This episode of The Reality Dysfunction has us talking to Dr. Cirien Saadeh and Cruz Rodriguez, both of them are organizer/activists in Minneapolis, Minnesota. This conversation was recorded on Friday May 28, the day after the Minneapolis Third Police Precinct building was torched by protesters demanding justice on behalf of the murdered George Floyd. 

Floyd was choked to death by Derek Chauvin a Minneapolis police officer with a history of violent behavior toward people of color. In the last few days spontaneous uprisings have occurred in cities across the United States all demanding justice and an end to the murder of black and brown people by the police. 

Below you will find links to a number of organizations that are doing important work on the ground in Minneapolis. Donate if you can. 

*note* do not include “BLM” in your payment note, some are getting blocked. Also many orgs listed below are in immediate need as well, please check out that section.

Immediate Need (updated 5/30 6:00pm) :

• WFPC Direct Action and Rapid Response Spreadsheet (consistently updated, supply drop offs, sign ups, donations, etc.) centralized frontlines fund: https://secure.everyaction.com/fxrNs65SYEiFw59Zegwcnw2?fbclid=IwAR0PYYLjqSscr1uK6dbru074-Tih8tsMlbsKEGDqLJ0A49Cl7oI7BaAlcUQ

• @melly3141 on venmo (on the ground, food and supplies)

• $Isakdouah on cashapp (buying gas masks for protestors) 

• zelle number: 6125989366, $yhaante on cashapp (on the ground, supplies/first aid)

• @cypress-kenney on venmo (warm meals for organizers and frontliners)

Listed on 5/29 (have not been updated of status but most likely still accepting funds)

• @gabisoglam on venmo, $sapphireluxxe on cashapp (Black trans woman in need of funds for medical attention w/out insurance coverage and funds to support a care team sending out supplies and care)

• $notmuna on cashapp, https://www.paypal.me/munaahmed (Black woman protester in need of funds)

Listed on 5/28 (have not been updated of status but most likely still accepting funds)

• $voxpayne on cashapp (on the ground, supplies and hospital bail fund)

• @femmeempowermentproject on venmo (on the ground, supplies/herbal medicine care)

• @cassidyminarik on venmo (on the ground, supplies)

• @miasolange on venmo (on the ground, supplies)

• $CarmenMeans on cashapp (donations for local food bank, also accepting items for donation: https://twitter.com/prozacandblunts/status/1266068258572111876)

• @sonianeculescu (on the ground, funds for unhoused folks) 

Organizations and Groups (consider making monthly donations!!):

• Minnesota Freedom Fund (bail funds): UPDATE 5/29 2:49pm, MFF asking for donations to also be directed to other orgs listed below!! They have received a flood of support, please share the wealth!!! Keep donating here as well!!!

• Reclaim the Block (organizing)

• Black Visions Collective (organizing and mutual aid)

• Northstar Health Collective (medical donation): 

• MN Healing Justice Network / Spiral Collective (long haul care, ongoing trauma response, immediate funds to healers on site at Cup Foods and Moon Palace Medic Relief)

• Unicorn Riot (on the ground independent media)

• Lake St Council (help clean and rebuild lake st. businesses): 

• Women for Political Change Mutual Aid Fund (mutual aid and resource coordination) 

• Women for Political Change Frontline Fund (protestor supplies and redistributed funds to direct protestors) 

• Divine Natural Ancestry (free food for the people, local farm led by Black womxn) 

• Minnesota Youth Collective (organizing and space) 

• Centro de Trabajadores Unidos en La Lucha, CTUL_TC (organizing and space) 

• Twin Cities Recovery Project (Grief and trauma support, long haul care, ongoing trauma response, immediate funds to healers on site at Cup Foods and Moon Palace Medic Relief)

• Twin Cities DSA (groceries for meals for community members) 

Individual Funds: 

• @gabisoglam on venmo, $sapphireluxxe on cashapp (Black trans woman in need of funds for medical attention w/out insurance coverage and funds to support a care team sending out supplies and care)

• $notmuna on cashapp, https://www.paypal.me/munaahmed (Black woman protester in need of funds)

Lawyers:

• BEST # FOR PROTESTORS TO WRITE ON THEIR BODY: 612-444-2654 National Lawyers Guild MN Chapter: https://nlgmn.org/, https://www.facebook.com/nlgminnesota, contact is Michelle Gross  [email protected] 

• Noah M. Johnson “I am willing to give free legal advice to anyone associated with tonight’s protests”: [email protected] , 612-827-6781 (office), 763-213-9068 (cell) 

• T. Zathras “If anyone is in need of legal representation due to their participation in tonight’s protests, DM me. I may not have criminal law experience but I will represent you for free”.: https://twitter.com/TZath/status/1265488843534467080?s=20 

• Criminal and Juvenile Defense Clinic at University of St. Thomas is offering free legal representation, probably will have to leave message but team will respond quickly: 651-962-4960

• Legal Rights Center: 612-337-0030, AFTER HOURS: 612-444-2654 (Nat’l Lawyers Guild)

• Rachel Crane “IMMIGRATION SPECIFIC - Not an attorney, but work with many immigration attorneys. I can put people in touch with attorneys who will do pro bono immigration work for those whose participation in these protests has an impact on immigration status”: 805-815-6209 or [email protected] 

• Martine Law “If any peaceful protestors were wrongfully arrested and need pro bono representation please invite them to call” 612-208-8076

George Floyd Family/Memorial Fund: https://www.gofundme.com/f/georgefloyd

NATIONAL LIST:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1CjZMORRVuv-I-qo4B0YfmOTqIOa3GUS207t5iuLZmyA/edit