Taking Action
There are many ways to take action for racial justice. Even something as seemingly small as a hashtag can grow into a global movement for change. Now, in the midst of nationwide movements for racial justice, many organizations are using writing and rhetoric to unite people for the same cause through petitions, training programs, memberships, and community events. Check out some of the organizations below to find out how you can get involved. If you have any organizations, actions, or movements you feel should be included on this page, email us at writingandrhetoricmke@gmail.com, or connect with us on Twitter @writingmke.
ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) of Wisconsin
The ACLU of Wisconsin is a state affiliate of the national ACLU. The ACLU defends the civil rights of all citizens through “public policy analysis, lobbying, and advocacy efforts that advance individual rights in our state and federal legislature.”
Black Lives Matter
Black Lives Matter (BLM) is a global organization “whose mission is to eradicate white supremacy and build local power to intervene in violence inflicted on Black communities by the state and vigilantes. By combating and countering acts of violence, creating space for Black imagination and innovation, and centering Black joy, we are winning immediate improvements in our lives.”
Supporting BLM:
BLOC (Black Leaders Organizing Communities)
BLOC aims to give citizens political power, coordinate political action, and “empower black leaders with the tools, training, and resources needed to organize and guarantee that their issues, concerns, and values are represented at all levels of government.” You can read BLOC’s full agenda here.
Supporting BLOC:
Color of Change
Color of Change leads campaigns that help them accomplish their mission to “challenge injustice, hold corporate and political leaders accountable, commission game-changing research on systems of inequality, and advance solutions for racial justice.
LIT (Leaders Igniting Transformation)
LIT is a grassroots organization led by youth of color here in Milwaukee. According to their website, LIT is “building an organization with a continuously expanding base of young people through both issue-organizing and civic engagement.”
Supporting LIT:
MKE Black
MKE Black houses a directory of local black-owned businesses and provides funding and resources to these businesses.
Supporting MKE Black:
Voces de la Frontera
Voces de la Frontera is “a membership-based community organization led by low-wage workers, immigrants and youth whose mission is to protect and expand civil rights and workers’ rights through leadership development, community organizing, and empowerment.” Voces has also supported the recent BLM protests and movement in Milwaukee.
Supporting Voces de la Frontera:
ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) of Wisconsin
The ACLU of Wisconsin is a state affiliate of the national ACLU. The ACLU defends the civil rights of all citizens through “public policy analysis, lobbying, and advocacy efforts that advance individual rights in our state and federal legislature.”
- Sign the ACLU of Wisconsin’s current petition to make changes to our voting system that will protect the health of citizens during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Donate to the ACLU of Wisconsin here.
- Become a member of the ACLU of Wisconsin here.
Black Lives Matter
Black Lives Matter (BLM) is a global organization “whose mission is to eradicate white supremacy and build local power to intervene in violence inflicted on Black communities by the state and vigilantes. By combating and countering acts of violence, creating space for Black imagination and innovation, and centering Black joy, we are winning immediate improvements in our lives.”
Supporting BLM:
- Find and sign BLM’s active petitions here.
- Donate to BLM here.
- Sign up to receive important updates from BLM on their website’s homepage.
- Shop BLM merchandise here.
BLOC (Black Leaders Organizing Communities)
BLOC aims to give citizens political power, coordinate political action, and “empower black leaders with the tools, training, and resources needed to organize and guarantee that their issues, concerns, and values are represented at all levels of government.” You can read BLOC’s full agenda here.
Supporting BLOC:
- Donate here.
- Sign BLOC’s action pledge “to stand in solidarity with those who are working to bring about justice for people of color in Milwaukee.”
- Follow BLOC on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for important updates. BLOC frequently holds Facebook Live Town Halls in which participants can speak with candidates for office in the city of Milwaukee and Wisconsin at large.
- Buy a shirt to further support the Black Lives Matter Movement here in Milwaukee. All of the proceeds will be donated to BLOC.
- Take part in BLOC’s silent canvassing program.
Color of Change
Color of Change leads campaigns that help them accomplish their mission to “challenge injustice, hold corporate and political leaders accountable, commission game-changing research on systems of inequality, and advance solutions for racial justice.
- Find Color of Change’s active campaigns, and find out how you can get involved here.
- Donate to Color of Change here.
LIT (Leaders Igniting Transformation)
LIT is a grassroots organization led by youth of color here in Milwaukee. According to their website, LIT is “building an organization with a continuously expanding base of young people through both issue-organizing and civic engagement.”
Supporting LIT:
- Donate here.
- Follow LIT on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for updates on events, programs, and calls to action.
- Register for Black Hogwarts: Digital Action, Organizing, and Training, LIT’s leadership development program “to help expand and continue our work of political education for high school students, college students, creatives, and other young individuals.” The program is traditionally in-person, but has moved to a digital platform due to COVID-19. This training is free, but registration is required.
MKE Black
MKE Black houses a directory of local black-owned businesses and provides funding and resources to these businesses.
Supporting MKE Black:
- Explore the directory and find restaurants, shops, artists, and more to support. Just be sure to contact businesses before visiting—many have changed or reduced hours due to COVID-19.
- Donate here to help black-owned businesses in Milwaukee with things like startup costs, events, marketing, and more.
- Download MKE Black’s app, which features a lite version of the business directory. The app updates every Wednesday.
- Sign up for MKE Black’s monthly newsletter for updates and news. You can find the signup link of MKE Black’s website homepage.
- Explore the organization’s blog, which features business spotlights.
- Follow MKE Black on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
Voces de la Frontera
Voces de la Frontera is “a membership-based community organization led by low-wage workers, immigrants and youth whose mission is to protect and expand civil rights and workers’ rights through leadership development, community organizing, and empowerment.” Voces has also supported the recent BLM protests and movement in Milwaukee.
Supporting Voces de la Frontera:
- Visit their main page to find out more about this organization.
- Get involved as a volunteer
- Donate here
- Take part in their campaigns for social justice here
- You can also support YES: Youth Empowered in the Struggle, the youth-led group of Voces de la Frontera by following them on Facebook and Twitter.