https://teachingamericanhistory.org/library/document/what-to-the-slave-is-the-fourth-of-july/

basically he (a freed slave) was asked by white abolitionists to give a speech on the 4th of july about independence and such but instead he gave this speech on the july 5th - "I say it with a sad sense of the disparity between us. I am not included within the pale of this glorious anniversary! Your high independence only reveals the immeasurable distance between us. The blessings in which you, this day, rejoice, are not enjoyed in common. — The rich inheritance of justice, liberty, prosperity and independence, bequeathed by your fathers, is shared by you, not by me. The sunlight that brought life and healing to you, has brought stripes and death to me. This Fourth [of] July is yours, not mine. You may rejoice, I must mourn. "

can we embed this video? it's only 6 minutes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HRj35PtXnLs#action=share

and link to EJI report:
https://eji.org/report/reconstruction-in-america/

Register to Vote
Voting is one of the most important things we can do as Americans. We the people get to decide who our representatives are, from local officials to the president of the country. All of these elections are important because these representatives are able to influence each part of our lives, even if we do not see it. You may think your vote will not matter because yours is one amongst millions, but voting is what keeps our democracy alive and causes change. Your vote is your voice, so don’t be afraid to use it!

Support Black-Owned Businesses
Black-owned businesses need our support now more than ever. The current protests in addition to the COVID-19 pandemic has put some businesses in danger, and others out of commission altogether. This is a link to Black-owned businesses that you can support in Seattle, Washington.

Stream to donate
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NCBF
The Northwest Community Bail Fund works in Seattle to help pay bail for prisoners who are not able to make bail themselves. In light of the pandemic, making bail is especially important as social distancing is not possible in jails and therefore puts people at greater risk of infection. Their greater goal is continued de-carceration in Seattle and King County.

NAACP LDF
The NAACP Legal Defense Fund fights to protect legal rights and voters and seeks to create structural change to achieve racial justice and equality. Their work extends from criminal justice and police reform to education to protection of Black communities against COVID-19.

ACLU
The American Civil Liberties Union works to preserve individual rights and liberties guaranteed by the Constitution. Their current projects are defunding the police, ensuring reparations for slavery, and expanding voting access during the COVID-19 pandemic. This particular link is focused on releasing vulnerable populations in prisons, jails, and detention centers to practice social distancing, ensuring access to vote-by-mail, and keeping reproductive health care centers open.

Campaign Zero
Campaign Zero is a campaign associated with Black Lives Matter that focuses on police reform. They have 10 proposals that they want all police departments to adopt in order to prevent police violence. The proposals include policing reform, community involvement, and increased training for police officers. They also recently came out with the 8 Can’t Wait Project (https://8cantwait.org/), which is more fixated on reforming police brutality techniques.

The Marshall Project
Journalism is an essential part of exposing stories, good or bad, that might otherwise be overlooked. The Marshall Project examines the American criminal justice system in particular, remaining open-minded and focused on the facts of the situation. Notable topics they dive in to are the death penalty, immigration, and mental health.

BLM – Seattle-King County
This is the official site for the Black Lives Matter chapter in the Seattle-King County area. BLM Seattle King Country focuses on demolishing anti-black systems and policies. They have created the Seattle Freedom Fund as a means of bailout support, which is currently fully funded. You can use this link to support the chapter’s general fund.

BLM Link
This link will lead to a website that has compiled even more links to organizations, victims/victims’ families, protester support, and black-owned businesses that need your financial support.