How you can support Black Lives Matter if you’re outside of the US
Since the end of May, the whole world has watched protests against racism gain momentum. What started as an outcry and call for justice for George Floyd has developed into an international wave of protests against police brutality and racism.
During the months of June & July, there were peaceful demonstrations in cities around the world, from Berlin to Tokyo to Melbourne, and hundreds of thousands of people showed up to support the Black Lives Matter movement. As the protests have spread, so has recognition of the fact that racism is a global problem. And it is so deeply ingrained in our society that we often aren’t even aware of it.
We think this is a topic that deserves to be talked about now as much as ever.
The demonstrations have raised awareness and support for an essential cause, and now many people are encouraging US residents to write and call their politicians, sign petitions, and vote. But what can you do if you don’t live in the US?
Here are a few of our suggestions, and some of the steps that Altagram has taken as a company to help address this important issue.
Donate to show your support
Many organizations are fighting to support the rights of the Black community. Here are a few causes you might consider donating to.
US:
Black Lives Matter - Founded in 2013 in response to the acquittal of Trayvon Martin’s murderer. Black Lives Matter Foundation, Inc is a global organization in the US, UK, and Canada, whose mission is to eradicate white supremacy and build local power to intervene in violence inflicted on Black communities by the state and vigilantes.
Reclaim The Block - Reclaim the Block began in 2018 and organizes Minneapolis community and city council members to move money from the police department into other areas of the city’s budget that truly promote community health and safety.
Other organizations that empower Black communities in Minneapolis - A list of other organizations Reclaim The Block recommends you to check out.
The Bail Project - A non-profit organization designed to combat mass incarceration in the US by disrupting the money bail system ‒ one person at a time.
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People - A US organization that supports the Black community in a variety of ways.
Europe:
Citizens For Europe - A civil society organization and social business based in Berlin and working on the local level across Europe to change political and social structures to foster a more inclusive, democratic and participatory society.
ENAR Foundation - An anti-racist foundation in Europe set up by the European Network Against Racism to be the vehicle for the ambitions and projects of anti-racist organisations across Europe, from grass-roots to European level.
Canada:
Black Youth Helpline - A not-for-profit organization resourced to promote access to culturally appropriate supports for youth, families, schools and other youth serving institutions. The organization’s Stay-in-School program and support services is now Canada-wide and focuses on helping youth remain and succeed in schools and in community life.
Black Health Alliance - A community-led charity working at reducing the racial disparities in health outcomes and promote health and well-being for people from the diverse Black communities in Canada with emphasis on the broad determinants of health, including racism.
Sign some of the petitions that are available to non-US residents
Many online petitions require a US postal code, but here are some that you can sign no matter where you live.
US:
Justice For George Floyd - A Change.org petition demanding justice and accountability for George Floyd’s death.
Demand Justice For George Floyd - Follow the state of the official Amnesty International petition for justice for George Floyd.
Other Ways To Help - This site has links to many additional petitions and other websites offering pre-written letters and emails that you can send to support Black Lives Matter. It also has links to a wide variety of donation platforms and other resources.
Canada:
Justice for Regis - A Change.org petition demanding justice and accountability for Regis Korchinski-Paquet’s death.
Justice for Dafonte Miller - A Change.org petition demanding justice for Dafonte Miller, a Black Whitby man who lost his eye in a violent confrontation with an off-duty Toronto police officer and his brother.
Educate Yourself
Learning more about racism and how it affects the Black community and other people of color—both in the US and in other parts of the world—can help you be the change you want to see in the world.
Here are some books and other resources that can help you in your quest for knowledge:
So You Want to Talk About Race - An excellent primer from a US perspective. Ijeoma Oluo explores the complex reality of today's racial landscape—from white privilege and police brutality to systemic discrimination and the Black Lives Matter movement—offering straightforward clarity that readers need to contribute to the dismantling of the racial divide
Racism: A Beginner's Guide - Primer on racism from a non-US focused perspective. Alana Lentin helps you discover racism's roots, its long-lasting impact on society – and why it is here to stay.
Racism and Anti-Racism in Europe - An in-depth sociological study of the phenomenon of anti-racism, as both political discourse and social movement practice in western Europe.
Check out these resources provided by the Council of Europe.
For further reading on US racial politics and anti-racism, this is a great guide.
Here are some resources especially for our readers in Canada:
Federation of Black Canadians - Petitions, educational resources, and donations in favor of Black communities in Canada.
History of Indigenous Residential Schools - The history of the residential school system in Canada and its objective of indoctrinating Aboriginal children into Euro-Canadian and Christian ways of living.
Contact your local Canadian representatives.
Various other resources - Anti-racism initiatives in Canada.
Federation of Black Canadians - Petitions, educational resources, and donations in favor of Black communities in Canada.
History of Indigenous Residential Schools - The history of the residential school system in Canada and its objective of indoctrinating Aboriginal children into Euro-Canadian and Christian ways of living.
Contact your local Canadian representatives.
Various other resources - Anti-racism initiatives in Canada.
And for readers in Korea:
National Human Rights Commission in Korea - A national advocacy institution for human rights protection.
An inspiring picture from the Korean news - The Korean government supported the US embassy in Korea in sharing the spirit of anti-racism with Koreans.
National Human Rights Commission in Korea - A national advocacy institution for human rights protection.
An inspiring picture from the Korean news - The Korean government supported the US embassy in Korea in sharing the spirit of anti-racism with Koreans.
What Altagram is doing to combat racism
First and foremost, Altagram firmly supports diversity and fair hiring practices in our offices—our company has team members from over 18 nationalities. We also like to think that, by helping people around the world play games in their native languages, we encourage diversity in the gaming community and allow games from publishers everywhere to reach an international audience. Communication among different cultures—and the real-life connections that are created this way—builds an important foundation in the fight against prejudice and racism around the world.
In addition, we actively support organizations that are working to combat racism. Both our company and our CEO have donated to several of the organizations listed above, and will continue to do so in the years to come.
Racism is a problem that needs to be addressed from many different angles, and we know that it won’t disappear overnight. It will take long-term work, self-reflection, and a willingness to explore new perspectives and ideas. Nonetheless, it is vital that we do whatever we can.