Protesting can manifest in a multitude of ways, including—but not limited to—joining your community in symbolic locations, signing petitions and sending emails, and sharing information with your digital followers. One of the most critical manners of demonstrating support is to donate directly to organizations.
Artist and St. Pete resident Pamela Bulu (@pbulu.art) is hosting an art giveaway to encourage donations to the Minnesota Freedom Fund and other bail funds which aid community organizers. Every $10 donated to MFF or other anti-racism organizations counts as one entry ($100 gets you10 entries). Artists across all mediums contributed, and Bulu will randomly draw two winners on June 19 to receive art baskets.
Gathering art for a giveaway is how Bulu can most safely show support amidst coronavirus; she can’t risk her family’s health by physically protesting—because, yes, showing up for Black lives is important, even during a global fucking pandemic—so she’s turning to the bonding power of art to take part in the movement. Artists donate their work (like Stephanie Agudelo's photo of Philip Rankin, above)
, people donate their money, and a cycle of support sends ripples through communities around the country.
Another artist, Megan Freeman (@megantheefreeman), is also reinforcing community through art. If you DM her a receipt of donation to an organization that supports the welfare of Black citizens, she’ll send you a print that reads NO JUSTICE, NO PEACE.
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This article appears in Jun 11-17, 2020.