Racial Justice Rising is a small, all-volunteer racial justice organization based in Franklin County, Massachusetts.
The members of Racial Justice Rising are ordinary people who are troubled by the persistent racism that plagues this country. Believing that the damage caused by racism must be repaired before our society can be whole, we work for just and respectful treatment for all.
While much of our work is focused in our local area, we reach out to and are connected with the broader movements in our region and the nation.
The members of Racial Justice Rising believe that:
- White people created racism to rationalize and justify the results of colonization: genocide, enslavement of free peoples, destruction of Indigenous societies around the world, and other inhuman behavior.
- White supremacy is the cornerstone of racism.
- Racism is one of the primary tools of social control in the U.S. and world-wide, embedded in economic, housing, education, judicial, healthcare, and other systems, and in civic and interpersonal relations.
- Racism, which can manifest as internalized racial superiority in perpetrators or internalized racial inferiority in those targeted, causes immeasurable harm to both.
Our mission is twofold: to help build the movement for racial justice by contributing to a deeper understanding of systemic racism and racial justice, and to engage in restorative activities that help to heal the racial divide and bring justice for people targeted by racism.
Our local activities include free monthly programs.
Mass Slavery Apology, the group’s original name, is still the name of the project that started our work — our statement of apology for slavery and commitments to restorative action.
RJR supports Greenfield Racial Justice!
Click here to learn about this new group in our community.
Consider joining our new reparations group!
Interview with RJR members, WGBY Connecting Point 10/28/19
Events
See our Events page for more information about our events.
WEEKLY VIGIL
Every Saturday from 10-11 a.m. on the Greenfield Common, at least through December.
FREE FILM AND DISCUSSION
MOSSVILLE: When Great Trees Fall
Please join us! December 3-7, 2020
Click here for more information
FREE FILM AND DISCUSSION: THE HARVEST/LA COSECHA
Please join us! September 10-14, 2020
Click here for more info
FREE MONTHLY PROGRAMS
On-line monthly programs will begin in January 2021.
The first program will feature children who participate in the local program Twice As Smart speaking about the impact COVID-19 has had on their lives.
More information to come.
Our 2020 monthly programs are supported in part by grants from these Local Cultural Councils: Amherst, Ashfield, Bernardston, Buckland, Charlemont-Hawley, Conway, Gill, Greenfield, Heath, Montague, New Salem, Northfield, Orange, Pelham, Rowe, Shelburne, Shutesbury, Warwick, Wendell, and Whately, local agencies which are supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.