Black Lives Matter — Statement from Code for All

Words by Code for All • Jun 15 2020

We stand against police brutality, white supremacy, and racism. We believe governments and technology should work for everyone, not just the privileged.

Note: The statement will be continuously updated with resources shared by the BIPOC community to spread awareness around our community.

Dear Code for All Community,

We at Code for All are deeply outraged and saddened by the recent murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, Collins Khosa, Petrus Miggles, and countless others who have been killed in acts of police brutality within the United States and around the world.

White supremacy and police brutality are not new, nor are any of the rooted racist practices our institutions engage in worldwide. Racism is a problem that is prevalent in all societies. Opportunities are unequally portioned. Punishment is unequally administered. Inequity for BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) is baked into our systems, policies and laws.

Technology has allowed us to make the depths of racism visible within our institutions and our lives, but that racism has always been there. It is a shapeshifter; it comes in many different forms, and the form at any given time is dictated by privilege, class, and economics.

There is a lack of recognition by government institutions on how BIPOC suffer due to discrimination on a daily basis. It’s not only about deaths and normalized violence, it’s about the oppression, lack of opportunities and social mobility, the day-to-day police harassment and brutality, the stereotyping of BIPOC. It’s also in the lack of will by decision makers to question the current landscape and accept what we are seeing as a fact: our social, political, economic and cultural systems, policies and laws are built upon white supremacy and the constant exploitation of BIPOC.

We stand with protestors and organizations stepping up across the globe to speak out against systemic racism. We stand against white supremacy, racism, and violence against BIPOC in all its forms. As a global civic tech network, we promote diversity and inclusion in our communities and value democratic institutions that provide equal platforms in the digital and non-digital space for all, citizens and non-citizens alike. Governments and technology should work for everyone, not just the privileged. It is on all of us to fix these systems.

We believe challenging and deconstructing systems built upon white supremacy and racism is central to our work, and we have a role to play in the civic tech ecosystem to model opposition to systemic racism through principles of democracy, government transparency, technology and design.

We must also challenge and deconstruct internalized racism within ourselves. This is ongoing and personal work that white and privileged folks — who benefit every day from systems of oppression — must take on and hold each other accountable to.

We know that many of you are not in the United States and that this issue may be touching you in different ways. As a network, we are open to discussion and feedback on how the civic tech community can contribute to this and other causes promoting equity for BIPOC and other communities forced into the margins. We hope to learn more from and about your perspectives. Thank you for listening to ours.

We enter this conversation with humility, knowing that our work has not been and will not be perfect, but that it is nevertheless our responsibility to step up. We recognize that statements of solidarity from organizations should come with commitments to anti-racist work.

What actions can you take to be an ally? Black liberation is required for collective liberation. Here are some ways you can take action:

Note: we’d love to continue adding to this list of resources so that it is representative of different circumstances and contexts around the world. Please share any resources with us that you think should be added to this list.

Educate yourself

Code for America DEI committee | Anti-racism, accountability, and support resources

Scaffolded Anti-Racist Resources

Anti-racism resources for non-BIPOC (good in general for anyone wanting to learn more)

10 Books about Race to Read

Actions for racial justice

Essential reading and research on race and technology

Financial literacy in the Black community

Ways to invest in the Black community

Support Black-Owned Businesses: 450+ Places to Start Online

Get Involved

We recommend that you look locally in your country or city for organizations that focus on the visibility and equality of BIPOC. Each country has a different history of racism and oppression, it’s important to recognize the actors who are fighting this battle in our individual contexts.

Black Lives Matter: How the Tech Community can provide support

Donate or Fundraise

Donate to Black Lives Matter

Take care of yourself

Mental health resources for BIPOC

Black Virtual Therapist Network

Addiction in the BIPOC Community: Everything You Need to Know

Centric Behavioral Health: Substance use and mental health resources for all, including a great guide for LGBTQ Asian Americans

Live Another Day: Live Another Day believes in equal access to life-saving mental health and substance use resources. This website provides extensive information on the best resources available

Louisville Addiction Center: An excellent resource that features abundant information for BIPOC Parents

Eye Disease in Black & African American Communities. Check NVISION’s resources to spread awareness about common eye diseases in the African American community.

If you want to provide feedback to the Network or have any ideas to discuss, you can contact us at contact@codeforall.org or reach out to us on the Code for All Slack.

We thank Code for America, and Black Lives Matter activists for sharing these resources. This compilation is not a definitive list but is meant to be a starting point to find different ways to take action.

Please take care, and we hope you stay safe and healthy,

Code for Japan ????????

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Civic Tech Sweden ????????

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Code for America ????????

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ePaństwo Foundation / Code for Poland ????????

Waag ????????

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