Resources and Fundraisers: January 2021

Meet the Organizers Offering Self-Defense Tools and Training to the Trans Community (them., Eva Reign)

Interview with leaders from the Chicago-based collectives THORN and Molasses.

Despite 2020 being one of the deadliest years on record for Black trans people, hardly enough attention has been given to one of the most direct means of curbing this epidemic: self-defense. Of course, turning the tide of this ongoing calamity will require undoing societal structures that put our community in harm’s way, such as housing insecurity, employment discrimination, and transmisogynoir. Still, we must ask: What can be done in the meantime? What happens when laws aren’t enough? How can Black trans people protect ourselves while society gets its act together? And how can cis allies lend a helping hand?

For Chicago-based groups like Molasses and THORN, the answer is through a combination of mutual aid and making sure our community members have the tools and the skills to protect ourselves. “We don’t support propaganda or rhetoric surrounding a nonviolent, peaceful, or passive approach when people’s lives are being threatened,” says Onyx, one of the founders of the Molasses collective. “We support [trans] folks fighting back and defending themselves.”

THORN was born this past August as a response to the ongoing violence against Chicago’s Black trans community. The organization provides free tools, from stun guns to pocket knives to pepper spray, for Black and Brown trans people in need.

@themahoganyprojectinc (Linktr.ee)

Readings, resources for Black trans folks seeking aid (including self-defense tools), and places for allies to donate.

THREAD: Links to articles about the opening hearing of the Int’l Commission of Inquiry on Systemic Racist Police Violence Against People of African Descent in the US.

Read about the opening hearing of the Int'l Commission of Inquiry on Systemic Racist Police Violence Against People of African Descent in the US, convened by @NCBLawyers, @IADLLaw, & NLG via @NLGIC: https://t.co/9Yp2yLkSqU

H/T: @marjoriecohn @truthout

— National Lawyers Guild (@NLGnews) January 21, 2021

TWEET: How to use ResistBot to sign a petition demanding the closure of ICE interment camps.

Ok friends. We took a day off for inauguration but now it's back to work. Today we're working on closing the camps. I've done the hard part. Text SIGN PLTDJP to Resistbot at 50409 to send this to your congresscritters. pic.twitter.com/SSfVHguY5C

— 🚩Shepherd🏴 (@NeolithicSheep) January 21, 2021

TWEET: Link to interactive map showing locations of abolitionist groups across the US.

Are you looking for opportunities to get involved with abolitionist efforts in your community? Explore our new Abolitionist Map! #Abolition #AbolitionistMap

The map: https://t.co/5mUN2XWmsW pic.twitter.com/Gqe6hcbPNi

— The Digital Abolitionist (@TDAbolitionist) October 18, 2020

TWEET: Downloadable zine with readings and theory about the DefundThePolice movement’s next steps.

One thing is clear as we move through each more devastating phase of the pandemic, a looming eviction crisis, record unemployment, and food & housing insecurity. The demand is still #DefundThePolice. https://t.co/ppnvtG9AiC — by @dreanyc123 / designed by @danbeeyaaaa pic.twitter.com/DcF4iPuIv5

— Interrupting Criminalization (@interruptcrim) January 21, 2021

TWEET: Zine compiling online safety tools for sex workers.

BLOCKED: A sex worker's guide to combatting stalking and harassment

SWARM have produced a new zine – a 34 page pdf on digital security, setting boundaries, legal definitions & where you can turn to for help.

If you're a SW, please email [email protected] for a copy pic.twitter.com/92JLxlphqr

— SWARM (@SexWorkHive) January 22, 2021