NEW GRANTS

Mother Targeted for Pro-Choice Advocacy $5000 for computers, educational materials and recreation activities for the four sons, ages one to 16, whose mother participated in a news segment opposing her state’s abortion restrictions. As a result, her nonprofit lost funding and her children were harassed in the local school. AL

Mom in Asylum Limbo for 10+ Years $4800 for school tuition and three Carry it Forward (CIF) awards for five siblings, ages 15-22, whose mother is an immigrants’ rights activist. As a result of her organizing, her asylum case was delayed for 12 years making it difficult for her to gain employment; this caused her family great financial stress and led them to become unhoused for more than four years. NY

Mother Blacklisted $4500 for educational support, recreational activities and computers for three children, ages 11 to 16, whose mother advocates for individuals who were wronged in the criminal justice system. Because of her advocacy, she has been blacklisted and cannot work within a 100-mile radius of her home. AL

Family Swatted $4100 for childcare and a CIF award for the three siblings, ages 11 to 18, whose mother is a prominent racial justice activist. As a result of her organizing, the family has been targeted by individuals reporting false emergency situations with the family, drawing a large police presence to their house and exposing them to possible police violence and significant trauma. CA

Whistleblower Imprisoned $3000 for educational support and recreational activities for the two siblings, ages seven and 11, whose father exposed the FBI’s racist targeting of Muslim communities and was subsequently imprisoned. CA

Activist Forced out of Work $2700 for dance classes, music lessons and a CIF award for three siblings, ages nine to 18, whose mother advocated against racism and rape culture in schools. In retaliation, she lost contracts with the local schools and government that she relied on to support her family and was forced to relocate. OK

Peaceful Organizer Charged $1500 for mental health services for the 13-year-old child of a racial justice organizer who was falsely arrested at a peaceful protest. Because prosecutors charged her with gang enhancements, she faced up to eight years in jail. AZ

Young Environmental Activist Expelled $1500 for homeschooling support for the 13-year-old environmental activist who began a public protest every Friday afternoon to raise awareness of global heating. While many other students were allowed to make up work if they missed school for educational reasons, he was expelled and faced harassment from truck drivers who used their big rigs to smog him. WI

Peace Activist’s Vehicle Vandalized $1500 for school tuition for the 13-year-old grandson whose grandmother (with whom he lives part time), a peace activist, travels the U.S. advocating for social justice in a truck painted with peace slogans. In response to her activism, her vehicle has been vandalized on numerous occasions and other drivers have tried to run her off the road. GA

Labor Organizer Followed $1500 for tutoring for the nine-year-old daughter of an Amazon employee who spoke out against the company’s mistreatment of workers. She was followed on multiple occasions in suspected targeting for her activism, making her feel unsafe in her home and forcing her to relocate. CA

Activist Hit by Car $1000 for a Targeted Activist Youth (TAY) Development grant2 for the 24-year-old racial justice activist who was hit by a government official's car during a protest. He also faced intimidation by local police officers who followed him home after a protest. IA

CIVIL LIBERTIES

Activists Forced out of Work $9100 for a broad range of programs for seven children, ages three to 22, from four families whose parents were fired for advocating for equality for their students, BLM and journalists' free speech rights. CA, GA, MI, MN

Activist Father Tortured $4500 for educational supplies for four children, ages seven to 14, whose family fled the U.S. to escape the FBI’s harassment of their father for his outspoken opposition to U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East. He was arrested and tortured before being extradited back to the U.S., forcing the family to relocate once again. GA

Organizer Serving 28 Years $1850 for educational supplies and a CIF award for the two daughters, ages 18 and 23, whose father was a leader of an organization committed to Black and Brown unity, and human and civil rights. He was convicted of racketeering and sentenced to decades in prison despite maintaining his innocence. NC

Journalist Stabbed $1200 for educational support for the seven-year-old daughter whose father, a journalist, was attacked while covering a neo-Nazi rally. His attacker was not charged, but he was arrested and the police confiscated his memory card. CA

Mom Harassed $1000 for dance lessons for the five-year-old daughter 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 subsequent harassment. Location withheld

ENVIRONMENTAL & ANIMAL RIGHTS

Parents Fight to Protect Environment $16,600 for a broad range of programs for 12 children, ages six to 18, from four families. Some parents were beaten and arrested while marching against environmental racism; others were attacked and/or imprisoned for their community organizing work. CA, FL, GA

Pipeline Protesters Targeted $8600 for educational and extracurricular programs for seven children, ages 10 to 22, from three families whose parents fought against the construction of pipelines. One mother was physically assaulted and the other parents faced felony charges. LA, NM, WI

Father Falsely Accused $2000 for educational support for the 15-year-old son whose father spent decades litigating against a large oil company and achieved a historic victory. As a result, the company has relentlessly targeted him, resulting in significant financial loss and six months of jail time in addition to over two years of house arrest. NY

Environmental Lawyer Survives Assassination Attempt $1600 for a music program, tutoring and a CIF award for the 16 and 20-year-old siblings 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

Environmental Activists & Children Threatened $1000 for physical therapy for the 12-year-old son whose father and older brother have been harassed and faced death threats as a result of their work to protect the local water basin. LA

Anti-Environmental Racism Activist Targeted $1000 for recreational activities and tutoring for the 18-year-old boy whose guardian organized against processing plants being placed in their predominantly Black community. One of the companies filed a lawsuit against her, and she faced harassment from local officials. AL

GENDER EQUALITY, LGBTQ & REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS

Mother Threatened with Loss of Son $2100 for equine therapy and a CIF award for the 13 and 22-year-old siblings whose mother, an LGBTQ rights activist, was threatened by the state with the removal of one of her children because of her organizing. OR

Daughters Assaulted $2000 for school tuition for the 15-year-old son whose family had to flee their home country after his mother and two sisters were brutalized for the mom’s work against female genital mutilation. NY

Mom Fights to End Torture $1000 for swimming classes for the 17-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

HUMAN RIGHTS

Parents Forced to Flee $4300 for tutoring, childcare and extracurricular activities for three children, ages five to 13, from two families whose parents, both human rights activists, were forced to leave their home country after their comrades were killed or imprisoned. IL, NY

Mom Fights for Indigenous Rights $3000 for tutoring and recreational activities for the two siblings, ages six and seven, whose mom was repeatedly stalked and threatened for her efforts to change Columbus Day to Indigenous People’s Day. NM

Father Forced to Leave Country $3000 for school tuition for two children, ages nine and 14, whose dad established an interfaith mosque to counteract society’s negative bias towards Muslims post-9/11. He faced harassment and detention by the FBI and local law enforcement and chose to leave the U.S. to end the persecution. NY

Mother Beaten $1600 for tutoring and a CIF award for the 16 and 18-year-old daughters whose mother organized against government corruption in her home nation. She came to the U.S. after the military harassed and assaulted her. IL

Family Attacked $1200 for strength training for the 15-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 his son was threatened. The boy lives in the U.S. with his stepmother while his father continues his activism abroad. MA

IMMIGRANTS' RIGHTS

Immigrants’ Rights Whistleblower Targeted $3750 for educational supplies for three children, ages 10 to 16, whose mother lost her job and faced threats for exposing flagrant disregard for health and safety as well as appalling medical malfeasance at her work. Location withheld

Father Deported $3000 for French classes, school supplies and graphic art supplies for two siblings, ages 14 and 18, whose father was detained and deported by ICE, despite his pending case, in an apparent act of retaliation for his years of leadership within the immigrants’ rights movement. Location withheld

Mom Faces Retaliation for Advocacy $2902 for ski passes for the two sons, ages six and 13, whose mother became a vocal activist from sanctuary. The boys’ father, previously unknown to ICE, was detained in probable retaliation for his wife’s activism. Location withheld

Parents Face Backlash $2100 for educational supplies and a CIF award for two kids, ages 15 and 19, whose parents speak out and organize events in support of humane immigration policies despite having previously been forced into sanctuary. They continue to face scrutiny and unusual treatment by ICE as a result. Location withheld

Hunger Strike Participant Threatened $2000 for educational support and swimming lessons for two kids, ages eight and 12, whose father participated in a hunger strike at a detention center to protest the detention of immigrants and unsafe conditions during the pandemic. As a result of the strike, he was threatened with deportation, told he would not be eligible for release and taunted by prison guards. Location withheld

Dad Targeted While in Sanctuary $1350 for internet access and a CIF award for two brothers, ages 17 and 19, whose father is an immigrants’ rights leader. He spent more than four years in sanctuary, dealing with threats and pressure from DHS and ICE officials, before finally being able to return home to his family while pursuing his fight against deportation. Location withheld

LABOR & ECONOMIC JUSTICE

Father Disabled by Police Beating $4500 for support services for three siblings, ages 10 to 11, 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

Mom Loses Job $3000 for school tuition for two kids, ages nine and 13, whose mother was fired for advocating for her students. GA

Sons Flee with Mother $1170 for acting lessons for the 18-year-old whose mother was threatened with prison for trying to address the needs of low-income families. TX

Union Leader Imprisoned $1000 for martial arts classes for the 18-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 $11,600 for a wide range of programs for 10 children, ages four to 21, from three families who are members of pacifist communities. Parents have engaged in peaceful anti-war protests and many of the parents have been imprisoned for civil disobedience. NC, VA, WA

Support for Children of Torture Survivors $3500 for a group grant for outdoor activities for kids whose activist parents survived torture in their home countries. The program serves 14 children, ages eight to 19, from six refugee families in which at least one parent was a targeted pro-democracy activist. IL

Adoptive Dad Thwarted by Felonies $2000 for sports expenses for the 15-year-old son whose father has been arrested upwards of 100 times for his direct actions related to peace and social justice. He has two felonies for actions he took more than 20 years ago; these convictions have kept him from being able to legally adopt his son. DC

Father Fights to Stop Witch Hunts $1000 for sports programs for the 16-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 $7500 for school tuition and exercise equipment for five kids, ages 10 to 17, 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, VA

Mother Threatened for Helping Prisoners $4500 for cultural programs for three children, ages eight to 18, whose mom created an alternative program 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 14-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 $1780 for music lessons and educational supplies for the nine and 13-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, additional charges and denial of communication with his family. CO

HARRY FLEMMING FUND $1500 for a special one time grant to allow the three young grandchildren and great-grandchildren of a long time political prisoner to travel to meet him for the first time and/or attend his memorial service. (For more information see rfc.org/namedfunds.)

RACIAL JUSTICE

Parents Targeted for Anti-Racist Organizing $11,550 for a wide range of programs for eight children, ages five to 19, from four families, whose parents were targeted for their anti-racist organizing in the workplace; some have faced harassment while others were fired without cause and have been prevented from working in their fields. GA, OK, NC

Fathers Targeted for Anti-Racist Activism $6200 for tuition, tutoring and recreational activities for four kids, ages 12 to 16, from two families, whose dads faced repression for their racial justice organizing. One lost his job and the other was arrested more than 40 times. CO, GA

Family Threatened by KKK $2700 for orthodontia and two CIF awards for three daughters, ages 17 to 23, whose activist mom received death threats from the Klan for her efforts to desegregate a public housing complex. OR

Police Target Mother $1500 for dance lessons for the 14-year-old daughter whose mother fought to reallocate funding from the police to mental health services. As a result, she was harassed online by local police officers and someone fired a gun in her driveway in the middle of the night. TX

Young Civil Rights Activist Targeted $1200 for mental health support for the 17-year-old targeted activist youth who was bullied due to her leadership in the Black Lives Matter movement. Location withheld

GROCERY GIFT CARDS $14,000 to provide a $200 Grocery Card for current RFC beneficiary families.

VIRTUAL GATHERINGS $2500 covering the costs of virtual programming for RFC beneficiaries in lieu of an in-person Gathering.

CIF AWARDS $5400 for nine CIF awards for textbooks and school supplies for nine beneficiaries, ages 18 to 24, from six families. Their parents advocate for animal rights, prisoners’ rights, human rights and racial justice. AZ, CA, AL, IL