Showing Up for Racial Justice

{{Infobox organization

| name = Showing Up for Racial Justice

| formation = {{Start date|2009}}

| logo = Showing Up for Racial Justice logo.png

| website = {{url|https://surj.org/}}

}}

Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ) is a network organizing white people for racial and economic justice. SURJ was founded in 2009 amidst the backlash to election of Barack Obama as the first black President of the United States. SURJ seeks to bring more white people into racial justice work and to find mutual interest with movements led by black people and people of color.

History

Toni Morrison had asked white people to consider what they can do about racism.{{cite news |title=Lessons we can learn from Toni Morrison |url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/arts/lessons-we-can-learn-from-toni-morrison |work=PBS NewsHour |date=6 August 2019 |language=en-us}} Carla F. Wallace, SURJ co-founder, said the aim of SURJ is to engage white people in a larger racial justice movement led by people of color. She asks "what is our mutual interest in working for a different society? ... We must move from it being something that we do when we have time on a Saturday to something that we do because our lives depend on it."{{Cite web|date=June 13, 2020|title=Dear white people: Being an ally isn't always what you think|url=https://apnews.com/article/20a39b6e2d86b561012946b0e2118bbb|website=Associated Press News}}

= Tactics =

One SURJ tactic is deep canvassing, using the power of personal narrative in lengthy non-judgmental conversations to build white support for racial justice.{{Cite web|last=Scharfenberg|first=David|date=June 12, 2020|title=Here come the white people — a new antiracist movement takes flight - The Boston Globe|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/06/12/opinion/white-anti-racist-movement-has-arrived/|access-date=2022-01-09|website=BostonGlobe.com|language=en-US}} SURJ focuses on “calling in” white people to support racial justice grounded in the vision of Black leaders.{{Cite web|date=2020-07-06|title=One group's unique approach to putting words into action in the fight for racial justice, equality|url=https://www.wrbl.com/news/national/one-groups-unique-approach-to-putting-words-into-action-in-the-fight-for-racial-justice-equality/|access-date=2022-01-09|website=WRBL|language=en-US}} SURJ says it’s white people’s responsibility to do anti-racism work and not rely on persons of color to teach white people about racism.{{Cite web|title=Your big questions about race, answered|url=https://www.cnn.com/interactive/2020/us/racism-questions-answers/|access-date=2022-01-09|website=www.cnn.com}}

= Criminal justice reform =

Following the George Floyd protests against police brutality, SURJ developed a toolkit for discussing protests and police violence with one's family.{{Cite news|last=Halpert|first=Madeline|date=2020-06-13|title=Talking With Relatives Across the Political Divide|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/13/well/family/talking-with-relatives-across-the-political-divide.html|access-date=2022-01-09|issn=0362-4331}} The Louisville chapter encouraged people to speak up about the criminal justice system and challenge assumption of agreement.{{cite news |last1=Archie |first1=Ayana |title=Kyle Rittenhouse verdict sparks Louisville protests. Here's what they said |url=https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/local/2021/11/20/kyle-rittenhouse-shooting-verdict-protesters-gather-downtown-louisville/8703812002/ |work=The Courier-Journal}} Other actions include electoral work, where sheriffs can address reforms in the criminal legal system and mass incarceration.{{Cite magazine|last=Lipsitz|first=Raina|date=2021-10-19|title=The Erie County Sheriff's Race Is a Matter of Life or Death|magazine=The New Republic|url=https://newrepublic.com/article/164001/erie-county-sheriff-kimberly-beaty|access-date=2022-01-09|issn=0028-6583}} SURJ also works to end cash bail.{{Cite web |date=October 10, 2021 |title=Racial justice group canvasses community in hopes of removing cash bail from Louisville |url=https://www.whas11.com/article/news/local/surj-canvassing-to-end-cash-bail/417-0a922ff9-307c-4255-b574-f3d879f15f12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211011005353/https://www.whas11.com/article/news/local/surj-canvassing-to-end-cash-bail/417-0a922ff9-307c-4255-b574-f3d879f15f12 |archive-date=2021-10-11 |access-date=2022-02-12 |website=whas11.com |language=en-US}}

= Police accountability =

SURJ called for police accountability and strengthened oversight in the San Diego County jail.{{Cite web|date=2022-02-04|title=Voices on San Diego County jails audit|url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/watchdog/story/2022-02-03/voices-on-san-diego-county-jails-audit|access-date=2022-02-12|website=San Diego Union-Tribune|language=en-US}} SURJ was part of the Citizens for a Safer Cleveland coalition,{{Cite web|last=Fields|first=Cameron|date=2021-04-20|title=Citizens for a Safer Cleveland coalition aims to address police accountability|url=https://www.cleveland.com/news/2021/04/citizens-for-a-safer-cleveland-coalition-aims-to-address-police-accountability.html|access-date=2022-02-12|website=cleveland.com|language=en}} whose police accountability initiative created a new Community Policing Commission composed of 13 civilians with final decision-making power regarding discipline in police misconduct cases.{{Cite web|date=2021-11-03|title=Yes on Issue 24, which would provide community police oversight, passes|url=https://www.news5cleveland.com/news/local-news/cleveland-metro/yes-on-issue-24-which-would-provide-community-police-oversight-has-clear-majority-of-vote|access-date=2022-02-12|website=WEWS|language=en}} In the debate over license plate readers, Melissa Cherry from Nashville chapter of SURJ said she was suspicious of private funding for law enforcement with discussion of defunding the police.{{Cite web|last=Wadhwani|first=Anita|date=2021-04-20|title=Debate over license plate readers returns to Metro Council Tuesday|url=https://tennesseelookout.com/2021/04/20/debate-over-license-plate-readers-returns-to-metro-council-tuesday/|access-date=2022-02-12|website=Tennessee Lookout|language=en-US}}