Angst to Action
Work outside of the kneeling.
We’ve…
Sent thousands of letters and posted hundreds of anti-racism lawn signs.
Raised funds to help get Pervis Payne released from prison.
Hosted educational “Salons”.
Supported the creation of the MV_HUB.
Brought youth from Neighborhood First to the Vineyard.
Supported the New Georgia Project.
Organized an Indigenous Awareness Cultural Sensitivity and Competency training with Sassafras Earth Education.
Honored hundreds of Black and Indigenous people some of which are on our YouTube page.
We’re currently working on…
Creating an alternative police response to mental health crisis calls on the island.
Offering a training on how to bail people out of jail.
Bringing Neighborhood First youth the island.
Educational partnerships in the schools and in the community.
Contact us at Hello@MVBLM.org if you’d like to join our efforts. Scroll down for actions you can take.
Listen to it.
In the wake of the George Floyd killing and protests around the world, host Eric Adams began interviewing Martha’s Vineyarders, both year-round and seasonal, black and white, about race. A therapist raised by a white mother and a black father, Mr. Adams draws on his experience with people in recovery to help his guests explore the unique experiences that shaped their lives. Season two released in February 2023. Listen to it.
Sign it!
Sign the petition to charge Amber Gyger, Dallas police officer, for the 2018 murder of Botham Jean.
Sign the Petition to reopen Gugsa Abraham “Abe” Dabela, killed in 2014.
Sign the petition to help bring Pervis Payne home.
Sign the petition to help Steven Barrier’s family and the Connecticut Legal Rights Project, Inc., ensure alternative police response to mental health crisis.
Sign the petition to request DA Rollins reopen the investigation of the murder of Terrence Coleman.
Sign the petition to rename Peter’s Park to Terrance Coleman Park.
Support it.
The Innocence Project and Disrupt Death Row continue to support the Free Pervis Payne movement.
Consider giving to the Lauren Smith-Fields gofundme page and getting updates about the case .
Many people can’t afford to pay their bail and remain incarcerated until trial. People lose their jobs, families are broken up, people are traumatized. Donate to the Massachusetts Bail Fund.
Donate to support the Steven Barrier legal fight.
Find out more about Gugsa Abraham “Abe” Dabela life and case and follow on Instagram. Listen to the “What Matters Most” Albab Dabela podcast by Author Paul Samuel Dolman.
Join it.
Partners for Justice — a vehicle to address inequity and access to justice. Find out more.
Global Citizen — promotes, leads and advances social justice efforts through ongoing civic engagement among diverse groups. Find out more here.
BEAM — a national training, movement building and grant making organization dedicated to the healing, wellness and liberation of Black and marginalized communities. Find out more.
Dream it.
On October 17, 2010, DJ’s life was tragically cut short in New York. In an effort to create something positive through this unthinkable tragedy, the Henry family started the DJ Henry Dream Fund (DJHDF). DJHDF set out to honor DJ’s legacy by helping kids in Massachusetts achieve their dreams.
The vision of the DJ Henry Dream Fund is to share DJ’s love of sports by providing community-based scholarships to Massachusetts children between the ages of 5 to 18.
Call it.
The Black Community Watchline was created to empower individuals to speak out and address instances of anti-Black violence, aggression and bias. The Watchline provides a platform to report immediate threats of racial violence, microaggressions, and racially motivated experiences that undermine the respect, dignity and fair treatment that Black people should receive.