NEW GRANTS

Suspicious Fire at Social Justice Organization $5000 for a group grant for 19 kids from seven families to attend programming focused on leadership, justice and equity. Their parents are employees of a center for grassroots organizing and radical movement building that was attacked last spring. TN   

Dad Fights Carceral System, Serves Time $4080 for cultural programs, a computer and a Carry it Forward (CIF) award[1] for the three kids, ages 11 to 21, whose dad has fought for political prisoners and victims of police brutality since 2002. His reputation has cost him work and led to overzealous prosecution of a civil complaint, resulting in four years of incarceration that still impacts his kids. GA

Mom Fights for Indigenous Rights $4000 for martial arts and gymnastics for the two siblings, ages four and five, whose mom was repeatedly stalked and threatened for her efforts to change Columbus Day to Indigenous People’s Day. This young parent was also awarded a $1000 Targeted Activist Youth (TAY) Development grant[2]. NM 

Family’s Car Torched $3500 for dance, basketball, gymnastics and art classes for the four kids, ages nine to 14, whose mom’s advocacy for her husband (who suffered police violence and faces falsified charges) and other victims of police brutality has made her a target. She endured violent intimidation and was fired one week after making a public statement on TV, despite having just received a promotion.  MD

Campus Organizer Targeted $2000 for school tuition for the seven-year-old daughter whose mom is a recognized leader at her college. They have both been threatened by those opposed to racial justice events the mom has organized on campus, including finding “KKK” and monkey imagery in the student meeting space. OR

Mom Persists Despite Violent Intimidation $1700 for recreational activities for the 17-year-old daughter whose uncle was beaten to death by police and whose mom has organized to demand justice for her brother and other victims of police violence. Their car has been keyed and tires slashed dozens of times, and they have both received death threats, forcing them to move. MD

CIVIL LIBERTIES

Activist Moms Forced out of Work $6000 for school tuition and tutoring for four children, ages 14 to 18, from two families whose mothers were both fired for their advocacy. One of them promoted an intersectional framework in the workplace and the other showed support for an incarcerated Muslim activist.   GA, MI

Mom Harassed $2300 for dance class and a gym membership for two siblings, ages three and 17, whose mom chose to go public about being stopped by a Customs and Border Patrol agent because she was speaking Spanish. She took legal action and had to move to escape the harassment she endured for speaking out. Location withheld

Father’s Career Sabotaged $1900 for snowboarding expenses and a CIF Award for two brothers, ages 12 and 20, whose father, an independent journalist, was fired and blacklisted for expressing progressive views and covering controversial topics. MN              

ENVIRONMENTAL & ANIMAL RIGHTS

Parents Fight to Protect Environment $21,200 for a broad range of programs for 15 children, ages four to 19, from five families.  Some parents were beaten and arrested while marching against environmental racism, others were attacked and/or imprisoned for their community organizing work. CA, DC, FL, GA

Pipeline Protestor Imprisoned $4550 for music lessons and educational support for four children, ages eight to 14, whose father helped shut down a pipeline to bring attention to the fossil fuel industry. He was charged with a felony and is still awaiting trial. WI

Anti-Environmental Racism Activists Targeted $3050 for dance lessons, tutoring and basketball expenses for three kids, ages 11-15, from three families whose parents and guardians are fighting processing plants being placed in their predominantly Black communities. A lawsuit filed by one company names one of the women, and all three have been harassed by local officials. AL, PA

Activist Attorney Survives Assassination Attempt $1995 for music lessons, tennis and a computer for two kids, ages 14 and 18, whose father lives in exile in the U.S. He faced threats to his life for his advocacy work in his home country for rural communities’ right to control natural resources autonomously. MA

Animal Rights Activist Incarcerated $1000 for music classes for the 17-year-old daughter whose father was jailed for destroying traps set for mountain lions and now advocates for wolves. AZ

Family Fears Physical Harm $500 for enrichment programming for the six-year-old son whose parents faced intimidation for their environmental activism. Their home address was published and multiple people threatened violence. OR 

GENDER EQUALITY, LGBTQ, & REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS

Daughters Assaulted $4000 for school tuition for the 12 and 17-year-old siblings whose family had to flee their home country after their mother and two sisters were brutalized for the mom’s work against female genital mutilation. NY

Mom Fights to End Torture $2000 for volleyball for the 15-year-old daughter whose mother provided advocacy and assistance to women whose rights had been violated in their home country. She was detained and arrested before seeking refuge in the U.S. IL

Mother Threatened with Loss of Son $1500 for equine therapy for the 11-year-old whose mother, an LGBTQ rights activist, was threatened by the state with the removal of her child because of her organizing. OR                 

HUMAN RIGHTS

Mother Beaten $3300 for tutoring and a CIF award for three siblings, ages 14 to 20, whose mother organized against government corruption in her home nation. She came to the U.S. after the military harassed and assaulted her. IL

Father Jailed, Tortured $1500 for counseling for the 17-year-old daughter whose father was a leader in the fight against human rights violations in his home country. He was imprisoned and tortured before escaping with his daughters to the U.S. IL

Family Attacked $1000 for tutoring for the 13-year-old son whose father was driven out of his home country by officials opposed to his efforts to end political violence. He was harassed and jailed, family members were beaten, and the son was threatened. The boy lives in the U.S. with his stepmother now while his father continues his activism abroad. MA

Indigenous Family Suffers Retaliation $1000 for orthodontia for the 12-year-old whose grandmother’s activism to hold her tribal leader accountable for human rights violations resulted in her being denied employment and health insurance from her Nation, resulting in significant hardship. NY  

Mother Forced to Flee $150 for educational support for the son, age 10, whose mother was forced to leave their home country after witnessing the assassination of a doctor. She supported his efforts for patients’ rights to health care; after the murder, soldiers killed the other witness and assaulted her. IL

IMMIGRANTS’ RIGHTS

Moms Harassed for Advocacy $4358 for childcare and recreational activities for four boys, ages four to 12, from two families, whose moms are vocal immigrants’ rights activists despite facing intimidation from ICE and local officials and having to take sanctuary themselves. In one family, the boys’ father, previously unknown to ICE, was detained in probable retaliation for his wife’s activism. Locations withheld

Dad Targeted While in Sanctuary $2240 for recreational and educational activities for three children, ages 10 to 16, whose father is an immigrants’ rights leader. Since being denied a stay of deportation and entering sanctuary, DHS and ICE officials have escalated threats and pressure against him. Location withheld  

Father Deported $2015 for skateboarding, French classes and sports programming for two siblings, ages 12 and 16. ICE detained and deported their father, despite his pending case, in an apparent act of retaliation for his years of leadership within the immigrants’ rights movement. Location withheld  

Young Immigrants’ Rights Activist Detained $1600 for a TAY Development grant and CIF award for the 24-year-old targeted and detained by ICE following her outspoken campaign to release immigrants, including a family member, from detention. She is still fighting the government’s efforts to deport her even though she meets DACA requirements. CA            

LABOR & ECONOMIC JUSTICE

Father Disabled by Police Beating $4500 for childcare for three siblings, ages eight to nine, whose father, a whistleblower for worker and consumer safety, was laid off and harassed, then arrested and attacked by police. Despite multiple surgeries, he is incapacitated and partially paralyzed. MA

Teacher Fired for Advocating for Her Students $4000 for school tuition for two children, ages seven and 11, whose mother was terminated and blacklisted, despite stellar evaluations, because of her organizing efforts with parents on behalf of public school students with special needs. GA 

Mother Organized After Katrina $2000 for educational support and a computer for two kids, ages 13 and 17, whose mother helped lead a movement to assert public housing residents’ rights to return home after the storm. In retaliation, she was harassed and jailed on false assault charges. LA         

Moms Met With Backlash $2400 for school tuition and sports for two sons, ages eight and 16, from two families, whose moms faced retaliation for their advocacy for low-income folks. One was threatened with prison, the other lost everything when she was illegally evicted after opening a restaurant offering meals for the homeless, space for organizers and jobs for underserved youth. GA, TX          

Union Leader Imprisoned $1000 for martial arts classes for the 15-year-old son whose father fought for workers’ rights, co-founded an immigrant advocacy collective and spoke out against the Afghanistan and Iraq occupations.  He was arrested on politically motivated charges and has been in prison since 2012. FL          

PEACE

Children and Parents Working Together for Peace $15,000 for music lessons, childcare, tuition, recreational activities and a computer for 13 children, ages two to 18, from six families who are members of pacifist communities.  Parents and teenage children have engaged in peaceful anti-war protests and many of the parents have been imprisoned for civil disobedience.  ME, NY, NC, VA, WA

Support for Children of Torture Survivors $4500 for a group grant for music therapy and photography supplies for kids whose activist parents survived torture in their home countries. The program serves 12 children, ages three to 18, from six refugee families in which at least one parent was a targeted pro-democracy activist. IL  

Dad Charged for Protesting with his Children $3650 for art supplies, educational support and a gym membership for two siblings, ages 14 and 17, whose father was arrested at a peaceful demonstration and faced additional charges of contributing to the delinquency of a minor for bringing his children with him to the event. NC     

Father Forced to Leave Country $2800 for school tuition for two children, ages seven and 12, whose dad established an interfaith mosque to counteract society’s negative bias towards Muslims in the post-9/11 era. He faced harassment and detention by the FBI and local law enforcement. He chose to leave the U.S. to end his family’s and his own persecution. NY

Father Fights to Stop Grand Jury Witch Hunts $1500 for sports programs for the 14-year-old daughter whose father, a member of a peace and international solidarity group, had his home raided and was threatened with arrest, but refuses to testify before a grand jury investigating anti-war activists. IL   

PRISONERS’ RIGHTS / U.S. POLITICAL PRISONERS

Sons of Political Prisoners Targeted $8000 for school tuition, personal training and a computer for five kids, ages eight to 15, from two families whose fathers are both children of political prisoners. Their activism on behalf of political prisoners’ rights has resulted in police harassment and lost jobs. GA, PA

Mother Threatened for Helping Prisoners $3000 for cultural programs for the six and nine-year-old sons whose mother created an alternative program for inmates at a federal penitentiary. She was accused of conspiring with a political prisoner and threatened with prosecution. NY  

Former Political Prisoner Faces Harassment $2000 for school tuition for the 12-year-old twins whose father was incarcerated for anti-apartheid efforts and continues to face ongoing targeting for his work to free political prisoners.  MA        

Dad Punished for Anti-Prison Art $2000 for music and art lessons for the seven and 11-year-old daughters whose incarcerated father advocates for prison abolition in his poetry and writing. His views have resulted in prolonged periods in solitary confinement, violent attacks and denial of communication with his family.  CO               

RACIAL JUSTICE

HERMAN WARSH MEMORIAL FUND* Teacher Threatened $3450 for childcare and school tuition for two brothers, ages three and 15, whose father was targeted after advocating for fair treatment of a student who reacted physically to a classmate’s racist comments. Their dad lost his job, was blacklisted and dealt with hate mail and death threats. Garbage was thrown on their lawn and the windows of their home were smashed, so they moved. GA  (*For more information see rfc.org/namedfunds.)

Families Targeted for Anti-Racist Activism $10,500 for gymnastics, cultural programming and two computers for eight kids, ages seven to 14, from four families, whose fathers faced repression for their racial justice organizing. Two lost jobs, one was arrested more than 40 times, others faced surveillance, arrest and harassment. CO, GA

Advocates Blacklisted $4670 for sports and educational programming for six children, ages eight to 17, from two families, whose mothers were both targeted for their anti-racist organizing in the workplace, fired without cause and have been prevented from working in their fields. GA, OK

Families Intimidated for Organizing $3274 for educational support, martial arts classes and a computer for two kids, ages 17 and 21, from two families. Both moms were targeted by local officials; one was attacked and the other had to relocate twice due to her roles in several high-profile racial justice campaigns. CA, GA

Family Threatened by KKK $1000 for school tuition for the 17-year-old daughter of an activist who received death threats from the Klan for her efforts to desegregate a public housing complex. OR

ATTICA AWARDS[3] $4000 for four kids, ages four to 23, from two families to visit loved ones incarcerated for their activism. ND

CIF AWARDS $2400 for CIF Awards for textbooks and school supplies for four beneficiaries, ages 19 to 23, from four families. Their parents advocated for climate justice, human rights and peace. IL, ND

$7000 to help fund the 2021 RFC Gathering.