All Lives Don't Matter Until #BlackLivesMatter

UPDATE: Hi my sweet pen friends! Please visit this website for more black-owned businesses you can support - ​https://www.websiteplanet.com/blog/support-black-owned-businesses/. Many thanks to Amelia for taking the time to share this with me so that I could in turn share it with all of you!

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Hey pen friends,

I hope you're all doing well and taking care. Today's post is a little different than what I normally share here, but its importance cannot be denied. What with this recent pandemic, you would think that this would be the time for the world to come together, to stand united, and to demonstrate the utmost care and compassion. It truly breaks my heart to see that we have done the complete opposite. 
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I have cried a lot these past few weeks. For personal reasons. And for where I see our world is headed. As I write this post, I have hot tears streaming down my face. And they just won't stop.

I pray that if you are taking action during this time by participating in a protest or other-like event, that you do so in a safe and peaceful manner. Yes, we are angry. Yes, we feel incredibly pained by these injustices. But please remember, we have never solved hate with more hate and hurt with more hurt. There are officers and military personnel who do believe Black Lives Matter and have families that want them to come home safely too. 

If you are unable to attend these events, please consider supporting these #BlackLivesMatter petitions and organizations. This list was thoughtfully compiled by Seo, also known as tbhstudying on YouTube.

♡ black lives matter
♡ reclaim the block
♡ aclu
♡ justice for george floyd petition
♡ petition for national action against police brutality
♡ twitter thread of what to do if you can't donate (by traderjosephina on twitter)
♡ 10 steps to non-optical allyship (by mireille c harper)
♡ an anti-racist reading list (by ibram x kendi)
♡ black history reading list (by brea baker)
♡ why you should stop saying "all lives matter"


If you are able to make a donation, please consider donating to:
♡ george floyd memorial fund
♡ ahmaud arbery fund
♡ national bail fund network
♡ unicorn riot fund
​♡ twitter thread of black-owned small businesses to support (by hopewrlds)


Additionally,
♡ 20+ allyship actions for asians (by michelle kim)
​♡ 30+ ways asians perpetuate anti-black racism (by michelle kim)


My heart goes out to all of you. Please be safe and take care.


xo,
Dev