We at Free Press are reeling from the White supremacist terror that took place in Charlottesville on Friday and Saturday. We’re committed to centering racial justice within the work we do in the world of media and technology and we can’t sit by in silence while White nationalists, neo-Nazis, the KKK and the Trump administration terrorize communities of color, Muslims, immigrants, the LGBT community, Jewish people and people with disabilities.

We all have a role to play in dismantling White supremacy and this weekend’s events are a call to action.

In light of these events, Free Press will be pressuring the media to do a better job reporting on what happened in Charlottesville and on White supremacist movements in general. We need journalists to call out these acts of violence for what they are: terrorism perpetrated by White supremacists who have united under the umbrella of the so-called alt-right.

And we will center the stories of people of color and other marginalized communities within our work. We need an open internet so that vulnerable communities can continue to pick up where the mainstream media have failed, tell their own stories, and organize against White supremacy and other forms of oppression.

Now is the time to take action: A number of vigils and protests are taking place in the coming days — find one near you.

On Monday night, the Movement for Black Lives and partners across the movement for justice held a national planning call in response to Charlottesville. You can listen to a recording in English here and in Spanish here.

Here are some asks that emerged from that discussion:

• Sign up at Beyond the Moment to join the fight for freedom, justice and equality. You’ll learn about actions you can take in the coming weeks and months.
• The Charlottesville chapter of Black Lives Matter is relatively new and small but is doing a lot of great work to challenge racism in the community. Donate to support the group’s efforts here. Donations will be used to subsidize ongoing mental-health and trauma counseling for local organizers and victims of this weekend’s violence.
• The Monument Fund, Sons of Confederate Veterans and others are suing to reverse the Charlottesville City Council’s decision to remove the statue of Robert E. Lee. Put pressure on Judge Richard Moore of the Charlottesville Circuit Court to dismiss the case.
• Mayor Mike Signer and Councilwoman Kathy Galvin both voted against removing the statue. Urge them to change their votes.
• Call on the University of Virginia to denounce White-supremacist alumni Richard Spencer and Jason Kessler, revoke their diplomas and bar them from campus. Spencer and Kessler were among the rally’s leaders.
• The Cambridge chapter of Black Lives Matter is organizing the counter-protest happening on Sat., Aug. 19, in response to an expected White-supremacist rally on the Boston Common. Sign up to participate here and donate to support the organizing here.
• If you live in a community with a Confederate statue or other racist symbol, organize an action for Saturday to call for the structure’s removal.
• If your lawmaker has harmed people of color — either via actions or racist statements — hold a protest on Saturday in response. This can happen in person or via social media.

Image courtesy of Black Lives Matter Charlottesville