Evanston Fight for Black Lives

Evanston Fight for Black Lives is an organization that is dedicated to centering Black and Brown voices within the Evanston community. We are an abolitionist organization that believes that policing is an inherently violent and racist institution. We are working to improve the quality of life for Black people in Evanston by defunding the police and providing black communities the resources they require and deserve. We put our community first in everything that we do from talking to community members, to providing aid. We believe in radically acting and transforming the ways in which public safety within the city of Evanston is conducted in the hopes to foster a community where radical and intentional love is prioritized.

Since May 2020 have met with aldermen and citizens, held community forums, raised money, and done the hard work of constructing a plan for defunding our city’s police department. Specifically, Evanston Fight for Black Lives held the largest-projected protest in Evanston, garnering over 5,000 supporters on May 31st. Following this historic event, we introduced more than 20 action items and events for the Evanston community. Some of th 24 events include: Defunding 101, Defunding 102, Donation Matching for charities, Calls Demanding Justice for Trent Hunt, Promoting Evanston’s Black Businesses, Emails to Aldermen, Chalking around the City, Defunding EPD Flyer Campaign, Sit-In at Aldermen’s Houses, Calls to Aldermen, 8th Ward Call with Ann Rainey, 3 Reclaim the Block Parties, Donations for Yakez Semark, the website ETHSALUMNI4ABOLITION.ORG, Three Yard Sales in the 5th Ward, A Black Women's Healing Circle, Raised Almost $15,000 for the Family of Jacob Blake, Created the Resourceful Progressive Voter Guide, and more. Evanston Fight for Black Lives amassed thousands of dollars in donations that were sent to community organizations and Evanston individuals in need. We mobilized thousands of citizens to be refocused on local politics. We anticipate that the city council received hundreds of emails regarding defunding EPD and demilitarizing our schools from residents. Evanston Fight for Black Lives greatly increased civic engagement in the people of Evanston. We have also garnered over 1,000 signatures for our Official Statement for defunding, written below. In conjunction with our grassroots organizing, Evanston Fight for Black Lives anticipates a higher voting turnout with the upcoming local and national elections. With thousands of followers on our social media pages, we have created a connection this summer between the residents of Evanston, and placed a heavier responsibility on our elected local officials. All of this work was done by a group of 9 Evanston youth, primarily Black women.

Check us out on Instagram: @evanstonforblacklives