In a statement made on their social media channels on Tuesday, June 2, The Tampa Bay Rays and Tampa Bay Rowdies announced they are committing to “$100,000 per year to supporting causes in the fight against systemic racism”.

The statements come in the week following the murder of George Floyd at the hands of a police officer.

Through the coming days and weeks, they will share more information, identify the organizations, and use their platforms to amplify those organizations’ vital messages.

The teams’ Committee on Diversity and Inclusion will be in charge of directing the funds.

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Shining a light on injustice

In addition, The City of St. Petersburg has invited residents to show solidarity and shine a light on injustice. In a time that calls for social distancing and community demonstration of concern, they ask residents to ‘join’ together in a silent and peaceful protest by standing outside on their front porch or yard for 8 minutes and 46 seconds – the length of time George Floyd suffered on May 25. The demonstration begins Tuesday, June 2 at 8:00 P.M. and will run through Tuesday, June 9 (eight days). Read more here.

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Additional resources for Tampa Bay and beyond

Green Book of Tampa Bay offers a comprehensive directory of black-owned businesses in the Tampa Bay region. We’ve used this directory to feature many of the businesses we’ve put together in our list of black-owned businesses in St. Petersburg and Tampa you can support right now.

Looking for educational materials to help start and conduct conversations with your kids/students? Cultured Books, a locally-owned children’s bookstore in St. Pete, has created a “Let’s Talk About Race + Racism” reading list.

A comprehensive Antiracist Resource Guide was created by Nicole Slaughter-Graham, interim editor of The Temper and St. Pete resident, for all those who wish to educate themselves and their loved ones.

The Tampa Bay Students for a Democratic Society organized a fundraiser to support those that came out to fight for justice and show solidarity for George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and the countless other victims of police brutality. The fundraiser has already exceeded its $20,000 goal.