A Message from the Student Association of Berkeley Law Co-Presidents
To: All Students
Date: May 30, 2020
It is difficult to gather words to express the grief that we feel because it is so personal to us. We mourn the Black lives that have been wrongly taken. We are upset. We are enraged. We are hurt.
We know that our Black peers are doing what they can, but it is unfair to ask Black folk and people of color to be the only ones to carry the burden of pushing for change. Realize that not doing anything is a choice and it is the wrong one.
As law students, we have the opportunity to go forward in the world and make real change. People look at lawyers as leaders and it is never too early to start acting like one. If you are looking for opportunities to help, the links to donate money are below, but there is much more you can do. Take some time to question your own privilege, reflect on the way you perpetuate White supremacy, openly question others who devalue Black lives, call out friends/family/co-workers for anything they do that is anti-black, and educate yourself on these issues if you haven’t already. In the midst of this pandemic, it can be overwhelming but we implore you to volunteer time where you can.
To our Black community: We see you. We hear you. We feel your pain.
Seeing all of this can be traumatic. It is okay to take some time for yourself. We must check in on each other. Let us lift each other up and stand behind one another. We have included links to mental health resources below as well.
This is not the time to be complacent. Speak up. Say their names.
In Respect and Solidarity,
Tiara Brown and Ray Durham
Places to donate
Minnesota Freedom Fund:
https://minnesotafreedomfund.org/donate
Minnesota ACLU:
https://aclu-mn.org/en/donate
George Floyd’s family gofundme:
https://gofundme.com/f/georgefloyd
Gofundme for Ahmaud Arbery:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/i-run-with-maud?utm_source=customer&utm_medium=copy_link-tip&utm_campaign=p_cp+share-sheet
Breonna Taylor
https://www.standwithbre.com/
Louisville Bail Fund
https://actionnetwork.org/fundraising/louisville-community-bail-fund/
Black Lives Matter Donation Link
https://secure.actblue.com/donate/ms_blm_homepage_2019
Black Visions Collective – Minnesota
https://secure.everyaction.com/4omQDAR0oUiUagTu0EG-Ig2
Reclaim the Block
https://www.reclaimtheblock.org/
Mental Health Resources
University Health Services (UHS) are available virtually either by phone or video appointments for counseling and for urgent concerns:
https://uhs.berkeley.edu/caps or (510) 642-9494 (after-hours counseling line (855) 817-5667).
National Alliance on Mental Illness
https://www.nami.org/Support-Education/Diverse-Communities/African-American-Mental-Health
Alameda County: Black Mental Health Resources for #BlackHistoryMonth
http://www.everyonecountscampaign.org/black-mental-health-resources-blackhistorymonth