Bystander Intervention to Stop Police Sponsored Violence and Anti-Black Racist Harassment

We are committed to taking action and educating others on how to end racism and respond to police violence today through bystander intervention.

Racism has existed in the US for centuries. We see it manifested out on the streets and on social media feeds, with non-Black folks taking Black hairstyles and participating in other forms of cultural appropriation. We see it in constant microaggressions and racism in the US education system. We see it in the police violence we witnessed against Black Lives Matter protesters and the recent murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery. Change is long overdue!

In response to the continued police violence against Black communities, we have adapted our free bystander intervention training to address police violence and anti-Black harassment and put an end to racism in public space. We are committed to taking action and educating others on how to end racism and respond to police violence today through bystander intervention.

Each of us has the power to create change in our own ways.

If you have asked yourself any of these questions: what is systemic racism? What is the history of police violence in the US? What are types of police brutality and why do police use brutality to begin with? We want you to know that there are several resources, organizations, and tools available to you.

Join us and let’s make change happen.

Laura Albert

Attendee

This training addresses various real-life scenarios and how to approach them with a toolbox of techniques. It’s informative and empowering– I feel prepared to go out and help people in need.

Training Description

What will you learn?

Right To Be is offering this interactive training to train people on how to safely intervene in the face of police violence and anti-black racism using the 5Ds of bystander intervention.

We’ll start by talking about the types of violence and racism Black folks are facing right now — from examples of microaggressions to murder — using a tool we call the “spectrum of racism.” We’ll also talk about how anti-black racism is so ingrained into the fabric of our society that we see it present in all forms, from everyday tasks or activities to larger societal institutions. Then, discuss the deep impact harassment, violence, and the constant threat of violence has on black communities.

You’ll learn what to look for and the positive impact that bystander intervention has on individuals and communities. We’ll talk through five strategies for intervention: distract, delegate, document, delay, and direct; and how to prioritize your own safety while intervening. Finally, talk about what to do if you’re a person of color worried the violence will turn on you and how to avoid being a “white savior.”

We’ll have time at the end for practice, and you’ll leave feeling more confident intervening the next time you see police-sponsored, anti-Black harassment or violence.

Partners in the Movement

Jordan Brand Black Community Commitment Grant Program

Right To Be has been selected as an inaugural recipient of a Community Grant from Michael Jordan and the Jordan Brand as part of its Black Community Commitment Grant Program. This funding is allowing us to expand our capacity and train more people for free.

To learn more about this program, click here.