IMAGE: ZACH GIBSON/AFP/GETTY IMAGES
As a storyteller, I have always loved finding the right words to describe a moment. But last weekend’s events in Charlottesville, Virginia, left me speechless.
This was an ugly act of hate, a moment both heartbreaking and enraging, and a painful reminder of the current reality in our country.
And there is no longer space for neutrality or silence.
That’s why I have compiled a list of resources below from social media and my community that I hope will help spark conversation, serve as a guide for taking action, and encourage you to continue to seek out resources beyond this list.
In solidarity,
Jess
When we know better, we do better. Take a minute to educate yourself on this weekend’s events:
A breakdown of everything that has happened in Charlottesville in the last 3 days, via Buzzfeed
Some Background on Those Violent White Supremacist ‘Unite the Right’ Actions in Charlottesville, via Colorlines
Male Terrorists Are an Issue We Should Discuss, via Teen Vogue
What’s next? Here are some immediate next steps for taking action and showing solidarity:
Find a protest TODAY in your area
Support black students returning to UVA next week
Donate to the Charlottesville Black Lives Matter chapter
Tips to fight racism every day, via Refinery29
Find an event in your area and stand in solidarity with Charlottesville, via Indivisible
Tell news media to stop doing PR for white nationalists in Charlottesville, via Color of Change
Remember Charlottesville victim, Heather Heyer, with words from her mother, via HuffPo
Here is some food for thought on allyship. We cannot stay silent any longer:
The Scientific Case that America is Becoming More Prejudiced, via Vox
After Charlottesville, White People Cannot Avoid Conversations About White Supremacy, via Mic
White Women, Stop Pretending We Don’t Benefit From White Supremacy, via Allure
Did I miss any important resources? Please reach out to me on social media so I can continue to learn and share tools with my community.