George Floyd’s death on May 25th was not new to the long history of police brutality disproportionate to Black people and communities of color. The ability to record video and share it broadly on social media allowed the world to witness the cruelty and disregard for human life that plays out so frequently but often times goes undocumented. It was the final straw to break in a long series of police violence and hate crime against black lives.
We have made a strong call for our military and National Guard to #StanddownForBlackLives
Since then we are receiving calls from service members looking for options, resources, advice and encouragement to deny orders to mobilize against their own communities. We are in the early stages of organizing peer support advocates and trying to build out our network of educators.
Read the Open Letter from Veterans to Recently Activated National Guard Troops
Join the Movement: Movement for Black Lives
Toolkits & Action Guides
- Movement For Black Lives Defund the Police
- Resources and Flyers on Truth in Recruiting
- TROOPS: Stand Down for Black Lives Shareable Resources (Printable fliers, posters, graphics & more from About Face: Veterans Against War)
- Vets for the People x BLM Action Guide from Vets For the People
- Civilian Ally: A Guide to Organizing with veterans and service members (from Civilian-Solider Alliance, Iraq Veterans Against the War and War Resisters League)
- Tips on Talking to the National Guard (From GI Rights Hotline, About Face and War Resisters League)
- The Guide for COs in the Military (From Center on Conscience and War)
- Calling People in About "Violence" (From Standing Up for Racial Justice)
- Defund the Police (Guide from SURJ)
- Defund Police, Rebuild Our Communities (From Dream Defenders)
Articles & Podcasts
- Trump Wanted to Send in the Troops. Now Some Are Ready to Quit
- As Trump Threatens to Send Military Into Cities, Some GIs Refuse to Comply
- Defunding Police: What It Takes to End Police Violence
- FAQs for a Police-Free Future from MPD 150 (and you can look at the resources tab on their website for more to read!)
- Monique Salhab, a veteran and a member of Veterans For Peace, tells us how militarized policing has changed the country and what it means for citizens and protesters. Listen here.