same urgency that this moment requires.
The criteria for the Movement Protection Fund are:
– Furtherance of Solidaire’s charitable purposes of serving and protecting social movements and their leaders.
– Funds to be utilized within the next 1-3 months towards the security and protection needs of movement organizations and their leaders.
– Funds to be utilized especially by grassroots organizers and movement organizations within the movement ecosystem targeted by threats and acts of violence and intimidation.
APPLY HERE THROUGH A SECURE APPLICATION
