"The Equal Justice Initiative is committed to ending mass incarceration and excessive punishment in the United States, to challenging racial and economic injustice, and to protecting basic human rights for the most vulnerable people in American society." (Equal Justice Initiative--official website)
"We have a right to protest for what is right. That’s all we can do. There are people hurting, there are people suffering, so we have an obligation, a mandate, to do something."
(Spoken by Congressman John Lewis to House Democrats in June 2016)
The First Amendment protects your right to assemble and express your views through protest. However, police and other government officials are allowed to place certain narrow restrictions on the exercise of speech rights. Make sure you’re prepared by brushing up on your rights before heading out into the streets.
WIRED magazine provides suggestions on how to best protect your digital privacy while protesting.
Includes a list of things to bring, how to dress, what to leave home, and how to protect yourself at the event
Nationwide list of organizations with funds to get protestors out of jail.
(downloadable PDF) Amnesty International provides 50 ideas for creative action with powerful impact.
The 1619 Project is an ongoing initiative from The New York Times Magazine that began in August 2019, the 400th anniversary of the beginning of American slavery. It aims to reframe the country’s history by placing the consequences of slavery and the contributions of black Americans at the very center of our national narrative.
Promotes the development of sound, creative policies for Americans 50 and over to address the need for economic security, health care, and quality of life. Researches and publishes reports on issues such as Social Security, Medicare, health costs, consumer fraud, caregiving, and aging in your community.
The ACLU Racial Justice Program aims to preserve and extend constitutionally guaranteed rights to people who have historically been denied their rights on the basis of race.
Promotes and protects the human rights of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and actively supports their full inclusion and participation in the community throughout their lifetimes.
#BlackLivesMatter was founded in 2013 in response to the acquittal of Trayvon Martin’s murderer. Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation, Inc. is a global organization in the US, UK, and Canada, whose mission is to eradicate white supremacy and build local power to intervene in violence inflicted on Black communities by the state and vigilantes.
Campaign Zero encourages policymakers to focus on solutions with the strongest evidence of effectiveness at reducing police violence. The organization provides analysis of policing practices across the country, research to identify effective solutions to end police violence, technical assistance to organizers leading police accountability campaigns and the development of model legislation and advocacy to end police violence nationwide.
A multi-racial, grassroots organization building community leadership to achieve justice for low-income San Francisco and Oakland residents. With offices in East and West Oakland and in San Francisco’s Mission and Bayview neighborhoods, CJJC builds grassroots power and leadership to create strong, equitable communities through rights-based services, policy campaigns, civic engagement, and direct action.
Bringing together researchers and practitioners from various disciplines to figure out novel and practical ways to understand, explain, and solve seemingly intractable problems of racial inequity and injustice.
Color of Change leads campaigns that build real power for Black communities. The organziation challenges injustice, holds corporate and political leaders accountable, commissiosn game-changing research on systems of inequality, and advances solutions for racial justice that can transform our world.
The mission of CBE is to build people’s power in California’s communities of color and low income communities to achieve environmental health and justice by preventing and reducing pollution and building green, healthy and sustainable communities and environments.
CBE provides residents in heavily polluted urban communities in California with organizing skills, leadership training and legal, scientific and technical assistance, so that they can successfully confront threats to their health and well-being.
Working to abolish the prison industrial complex. Has an office in Oakland. Areas of interest: political education, prisoner solidarity, fighting imprisonment, resisting policing.
Founded in 1989 by Bryan Stevenson, a widely acclaimed public interest lawyer and bestselling author of Just Mercy, EJI is a private, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides legal representation to people who have been illegally convicted, unfairly sentenced, or abused in state jails and prisons.
Develops innovative strategies to prevent domestic, dating, and sexual violence, stalking, and child abuse. Has an office in San Francisco.
Works to ensure that LGBTQ students are able to learn and grow in a school environment free from bullying and harassment. Conducts research to inform their evidence-based solutions for K-12 education. Writes developmentally appropriate resources for educators to use. Works on policies designed to protect LGBTQ students as well as students of marginalized identities. Its more than 1.5 million members include students, families, educators, and education advocates.
Works to ensure that all LGBTQ+ people, and particularly those of us who are trans, people of color and HIV+, are treated as full and equal citizens across our country and around the world.
Works to free the innocent, prevent wrongful convictions, and create fair, compassionate, and equitable systems of justice for everyone.
Works to eliminate housing discrimination and ensure equitable housing opportunities for all people and communities through its education and outreach, member services, public policy, advocacy, housing and community development, tech equity, enforcement, and consulting and compliance programs. Issues: redlining, appraisal bias, responsible advertising, access to credit, Redfin investigation.
Dedicated to protecting and promoting the rights of low income immigrants and their family members. Issues of interest: DACA, health care, workers' rights, education, driver's licenses, and more.
An organization of lawyers, law students, legal workers, advocates, and jailhouse lawyers working to defend and extend the rights of all noncitizens in the United States, regardless of immigration status. They offer legal advocacy on behalf of immigrants. They also provide technical assistance, training, and support to legal practitioners, community-based immigrant organizations, and advocates working to advance the rights of noncitizens.
Based in the Bay area. Works to address the structural inequalities embedded in the industrialized food system. Has built over 550 edible permaculture gardens in the San Francisco Bay Area, worked with five high-schools to develop food justice curricula and created over 40 green jobs in the food justice movement for people transitioning from prison.
The SPLC is a catalyst for racial justice in the South and beyond, working in partnership with communities to dismantle white supremacy, strengthen inter-sectional movements, and advance the human rights of all people. The SPLC's Intelligence Project is internationally known for tracking and exposing the activities of hate groups and other domestic extremists. The Learning for Justice program provides free resources to create civil and inclusive school communities where children and youth are respected, valued and welcome participants.
In response to the alarming escalation in xenophobia and bigotry resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, AAPI Equity Alliance (AAPI Equity), Chinese for Affirmative Action (CAA), and the Asian American Studies Department of San Francisco State University launched the Stop AAPI Hate coalition to track and respond to incidents of hate, violence, harassment, discrimination, shunning, and child bullying against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the United States.
Changes law, policy, and attitudes so that all people can live safely, authentically, and free from discrimination regardless of their gender identity or expression. Grounded in legal expertise and committed to racial justice.
Based in San Francisco. Builds supportive learning communities in English, Spanish, and Cantonese, for people of all ages, genders, and races. They work with communities who have been systematically denied access to resources to remove barriers and create pathways to health and economic equity through garden-based education and experiences.