【Hong Kong Archives】

The Hong Kong Archives"Unite the Right" white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, was a stark reminder of an unsettling but well-known fact: racism and bigotry are deeply embedded in this country's fabric.

Many people, especially white progressives, looked at the news over the weekend in disbelief — amazed that such hatred could be displayed in such a horrifically flashy, unapologetic way in 2017. But the truth is that Charlottesville is just the latest example of the hostility, discrimination, and violence marginalized communities in the U.S. face every day. Positioned as a march to save the college town's statue of Confederate General Robert E. Lee, the rally was designed to intimidate, incite, and espouse anti-black, anti-Jewish, anti-Muslim, anti-LGBTQ, and anti-immigrant sentiments.

"The white supremacist violence we are witnessing is not new; instead, it is constant, ever-evolving and, unfortunately, a staple of American culture and society," said Patrisse Cullors, cofounder of Black Lives Matter, in a statement released Monday.

"Charlottesville has put on display the ways in which white supremacy has fueled and continues to fuel a genocide against Black people, both in this country and around the world," she added.

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Of course, that doesn't mean Charlottesville should be ignored. Quite the opposite: There are plenty of things you can do to take action in the aftermath of the violence, and combat white supremacy now and in the inevitable future. These hate groups are not backing down; neither should you.

From speaking out against white supremacy in your own life, to donating to impactful organizations, to calling your representatives, here are five tangible ways you can help.

1. Call out white supremacy in your own life.

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Extremist neo-Nazi ideologies were on full display in Charlottesville, but the events that took place there directly relate to the various forms white supremacy takes every day. Understand there's a link between this extremism to the disproportionate number of black people in prison; police brutality; the lack of access to health care and affordable housing for people of color; and xenophobia against Muslims, refugees, and undocumented immigrants. If you're angry about Charlottesville, you should be angry about these issues, too.

Talk to people in your own life about white supremacy and white privilege. Call out racist comments from friends, family, and coworkers. Support diversity, inclusion, and intersectionality at your workplace and in the causes you support, and be mindful of how you can contribute to those conversations. Don't forget to interrogate your own privilege and biases.

Learn how to be a better ally to people of color. Learn how to support black parents in times of injustice. If you're a parent talk to your kids about race. If you're an educator, teach acceptance and equity.

Last but not least, educate yourself on how to document and report hate crimes, and be empowered to do so. You can find more information through the Southern Poverty Law Center and the Center for Investigative Reporting.

2. Support impactful organizations.

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There are a number of nonprofit organizations that actively fight hate, train others to have an impact, and influence policy changes that can benefit marginalized and vulnerable communities.

Whether you donate your time or money, here are just a few organizations you can support that are tackling racism, bigotry, and white supremacy in Charlottesville and around the country:

• Southern Poverty Law Center

• Anti-Defamation League

• Albemarle-Charlottesville NAACP

• Black Lives Matter Charlottesville

• Stop Hate Project

• Charlottesville Solidarity Legal Fund

• UVA Black Student Alliance

You can also check out this excellent Twitter thread from writer Sara Benincasa, in which she lists additional Charlottesville-based nonprofits you can support.

3. Support Charlottesville victims through verified relief pages.

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The "Unite the Right" white supremacist rally in Charlottesville had several casualties. Heather Heyer, a 32-year-old Virginia native, was killed when a car plowed into a crowd of counter-protesters. She's remembered as "a strong woman" who stood up against discrimination. At least 19 others were injured in the attack.

Lt. H. Jay Cullen and Trooper Berke M. M. Bates of the Virginia State Police also died in a helicopter crash while on duty, keeping an eye on the violent rally from the air.

You can donate money to Heyer's family through this verified GoFundMe campaign. You can also donate to "C-ville Victim Relief," a verified campaign from Charlottesville community members to support victims and survivors (all money will go to "the City of Charlottesville or an appropriate body once collected").

4. Make your voice heard through protests and petitions.

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In the days following Charlottesville, many demonstrations are planned around the U.S. where you can speak out against hate, honor victims and survivors of the violence, and make your voice heard.

Indivisible, a movement launched in 2016 to resist the Trump agenda, has a handy search page on its website where you can find local protests. On Twitter, author Amy Rosary and followers have compiled a thread of planned protests in various cities. You can also use these tips and resources to find protests and demonstrations near you.

Online racial justice organization Color of Change has launched a petition to remove every Confederate symbol in the U.S., and the Movement for Black Lives has scheduled a national call to "confront hate from Charlottesville to the White House."

5. Talk to your representatives.

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It sounds like a broken record in the Trump era, but it works: Contact your reps. Tell them your thoughts about the violence in Charlottesville and demand that they speak out against white supremacy and President Donald Trump's feeble remarks on Saturday. (It should be noted that, only after backlash, Trump made a more direct statement on Monday).

Ask them how they plan to prevent such violence and hatred in your area. If there are Confederate monuments in your city, you can find out where your representatives stand, and demand that they be removed.

Find your representatives through easy-to-use tools like 5calls and Call Your Rep, as well as on the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate websites.

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