Now more than ever is the time to take a bold path.
“Environmental injustice, including the proliferation of climate change, has a disproportionate impact on communities of color and low-income communities in the United States and around the world. Race – even more than class – is the number one indicator for the placement of toxic facilities in this country.” –NAACPWe are in a time of profound transformation. We are suffering through a global pandemic, and fighting for an existential shift to end systemic racism, all while our planet continues to be in peril. At Climate Ride, we are united in this fight for change and we are focused on supporting our beneficiary network struggling to continue its critical work. Racial injustice and environmental justice are inextricably linked and we are all strengthened by the work that so many of our beneficiaries are doing on both of these issues right now! We want to highlight those actions and encourage our amazing network to rise to fundraise and create awareness about the impact of climate change on the same communities that already suffer the most from systemic racism. We’re profiling several beneficiaries who work directly on racial justice in ways that are also focused on the environment. Climate Rise on July 11, 2020 is a chance to take on a challenge and raise funds and awareness for the Climate Ride cause. Get registered at www.climaterise.org.
Rich City Rides
A new beneficiary in 2020, Rich City Rides is a 501c3 organization with a mission in Richmond California “to help create a healthier city. Our programs focus on creating opportunities to improve health and economics by promoting cycling as a social, sustainable and green mode of transportation.” They are hosting local rides for justice and you can check out what they are up to on their Facebook: www.facebook.com/rich.cityrides
350
350.org has been rallying climate activists to join together to confront white supremacy by hosting webinars with black leadership and encouraging their network to join the BLM movement.
From 350: “Climate justice means justice for black lives… As we demand a Just Recovery to build back better after the pandemic, we must reorient our society to tackle the climate crisis, rising inequality, and systemic racism. A Just Recovery is not possible if Black people continue to be targeted and murdered by police and state violence.”
Read more at their blog: 350.org/dismantle-white-supremacy
Chesapeake Climate Action Network
CCAN is actively following black leadership and has adopted a resolution in support of defunding the police with clear mandates: weighing in on local budget hearings and encouraging supporters to do the same, not paying for police services at CCAN events, anti-racism trainings for staff and supporters, and voter registration campaigns that support defunding the police.
More at: chesapeakeclimate.org/defund-the-police
Asian Pacific Environmental Network
APEN has been hitting the streets in support of defunding the police in Oakland and Minneapolis. They are engaging to try and get more money into local needs and standing in solidarity with local black-led organizations like the Anti Police-Terror Project in Oakland
From APEN: “Thanks to decades of organizing by Black leaders and organizations, we are now seeing millions of people taking to the streets to call for justice for the thousands of Black people who have been murdered by police and vigilantes.We have a unique opportunity in this moment to defund the police and reinvest in alternative non-police programs that can better protect and strengthen our communities like free mental health clinics, trained mediators, and social workers who are able to respond to emergencies.”
Check out the Anti Police-Terror Project’s website: www.antipoliceterrorproject.org
