Montana Youth Action
RACIAL JUSTICE ACTION PORTAL
Take action below.
Contents
Where to Donate/BIPOC-led Organizations
Contact Local Government
Contact State Government
70+ Petitions to Sign Now
Black Creators & Activists to Follow
Video Educational Resources
WHERE TO DONATE
Including spotlights on a collection of important national and local BIPOC-led organizations.
Local/Statewide Organizations
The Montana Racial Equity Project
The Montana Racial Equity Project, a nonprofit and nonpartisan organization, advocates equity and justice for historically marginalized, disenfranchised, and oppressed peoples in Montana. We educate, train, and activate organizers, individuals, groups, organizations, institutions, and businesses to invest in interrupting racism, bigotry, and prejudice whenever encountered.
Montana BIPOC Mutual Aid Fund
Mutual aid is the exchange of resources and services for mutual benefit, in this case for a healthier community. A mutual aid fund is a form of financial solidarity with those struggling in our communities through direct giving. Mutual aid is based on values of equity, trust, and agency. We trust that people know their needs best.
The 1700 for Liberation Missoula
We, the 1700 for Liberation, a BIPOC-led collective committed to supporting all BIPOC people in our community, are reaching out to ask you to sign on to a letter to the Missoula City Council, the full text included in the links below. We want to thank you for your continued support and all the calls & emails you have already sent to city council. They have heard us and are ready to make changes to the budget.
Bozeman United for Racial Justice
Bozeman United for Racial Justice is a Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) led organization. We are committed to building a Bozeman that is just, free, and welcoming for all.
National Organizations
Black Lives Matter
Black Lives Matter Foundation, Inc is a global organization in the US, UK, and Canada, whose mission is to eradicate white supremacy and build local power to intervene in violence inflicted on Black communities by the state and vigilantes. By combating and countering acts of violence, creating space for Black imagination and innovation, and centering Black joy, we are winning immediate improvements in our lives.
NAACP Legal Defense & Education Fund
Through litigation, advocacy, and public education, LDF seeks structural changes to expand democracy, eliminate disparities, and achieve racial justice in a society that fulfills the promise of equality for all Americans. LDF also defends the gains and protections won over the past 80 years of civil rights struggle and works to improve the quality and diversity of judicial and executive appointments.
Color of Change
Color Of Change is the nation’s largest online racial justice organization. We help people respond effectively to injustice in the world around us. As a national online force driven by 1.7 million members, we move decision-makers in corporations and government to create a more human and less hostile world for Black people in America. Color of Change leads campaigns that build real power for Black communities.
Why contact local and state government?
Our elected officials serve us and our community needs. Let them know that fighting systemic racism and reforming racist institutions in Montana are important to us. If we tell them what we want, then we can hold them accountable for making change.
CONTACT LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Click the hyperlinks to email or call the City Council and Mayor of each community.
Below is also a pre-drafted letter/email and a phone script you can use.
Pre-drafted Letter/Email
Dear (insert name of Mayor, City Council, or address both),
My name is (insert your name), and I’m writing to you today to express my concern for the inaction taken by our local government in (insert town/city name) to combat systemic racism and protect Black and Indigenous citizens as well as other citizens of color in our community.
Especially in the wake of recent protests across the country, systemic racism is something we, and especially our elected officials, can no longer ignore. Below, I will explain how we can begin addressing systemic racism in our community, but do understand that these are simply the first steps, and dismantling a centuries-old system of oppression will be something that needs focus and investment for years to come.
Law enforcement is an institution with racist roots, and although their mission has been to protect the community, police simply aren’t efficient in doing so. Law enforcement officers are not sufficiently trained to handle crises like mental health emergencies, and regarding substance-related offenses, there is not enough emphasis on rehabilitation over criminalization. Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) are far more likely to be charged and sentenced for non-violent drug crimes than white people. Specific personnel, trained and educated in areas such as treatment of mental illness, substance use rehabilitation, and domestic crisis de-escalation could do far more to help the community with their expertise and non-intimidating presence. Funding needs to be reallocated from law enforcement to these other types of crisis responders. Especially when issues, such as mental health, are so prevalent in Montana, we need to defund the police and find other solutions now.
Additionally, affordable housing for BIPOC is missing in our community, and many others. More urgency to house the homeless population in (insert town/city name) is extremely necessary. Especially for our indigenous neighbors: indigenous people should not be houseless on their own land. We must begin further investing and housing development and subsidized housing projects for lower-income community members, whom are disproportionately BIPOC. A necessity as simple as access to basic shelter is something that we need to provide as a community.
Finally, systemic racism is just as present in our schools as the rest of (insert town/city name). BIPOC youth are more likely to be bullied in schools, and these incidents can be racially motivated and include racial slurs and other racist speech. School staff need to be better trained to specifically address micro aggressions and bullying of BIPOC students in and out of the classroom. Aside from bullying, we aren’t teaching BIPOC-inclusive history that needs to be taught. Including more materials on BIPOC leaders and important historical events in Montana and our country in school curriculums is necessary, because not only does it give BIPOC representation, it simply teaches history that has previously been ignored.
It is imperative that you take these suggestions very seriously and begin implementing solutions for our community. Addressing systemic racism is not a comfortable subject, but it’s a subject that must be addressed by all of us.
Sincerely,
(insert your name)
What to Say On the Phone
Hello, is this (insert Mayor or City Counselor’s name)
(response)
My name is (insert your name) and I was wondering if you had a few minutes to discuss something important to me in the (insert town/city name) community.
(response)
I’d like to take this time to discuss how we can be better addressing systemic racism in the community.
Questions to ask:
How is local government already addressing systemic racism?
How much funding is currently allocated to law enforcement over mental health and housing resources?
What are you going to do to begin addressing systemic racism in (insert town/city name)?
Points to bring up:
Mental health issues are extremely prevalent in Montana and need to be addressed with more resources, not the police.
BIPOC individuals are disproportionately affected by police violence, homelessness, and COVID-19.
We haven’t sufficiently been taught BIPOC-inclusive history in public schools.
Thank them for their time and close with a call to action.
CONTACT STATE GOVERNMENT
Click the buttons to email or call each elected official in statewide office.
Below is also a pre-drafted letter/email and a phone script you can use.
Governor Steve Bullock
Lieutenant Governor Mike Cooney
Senator Jon Tester
Senator Steve Daines
Congressman Greg Gianforte
Attorney General Tim Fox
Superintendent of Public Instruction Elsie Arntzen
Secretary of State Corey Stapleton
Pre-drafted Letter/Email
Dear (insert name of elected official),
My name is (insert your name), and I’m writing to you today to express my concern for the inaction taken by our elected officials and government in Montana to combat systemic racism and protect Black and Indigenous citizens as well as other citizens of color in our communities.
Especially in the wake of recent protests across the country, systemic racism is something we, and especially our elected officials, can no longer ignore. Below, I will explain how we can begin addressing systemic racism in our state, but do understand that these are simply the first steps, and dismantling a centuries-old system of oppression will be something that needs focus and investment for years to come.
Law enforcement is an institution with racist roots, and although their mission has been to protect communities, police simply aren’t efficient in doing so. Law enforcement officers are not sufficiently trained to handle crises like mental health emergencies, and regarding substance-related offenses, there is not enough emphasis on rehabilitation over criminalization. Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) are far more likely to be charged and sentenced for non-violent drug crimes than white people. Specific personnel, trained and educated in areas such as treatment of mental illness, substance use rehabilitation, and domestic crisis de-escalation could do far more to help Montanans with their expertise and non-intimidating presence. Funding needs to be reallocated from law enforcement to these other types of crisis responders. Especially when issues, such as mental health, are so prevalent in Montana, we need to defund the police, hold them accountable, and find other solutions now.
Additionally, affordable housing for BIPOC is missing in our state. More urgency to house the homeless population in Montana is extremely necessary. Especially for our indigenous neighbors: indigenous people should not be houseless on their own land. We must begin further investing and housing development and subsidized housing projects for lower-income community members, whom are disproportionately BIPOC. A necessity as simple as access to basic shelter is something that we need to provide.
Finally, systemic racism is just as present in our schools as the rest of the state. BIPOC youth are more likely to be bullied in public schools, and these incidents can be racially motivated and include racial slurs and other racist speech. School staff need to be better trained to specifically address micro aggressions and bullying of BIPOC students in and out of the classroom. Aside from bullying, we aren’t teaching BIPOC-inclusive history that needs to be taught. Including more materials on BIPOC leaders and important historical events in Montana and our country in school curriculums is necessary, because not only does it give BIPOC representation, it simply teaches history that has previously been ignored.
It is imperative that you take these suggestions very seriously and begin implementing solutions for Montana. Addressing systemic racism is not a comfortable subject, but it’s a subject that must be addressed by all of us.
Sincerely,
(insert your name)
What to Say On the Phone
Hello, is this (insert Mayor or City Counselor’s name)
(response)
My name is (insert your name) and I was wondering if you had a few minutes to discuss something important to me in our state.
(response)
I’d like to take this time to discuss how we can be better addressing systemic racism across Montana.
Questions to ask:
How is state and national government already addressing systemic racism?
How much funding is currently allocated to law enforcement and the Justice Department over mental health and housing resources?
What are you going to do to begin addressing systemic racism in our state?
Points to bring up:
Mental health issues are extremely prevalent in Montana and need to be addressed with more resources, not the police.
BIPOC individuals are disproportionately affected by police violence, homelessness, and COVID-19.
We haven’t sufficiently been taught BIPOC-inclusive history in public schools.
Thank them for their time and close with a call to action.
PETITIONS
Click the hyperlinks to access each petition. Signing takes just a few seconds.
Missing a Petition?
Submit a petition link below.
Law Enforcement Reform & Racial Equity Legislation
Legislation Petitions
BIPOC Victims of the Justice System/Law Enforcement
Individual Justice Petitions
Justice for Indigenous Communities & MMIW
Indigenous Justice Petitions
Historical Statues & Racist Monuments
Removal and Renaming Petitions
Law Enforcement Reform & Funding Reallocation
Defunding Petitions
BLACK CREATORS AND ACTIVISTS
Expand your feed. Here are 10 BIPOC creators and activists to follow right now.
Ibram X. Kendi
He/Him/His
Ibram Xolani Kendi is an American author, historian, and scholar of race and discriminatory policy in America. In July 2020, he assumed the position of director of the Center for Antiracist Research at Boston University.
Stacey Abrams
She/Her/Hers
Stacey Yvonne Abrams is an American politician, lawyer, voting rights activist, and author who served in the Georgia House of Representatives from 2007 to 2017, serving as minority leader from 2011 to 2017.
Isra Hirsi
She/Her/Hers
Isra Hirsi is an American environmental activist. She co-founded and previously served as the co-executive director of the U.S. Youth Climate Strike.
Ava DuVernay
She/Her/Hers
Ava Marie DuVernay is an American filmmaker. She won the directing award in the U.S. dramatic competition at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival for her second feature film Middle of Nowhere, becoming the first black woman to win the award.
Wisdom Cole
He/Him/His
Wisdom Cole is the National Organizing Manager for the NAACP Youth and College Division. In this role, he supports youth and college workshops for civil rights advocacy training institute, electoral action trainings, grassroots organizing, issues toolkits, and webinars.
Indya Moore
They/Them/Theirs
Indya Adrianna Moore is an American actor and model. They are known for playing the role of Angel Evangelista in the FX television series Pose. Time magazine named the actor one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2019.
Zyahna Bryant
She/Her/Hers
Zyahna Bryant is a student activist and community organizer studying at the University of Virginia, who works on issues of Racial Justice in Charlottesville, VA. She began activist work at the age of 15.
Aaron Philip
She/Her/Hers
Aaron Philip is an Antiguan-American model signed to Elite Model Management. She has notably received success from exposure on Twitter and Instagram as a black, transgender, and disabled model, and has modeled for Paper magazine and ASOS.com.
Trevor Noah
He/Him/His
Trevor Noah is a South African comedian, writer, producer, political commentator, actor, and television host. He is the host of The Daily Show, an American satirical news program on Comedy Central.
Rep. Ayanna Pressley
She/Her/Hers
Ayanna Soyini Pressley is an American politician who has served as the U.S. Representative for Massachusetts's 7th congressional district since 2019.
VIDEO EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES
A selection of self-education vids on racial inequality, American history, and allyship.