The statements below are the opinions of The Journal’s editorial staff and are not necessarily endorsed by The Ohio State University:
For nearly fifty years and throughout countless editorial changes and aesthetic shifts, The Journal has dedicated itself to publishing the best poetry, fiction, and nonfiction from new and established writers. Uplifting Black voices and supporting work by writers from marginalized communities have always been central to that mission of publishing the best work available, but it is important that we define ourselves expressly as pro-Black liberation and anti-violence. We stand with protesters in Columbus, Minneapolis, and across the nation and world in calling for an end to state-sanctioned police violence that has targeted Black people and non-Black people of color since this country’s founding.
We support local and larger efforts to demilitarize police and prison systems, and to work toward a future in which those institutions are obsolete. We believe in investing in community support networks, arts and cultural organizations, and public education. Affiliation with our host university means we are legally restricted from donating and allocating funds, but we encourage you to explore the readings and resources linked below, and to consider making contributions within your means to one or more of the listed nonprofits. To those of you in the streets demonstrating for peace and justice: thank you for risking your lives and safety to work toward a better world.
The Journal Editors
Resources:
MN-local
Resources to Support the Minneapolis Protests
Minnesota Freedom Fund
(*Minnesota Freedom Fund has received a significant of donations and is now directing those who would like to give to other nonprofits, including the two Minnesota-based organizations below.)
Black Visions Collective – Donate
Columbus-local
Columbus Freedom Fund – Columbus, OH-local bail relief fund for arrested protesters – Donate
BQIC (Black Queer & Intersectional Collective) – Donate
SURJ (Standing Up for Racial Justice) – Donate
70+ Black Owned Businesses in Columbus
National
Fundraising/Bail/Petition/Trans Resource