The Songs in My Head VII

EDIT: I've been reading some conflicting accounts on whether or not Campaign Zero's policies are the most effective in this fight. If you would feel better contributing to another organization instead, please do. (Some others I've thought about: Black Lives Matter, Advancement Project National Office/ Advancement Project California, Equal Justice Initiative, local bail funds wherever you are, etc.) All I really care about is that the money you might have donated at The Songs in My Head this year still goes to a worthy cause. Love you all.

Typically at this time of year you'd be hearing nonstop from me about the annual benefit concert I throw, the Songs in My Head. This year would have been the 7th. Obviously, we won't be able to get together right now, but if you have the means I would love to still raise money together for a worthy cause. And who knows, maybe we can still throw the concert sometime in the fall/winter.

Choosing this year's cause was a struggle for me. A struggle because every year I try to choose a cause that's not controversial, that my friends from all backgrounds can get behind. The Songs In My Head is about raising money and having a good time together, after all. But that's kind of cowardly, isn't it? To only raise money for things that won't ruffle any feathers? But with all that's been happening in the world (for a long time, but more amplified recently), it's time to be bold and I hope you'll be bold with me.

This year's cause is ending police brutality and violence through Campaign Zero*, the folks behind the #8cantwait campaign you might have seen circulating on social media. For too long our black brothers, sisters, and siblings have lived in fear of the police, the very people that are supposed to serve and protect them. Systemic and institutionalized racism has been allowed to thrive at the expense of people's lives. 

Campaign Zero believes that "we can live in a world where the police don't kill people by limiting police interventions, improving community interactions, and ensuring accountability." Funds donated to Campaign Zero support the analysis of policing practices across the country, research to identify effective solutions to end police violence, technical assistance to organizers leading police accountability campaigns and the development of model legislation and advocacy to end police violence nationwide. 

Please join me in raising money for Campaign Zero and say that enough is enough. Black lives matter. George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and too many others mattered and should still be alive today.

*Campaign Zero is one of the campaigns run by We the Protestors, Inc, which is the organization that shows up on the MightyCause fundraising site.