TO ALL MY DISABLED AND/OR CHRONICALLY ILL FRIENDS:
In the wake of George Floyd’s murder, I know you might be feeling guilty and frustrated that you can’t go out on the streets and protest right now. Certainly, that is how I feel.
Maybe you use a wheelchair, which makes navigating the crowd and escaping danger very difficult. Maybe you need mobility aids to get around but aren’t able to access those aids. Maybe your immune system is compromised. Maybe you have severe fatigue, uncontrolled seizures, overwhelming PTSD, or any other number of health problems that act as barriers to (reasonably) safe participation in street protests.
PLEASE try to remember that your disability/illness is NOT YOUR FAULT and you are not simply being “weak” or “lazy” or “selfish” for not participating in this one aspect of activism. As a community, we have always found creative ways to speak out, advocate, make change, and fight for justice. Instead of beating yourself up, try to focus on OTHER ways you can be part of the Black Lives Matter movement. You can:
make donations (if within your means)
sell art or other handmade goods to raise money for organizations in need
design signs, posters, and/or stickers that protestors can print and use
make phone calls to politicians
do remote volunteer work for an organization that needs help
amplify the voices of Black writers, artists, leaders, scientists, etc
help provide supplies (face masks, etc) for those who are protesting
use whatever abilities and skills and talents you have in your own creative way
You are not a bad person for trying to take care of yourself on the most basic level. ALL people participating in a revolution need to do their best to practice basic self-care, protesting on the streets or not. You don’t want to push yourself way beyond what is safe and end up in the hospital, exposing yourself further to COVID-19 and taking up a bed that an injured protestor might need. You don’t want to essentially choose to die when there is so much you can do to help, alive and here and now.
I see you, I care about you, and I support you.
annaxmalina
dededos
kianamaiart
yousharknotpass
prguitarman
