A Message about Racial Justice

Dear TNB community,

On behalf of the Arlington Teen Network Board, we stand in solidarity with the #BlackLivesMatter movement. We are disheartened over the senseless murder of George Floyd and acknowledge the privilege we have to enact change in our community. As the youth voice in Arlington we cannot stay complacent in times of injustice. We are hopeful that by harnessing our collective power we can start to make a change in our community and beyond. We have gathered resources to amplify and support the cause:

Remote Activism

• Text “JUSTICE” to 668366 to sign MoveOn’s petition for George Floyd
• Learn about Defund the Police and other Black Lives Matter initiatives
• Mandatory Life Sentence for Police Brutality – Change.org 
• Sign Tallahassee Dream Defenders’ Petition for Tony McDade
• Sign Color of Change’s Petition for George Floyd – MORE THAN 4 MILLION have signed
• Text “ENOUGH” to 55156 to sign this petition to demand justice for Breonna Taylor
• Hands Up Act to punish police for shooting unarmed citizens 2.7 millions signatures
• Justice for Belly Mujina
• Justice for Joao Pedro
• Sign the Movement for Black Lives petition to push elected officials to fight against militarization in communities of color
• Use this template to contact your representative and push them to change police training to decrease police brutality
• Tweet at Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey

Mental Health Resources

• Therapy resources for people of color
• SAMHSA Hotline- 800-662-4357
• National Suicide Prevention Help Line- 800-273-8255
• Trevor Hotline (LGBTQ Youth help line)- +1-866-488-7386

Protest Resources

• Know Your Rights (https://www.aclu.org/know-your-rights/protesters-rights/)
• Security Awareness Tips ( https://www.aus.com/security-awareness-tips)
• The Right To Protest https://right-to-protest.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/right-to-protest-for-web.pdf)
• In Case Things Go Wrong (https://right-to-protest.org/protect-your-protest/at-the-protest/be-prepared-in-case-things-go-wrong/)
• How To Prepare (https://www.itspronouncedmetrosexual.com/2017/01/a-few-small-tips-for-attending-your-first-protest-march/ )
• Protests Rundown (https://www.colorlines.com/articles/how-prepare-yourself-protest-and-what-do-if-you-end-cuffs)
• Find A Protest (https://mashable.com/article/how-to-find-george-floyd-protests-near-me/)
• DC’s Curfew Law (https://mpdc.dc.gov/page/dcs-curfew-law-know-facts)

Links are provided by TNB members to help Arlington youth find meaningful ways to help.
Arlington County website links to resources outside Arlington County Government. Links are selected to complement and extend services and information provided on the website. Priority is given first to services in Arlington and then to those available in the region. The presence of these links does not imply, and should not be interpreted as endorsement, sanction, approval or authorization of these sites or their content. Arlington County Government makes no guarantee or warranty, expressed or implied, concerning the content or accuracy of any material on any external website links.