Liberation Ventures

Virginia made history as the first southern state to legalize marijuana, and our movement partner, Marijuana Justice, played a huge role in this milestone! This victory is the result of years of dedicated advocacy, pushing for racial equity and justice in cannabis laws. But the work isn’t done yet. Marijuana Justice is still fighting for fair policies that uplift our communities and ensure everyone benefits from this progress. Visit marijuanajustice.org to learn more. #LVxMP

Since 2021, Georgia's SB 202 — also known as the Election Integrity Act — has made it illegal in Georgia for anyone to hand a hot or thirsty person a bottle of water while standing in line to vote. In response, Get Free decided to defy this ban and deliver water to voters in line at the polls. “It is so visibly dehumanizing to actually criminalize such an act of humanity and dignity. It really exemplifies the broader inhumanity and inequality of all these voter laws that are happening. It’s not just about not being able to hand out water. Many of the most insidious components of these anti-voter laws are deep in the bureaucracy and Jim Crow. So, we’re using it to shine a light on what is dehumanizing about these laws.” - Nicole Carty, Executive Director, Get Free #LVxMP https://lnkd.in/gXY_qpeV

On the topic of Black reparations there exists a crucial segment of the population that remains persuadable – those who acknowledge the lasting impact of slavery on Black people today but remain unconvinced that a debt is owed or that reparations are the solution. Roughly 27% of Americans fall into this category. These individuals are not outright opponents of reparations; rather, they sit on the fence, either neutral or leaning slightly against the idea. Understanding and engaging with this group could be the key to transforming the reparations movement from a divisive issue into one with broader, more robust support. To bring debt-persuadables into the fold, advocates must directly address the concerns that underpin their resistance. One way to alleviate the sense of unfairness is to frame reparations for Black Americans as part of a broader commitment to redress harm for all groups who have suffered historical injustices. The debt-persuadables represent a unique and vital target for the reparations movement. They already recognize the harm; now, they must be persuaded that repair is both necessary and just. By addressing their concerns directly and making a compelling case for why reparations are a matter of fairness, not unfairness, we can bring this group closer to supporting a cause that is essential to healing the wounds of our nation’s past. #reparations https://lnkd.in/gyigaVbz

Breaking! For the first time in history, the United States federal government ⁠has formally agreed to review the events of one of the worst instances ⁠of racial violence in American history.⁠ Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke announced that the Civil Rights Division will review and evaluate the Tulsa Race Massacre under the Emmett Till Cold Case Act. This is major news. We’re ever thankful to Justice for Greenwood Foundation for remaining on top of this case and updating the community on its progress. From Justice for Greenwood Foundation “We want to extend our deepest gratitude to all our supporters, attorneys, lawmakers, and advocates who have stood by us on this journey. ⁠Your unwavering commitment and dedication have been instrumental in pushing this fight for justice forward.” ⁠ ⁠Follow Justice for Greenwood Foundation to stay up to date! #LVxMP

Support for reparations among Black Americans is strong, but not universal. Older Black Americans, particularly those over 65, are less likely to support reparations than their younger counterparts. Despite these reservations, Black Americans are clear about what they believe reparations should entail. The following are key elements of a reparations package that enjoy widespread support from the Black community: * Investments in Black communities - 85% * Criminal justice reform - 80% * Education about slavery - 80% A majority of Black Americans also favor pardons for political prisoners (75%), though symbolic gestures like a federal apology (71%) and the establishment of a commission to study reparations (69%) receive slightly less enthusiasm. While support for reparations is strong, there is still a significant “hope gap” among Black Americans—far more support reparations than believe they will actually happen. Only 19% of Black Americans believe the U.S. will pass a reparations policy, while 55% do not think it will ever come to pass. This is a far cry from the 73% of Black people who support reparations. The path to reparations is complex, but understanding the nuances of Black support is crucial for building a broad and effective coalition. To move forward, advocates must prioritize the components of reparations that resonate most strongly with Black Americans, particularly direct cash payments. https://lnkd.in/gaFZPKWa

Reparations is on the trajectory of other successful social movements, which saw gradual increases in public support over time before reaching political success. In 1999, when California became the first state to legalize domestic partnerships for same-sex couples, support for same-sex marriage was 35%—roughly where support for comprehensive reparations is today. Just 12 years later, marriage equality reached 50% support. Support for marijuana legalization grew even more quickly. In 2005—as medical legalization was beginning to gain traction—support for recreational marijuana legalization was at just 36%. By 2011, when the first states passed legalization, support was at 50%. While such timelines are ambitious, previous analyses highlight a similar upward trend in the reparations movement. Support for cash payment reparations—the most controversial element of reparations—has doubled in the last 25 years, reaching at least 30% in the last few years. Additionally, 19% of Americans neither support nor oppose reparations, indicating a significant neutral or persuadable population. Said another way: more Americans support or are neutral about comprehensive reparations than are opposed. Learn more about current public beliefs and sentiments about reparations, which can be used to build the strategies we need to win. https://lnkd.in/gDUAnUX2

Join us in reminiscing about the New Jersey Reparations Narrative Symposium! In February, Liberation Ventures got together with our friends at New Jersey Institute for Social Justice and International Center for Transitional Justice in Newark, NJ for a powerful day of community building. Activists, artists, and organizers came together to strategize and share their visions for reparations. We explored the cultural and political landscape, discussed funding opportunities, and celebrated the role of the arts in advancing Black liberation. Thank you to everyone who participated and contributed to this vital conversation. Special shoutout to the brilliant event organizers Trevor Smith (BLIS), Jean-Pierre Brutus (New Jersey Institute for Social Justice), and Virginie Ladisch (ICTJ) who made this all happen so gracefully. Watch the video to hear their reflections, as well as Robin Rue Simmons (FirstRepair), Aria Florant (LV), & more. Together, we’re building a transformative narrative for and with the reparations movement! *Thank you Garrison Hayes for supporting the documentation of this historic day.

Last month Liberation Ventures released our first Reparations Beliefs and Sentiments Poll, a comprehensive review of where the country currently stands. The 2024 Reparations Beliefs and Sentiments Poll is the first in a series of regular polls designed to track changes in public opinion on reparations over time. This ongoing effort will provide a clear picture of how public attitudes toward reparations evolve, helping to inform the movement’s strategies and objectives. This poll has huge potential as a tool for the movement in a variety of ways: * Informing campaign strategies with public opinion data * Supporting decision making about resource allocation with data  * Telling data-driven stories * Designing policies that reflect public desires * Evaluating progress over time As the reparations movement grows, understanding public opinion will remain a crucial part of our strategy. By leveraging polling data, we can make informed decisions, tell compelling stories, design policies that resonate with the public, and track our progress over time. Read more & share: https://lnkd.in/gHuKJu4e

Reflecting on the great time we had at the Prosperity Now Summit last month! We co-hosted a terrific panel with the brilliant Nkechi Taifa, Esq. of the Reparation Education Project, Nicole Carty of Get Free Movement, with LV’s CEO Aria Florant and Becina Ganther (our Senior Grantmaking Analyst) moderating. At “Bridging Philanthropy and Reparations: The Reparations Grantmaking Blueprint”, we spoke to the history of reparations, the importance of investing in narratives to push the movement forward, and also addressed the fact that we cannot close the racial wealth gap without #reparations. It’s always a joy to meet up with our movement partners and familiar faces in-person. We were happy to connect folks from National Black Cultural Information Trust, New Jersey Institute for Social Justice, The Gro Fund, and many more at a happy hour nearby!

On Monday, October 7 at 6:30pm, New Jersey Institute for Social Justice and The Environmental Justice Committee will meet for the seventh of nine virtual public sessions of the New Jersey Reparations Council to share its work and hear input from community members. What role do you think environmental justice should play in reparations for slavery in NJ? Why is it important to address environmental justice in relation to reparative justice for slavery? How do you define environmental justice in terms of reparations? What does it look like to you? Join the conversation and raise your voice. https://lnkd.in/gYikBjmv