Introduction
Trigger Warning: Police violence, racism

Art courtesy of Instagram @shirien.creates
White supremacy and institutional racism rears its ugly head in countless ways: housing access, health outcomes, political power, and access to education. It manifests how and to what extent people are affected by climate change. It decides how communities are policed, and whether or not it is safe for Black people to exist, take up space, or thrive. In yet another act of anti-Black police violence, George Floyd was violently murdered by four Minneapolis police officers. He was killed, just like Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Aubery, Tony McDade, Nina Pop, and the overwhelming number of other Black people killed by police and white vigilantes because of the violent systemic white supremacy in this country.
The environmental community must not stay silent in the face of systemic injustice. We must act and speak in solidarity with the Black community and the movement for Black Lives. Fighting for a green and peaceful future includes speaking out against the unjust, racist, and systemic violence facing Black people in the US, especially when it’s at the hands of the police. Being silent is not an option.
We at Greenpeace believe that we cannot have a green and peaceful planet without justice—climate justice, economic justice, and racial justice.

Art courtesy of Instagram @shirien.creates
We demand action to confront the racism, police violence, and inequality in this country.
We support the Movement for Black Lives policy platform, which includes a future without jails, detention centers, youth facilities, and prisons. We also support the call for accountability by families of the slain, who are demanding that as long as we are forced to have prisons, police officers who murder should be in them.
We speak out because environmental and racial justice are inextricably linked. #BlackLivesMatter
The following resources have primarily been created by activists, thinkers, leaders, and organizations outside of Greenpeace. Where known, we have given credit to the creator. We have pulled them together here to amplify their voices.
While anti-racism is not the core mission of Greenpeace, it is a core value. We know that the environmental movement cannot achieve full justice for people and planet without anti-racism work embedded in the core of our mission and in the hearts of our supporters.
Take Action
Your action is needed now more than ever. Here are some ways to join our movement.
- Join the Movement For Black Lives
- Take action with Black-led organizations like Color of Change
- Support the fundamental right to protest, and donate to bail funds nationally or locally to get those who are protesting police brutality released from detention as soon as possible
Self-Assessment

Racism Scale. www.racismscale.weebly.com

White Supremacy Diagram, Based on original graphic by Ellen Tuzzolo, courtesy of https://www.uuridgewood.org/white-supremacy-teach-in-ii-december-3-2017/
What to Read
- Anti-racism resources for white people
- Why you should stop saying “all lives matter,” explained in 9 different ways
- Why Greenpeace speaks out on racial justice
- Me and White Supremacy: A 28-Day Challenge to Combat Racism, Change the World, and Become a Good Ancestor by Layla F. Saad
- Further reading suggestions by author Ibram X. Kendi
- How to support the protesters demanding justice for George Floyd
- The Case for Reparations by Ta-Nehisi Coates
- Don’t understand the protests? What you’re seeing is people pushed to the edge, by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Listen & Watch
#BlackLivesMatter
the next time u wanna say “all lives matter*” understand what the movement is actually about pic.twitter.com/t6PiY32uc7— jite (@JlTEAGEGE) July 7, 2016
Black Feminism & the Movement for Black Lives: Barbara Smith, Reina Gossett | Charlene Carruthers
How Studying Privilege Systems Can Strengthen Compassion | Peggy McIntosh at TEDxTimberlaneSchools
Podcasts
Organizations & Stakeholders
Movement for Black Lives: Website
Antiracism Center: Twitter
Audre Lorde Project: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
Black Women’s Blueprint: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
Color Of Change: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
Colorlines: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
The Conscious Kid: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
Equal Justice Initiative (EJI): Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
Families Belong Together: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
The Leadership Conference on Civil & Human Rights: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
MPowerChange: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
Muslim Girl: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
NAACP: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
National Domestic Workers Alliance: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
RAICES: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ): Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
SisterSong: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
United We Dream: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
Showing Up For Racial Justice: Website
BYP 100 (Chicago): Twitter