Once again proving themselves to be allies of society’s most vulnerable, Bandcamp has taken action to consolidate the efforts of the Black Lives Matter movement. Having already waived their revenue fees several times this year in aid of independent labels and artists (which then plan to do twice more on this Friday and on the 3rd of July) – effectively raising millions of dollars for working musicians – CEO and co-founder Ethan Diamond announced the online music platform would be doing the same on the 19th of June, with proceeds going to the NAACP Legal Defence Fund.
In a powerful statement posted onto Bandcamp yesterday, Diamond wrote that “The current moment is part of a long-standing, widespread, and entrenched system of structural oppression of people of color”. “Real progress”, he continued “requires a sustained and sincere commitment to political, social, and economic racial justice and change”. With a well-documented history of fighting for the legal rights of African Americans and instigating public education toward America’s institutionalised racism, the NAACP are a more than appropriate recipient of this financial aid.
In addition to a pledge allocating $30,000 every year to organisations “that fight for racial justice and create opportunities for people of color”, the statement detailed that the 19th of June initiative would also be repeated annually. This date, often referred to as ‘Juneteenth’, holds significance as the day of emancipation for the last enslaved African Americans in the Confederacy in 1865, two and a half years after Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation. Unlike the highly contentious Columbus Day, the US does not officially celebrate the 19th of June as a national holiday.
If you yourself want to offer financial support, below is a list of funds you can donate to other than the NAACP Legal Defense Fund. The Minnesota Freedom Fund has advised that they are overwhelmed with donations, and recommended donating to other funds to best help protestors:
– The Atlanta Solidarity Fund is raising bail and bond money for jailed protestors in Atlanta.
– The Black Visions Collective are a black, trans, and queer-led social justice organisation and legal fund based in Minneapolis-St. Paul
– Communities United Against Police Brutality operate a crisis hotline where people can report abuse; offer legal, medical, and psychological resource referrals; and engage in political action against police brutality.
– The Know Your Rights Camp is an organisation founded by Colin Kaepernick that provides education and training in black communities and has set up a legal fund for Minneapolis protestors.
