Recent Tragedies (and How to Help)
- Victoria Johnson
- Jul 19, 2016
- 8 min read
Recent World Tragedies, What They Are, and How You Can Help
You might realize that a lot of these sources repeat, as many sites, companies, and nonprofits are trying to support multiple causes.
Please note that this is NOT meant to say that you are not doing anything or not doing enough to support these causes. This article is not meant to offend or judge you in the slightest, but is a hopeful guideline to try to help offer more support the victims of these tragedies.
Orlando Pulse Nightclub Shooting
What Happened?
On June 12, 2016, a 29-year-old man entered Pulse, a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, on Latin Night. He killed 49 people and wounded 53 others before being killed by the police. Most of his victims were Hispanic. You can learn more about the victims—their names, their lives, and their accomplishments—here.
Important point: This is considered a hate crime and a terroristic attack.
How Can I Help?
You can send money to the gofundme page that’s supporting the victims. Sure, they’ve already raised $7million… but between 102 victims, they could still use more support.
You can write to your governors, senators, and representatives in support of LGBT+ rights. Sure, gay marriage is legalized. But there’s so much more that still needs to be done to support the LGBT+ community, such as:
- Conversion therapy (that is, where religious individuals might send their
children away to camps designed to convince them that they’re actually
heterosexual and that homosexuality is a sin and a phase) is still legal in most
states
- In many states, LGBT+ are still at risk of being denied employment, housing,
or healthcare simply because of their gender or sexuality
-It is incredibly difficult for same-sex couples to adopt children in most parts of
the US
-the Gay Panic defense (where an assailant can say they temporarily panicked
when they realized someone was sexuality attracted to the same sex, causing the
assailant to brutalize/murder the gay person in question) is still legal in all
states but California
-Similarly, “Trans panic” defense is still legal
You can also google petitions for your state/area and see what you can sign that are pro-LGBT+.
Black Lives Matter Movement, Alton Sterling, and Philando Castile***
What Happened?
Black Lives Matter (BLM) is an activist movement created by the African-American community in the wake of Trayvon Martin’s death at the hands of George Zimmerman. Their goal is to fight racism and prejudice against African-Americans that still exists in the United States, particularly focusing on the violence that the African-American community suffers as well as racial inequality on the part of the US Legal system.
Recently, Alton Sterling and Philando Castile died under suspicious circumstances at the hands of police officers. Alton Sterling, a 37-year-old black man was killed on July 5, 2016. He was tackled to the ground by two white Baton Rouge officers—Howie Lake and Blane Salamoni—and shot several times in the head at point-blank range.
While many sources are quick to point out that Alton Sterling had an extensive criminal record, it is also important to note that both police officers had been accused of using excessive force and that Lake had previously shot an African-American male, forcing him on depart-mandated leave. Alton Sterling leaves behind five children.
In terms of Philando Castile, he was fatally shot by Minnesota Police Officer Jeronimo Yanez. Castile was pulled over on July 6, 2016 in Falcon Heights as a part of a traffic stop. His girlfriend was in the car, as was his four-year-old daughter.
Reportedly, after being asked for his license and registration, Castile told the officer that he had a license to carry a concealed weapon and had one in the car. The officer allegedly told him not to move, and as Castile was putting his hands up, the officer shot him four or five times.
Important point: none of the police officers involved have had charges against them in the aftermath, though they are all on departmental leave.
How Can I Help?
You can donate money to help pay for Alton Sterling’s funeral and support the family and the children that Sterling left behind.
You can also help pay for Philando Castile’s funeral and support his family and his daughter.
As for the BLM movement as a whole, you can go to their website read more about their cause and actions. They frequently post information, petitions, and have fundraisers to help the African-American community.
Lastly, if you haven’t already, you can read more about African-American history to make sure you are informed. Become an ally: speak out and defend African-Americans. Discourage racist actions and remarks, and encourage your loved ones to become more well-read on the subject and become African-American allies as well.
The Dallas and Baton Rouge Police Victims***
What Happened?
On July 7, 2016, Micah Xavier Johnson ambushed and fired upon a group of police officers in Dallas, Texas. He killed five officers, injured nine others, and also hurt two bystanders. The shooting happened following a peaceful Black Lives Matter protest in support of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile.
The shooting was the deadliest incident for US law enforcement since the 9/11 terrorist attacks, and that Johnson was killed following a standoff upon fleeing the scene. The victims include DPD Senior Corporal Lorne Ahrens, 48; DPD Officer Michael Krol, 40; DPD Sergeant Michael Smith, 55, a former Army ranger; DART Officer Brent Thompson, 43, a former marine; and DPD Officer Patrick Zamarripa, 32, a former Navy Sailor and Iraq War veteran.
On July 17, 2016, Gavin Long attacked many police officers in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The police were called to Airline Highway on reports of a suspicious man with a weapon. Three police officers were murdered, while another three were seriously injured. Long was shot and killed following the aftermath of his assault.
The victims include BRPD Officer Montrell Jackson, 32, a veteran and a new father; BRPD Officer Matthew Gerald, 41; and BRPD Sheriff Deputy Brad Garafola, 45, a veteran. More information is still being released. It is possible that others were involved in the attack, but that might just be speculation at this point.
Important point: while Johnson and Long are speculated to be members of the Black Lives Matter movement, BLM does NOT support their actions, as they advocate for peaceful protests and actions.
How Can I Help?
You can donate to help pay for the Dallas police officers’ funerals and help pay for the families they left behind while they cope with this tragedy.
You can also donate to support the Baton Rouge police officer’s families and help pay for the officers’ funerals.
As well, there are many local movements and fundraisers going on for the Dallas police officers.
Similarly, you can support local movements for the Baton Rouge Police victims.
There are national campaigns to help fallen police officers, their colleagues, and their families, such National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund and the Officer Down Memorial Page.
***I will address police violence/brutality in another article, as I want this article to focus on supporting the victims.
Nice, France Bastille Day Attack
What Happened?
Nice is a city in Southeast France that edges the Mediterranean Sea. It is the fifth largest city in France. While celebrating Bastille Day on July 14, 2016, a large truck plowed through the crowd in Nice, killing 84 people and injuring dozens of others.
Important point: the French President has labeled this as a terrorist attack, and there is speculation that the attack is linked to the “Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant”, also known as ISIL, most commonly known as ISIS. Please be aware that these connections have not been confirmed as of yet.
How Can I Help?
You can donate to the French Red Cross, which has been providing funding and healthcare to the victims.
You can donate to Give for France, which was established after the Paris Attacks to help French victims of terrorism. There is a US-based foundation that also supports French victims of terrorism, Friends of Foundation de France that you can donate to.
Lastly, the United Nations has a branch that raises money for victims of terrorists around the globe, and are raising money for the victims and their families in Nice. The branch is called “Victims of Terrorist Support Portal”.
Coup Against the Turkish Government
What Happened?
A faction of the military got together to carry out what is being labeled a “failed coup” starting on July 15, 2016. There was a helicopter attack on the police special forces headquarters on the outskirts of Ankara, Turkey’s parliamentary building was hit with a bomb, and other smaller-scale attacks occurred throughout the country. The reported death toll is at least 265 people, with about 1440 people wounded.
On Saturday, the Turkish President placed blame on his former ally turned rival, Fethullah Gulen, a 75-year-old Muslim cleric now living in the US, claims which Gulen has publicly refuted. Thousands of military personnel have been arrested as they are thought to have been involved. Information is still coming out, so please keep in mind that it is important to keep reading about the coup.
Important point: many are concerned what this means for the minority groups in Turkey. A part of the Ottoman Empire—now Turkey—carried out a genocide against the Armenian and Assyrian people from 1915 to 1919, a tragedy that the Turkish government still refuses to acknowledge. There is also a recent record of antisemitism and violence against Jewish people in Turkey, as well as violence against the Kurds. It has been mentioned that some groups are concerned that the coup will cause the government to discriminate more harshly against the minority groups.
How Can I Help?
You can donate money and blood to the Red Cross. They have been responding to the victims in Turkey.
You can keep an eye out for petitions or fundraising movements that Amnesty International has been carrying out for Turkey in the past few months.
Similarly, you can keep up-to-date with the United Nations’ commentary and support for what is going on with Turkey.
General Ways to Support Human Rights
If you’d like to extend support or get involved in more human rights in general, here’s what you can do:
Familiarize yourself with and follow the news with the United Nations and Amnesty International. These nonprofits--which I have mentioned throughout the article--are international organizations that raise money and sign petitions to support human rights.
Support/donate/give blood to the Red Cross. They are also an international organization, but they focus more on tragedies, national disasters, and emergency situations.
If you’re interested in other international nonprofit Human Rights organizations, you can start doing some research at the online Human Rights Library. They can help you learn more about former and current human rights issues, as well as find Human Rights campaigns that might better suit your interests or pertain to your local area.
And most importantly: don't keep quiet. Spread the word, share the updates, make related information known. Let people know about support efforts and encourage them to get involved.
Are there any tragedies or important organizations that I missed? If so, my apologies. Please comment with what the tragedies are and provide links and explanations to how people can help.
#tragedies #worldnews #currentevents #howtohelp #tragedyaid #orlando #prayfororlando #pulse #pulsenightclub #pulseshooting #orlandoshooting #orlandopulseshooting #lgbt #lgbt #lesbian #gay #bisexual #transgender #hispanic #hatecrime #worstmassshootinginushistory #ushistory #unitedstates #unitedstatesofamerica #gofundme #governors #representatives #congress #senators #gaymarriage #conversiontherapy #heteronormativity #heterosexuality #heterosexual #homosexual #homosexuality #healthcare #womenshealth #adoption #gaypanicdefense #transpanicdefense #blm #blacklivesmatter #trayvonmartin #peacefulprotest #georgezimmerman #uslegalsystem #altonsterling #philandocastile #philcastile #batonrouge #howielake #blanesalamoni #jeronimoyanez #africanamerican #africanamerican #american #black #racism #racist #africanamericanhistory #gayhistory #lgbthistory #dallaspoliceshooting #dallas #dallaspolice #batonrougepoliceshooting #batonrougepolice #police #bluelivesmatter #micahjohnson #lorneahrens #michaelkrol #michaelsmith #brentthompson #patrickzamarripa #veterans #navy #usnavy #army #gavinlong #airlinehighway #montrelljackson #matthewgerald #bradgarafola #nationallawenforcementofficersmemorialfund #officerdownmemorial #nleomf #odm #nice #nicefrance #bastilledayattack #nicebastilledayattack #francebastilledayattack #bastilleday #france #isis #isil #redcross #giveforfrance #friendsoffoundationdefrance #unitednations #victimsofterrorists #victimsofterroristssupportportal #turkey #turkishgovernment #turkishcoup #coup #failedcoup #ankara #ankaraturkey #parliament #gulen #fethullahgulen #ottomanempire #armeniangenocide #antisemitism #jewishpeople #jews #jewishfaith #kurds #amnesty #amnestyinternational #humanrights #humanrightslibrary
Comments