Last fall, the RFC awarded almost $200,000 in grants, which brought our annual total to over $410,000 for the second year in a row. Clearly, there is a significant need for educational and emotional support for children of targeted activists. We are immensely grateful to you all for allowing us to continue supporting the most vulnerable members of our progressive activist community.

NEW GRANTS

Mother Battles for a Safe Community $6000 for four children, ages six to 18, whose mother is a vocal critic of environmental racism, fighting to halt construction of a corporate landfill adjacent to her family’s property. As a result of her activism, she was denied employment multiple times and pro-landfill teachers even started issuing failing grades to her children in school. AL

Activist Forced to Flee $4600 for educational supplies and a Carry it Forward (CIF) [1] award for the children (ages 12, 16 and 21) of a Middle Eastern pro-democracy activist who was threatened in her home country and forced to seek asylum in the United States. NY

Black Liberation Advocate Harassed $4500 for the four children, ages one through 13, whose dad comes from a long line of organizers for racial justice. After watching police attack his father, he continues his family legacy of activism despite being fired and attacked for speaking out. GA

Educator Falsely Reported $3000 for the two children, ages nine and 15, whose mother, a teacher, fought for the wellbeing of all students after her young child was physically assaulted by a school employee. As a result of her organizing, the school fired her and reported her as an unfit parent. Her activism is slowly resulting in a safer school environment. AL

Mayor Fights to Govern $1500 for childcare for the two-year-old daughter of a town’s first Black mayor, a longtime community activist, who has been systematically barred from assuming office. He has been locked out of city hall, prevented from performing mayoral duties and suspended from his EMT position by a corrupt group of town officials who do not want to see him in power. AL

Community Leader Endangered $1500 for early childhood education for the four-year-old son whose parent, a prominent leader in the Black Lives Matter movement, was followed, doxed and harassed by police and white supremacist groups. WA

CIVIL LIBERTIES

Activists Forced out of Work $7000 for a broad range of programs for five children, ages four to 18, from four families whose parents were fired for advocating for equity in schools, racial justice and free press rights. CA, GA, MI, MN

Father Tortured $6000 in homeschooling expenses for four children aged eight to 15 whose family fled the U.S. to escape the FBI’s harassment of their father for his public opposition to U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East. He was arrested, tortured and extradited back to the U.S., which forced the family to relocate once again. GA

FBI Whistleblower Prosecuted $4000 to support two children, ages eight and 12, whose father leaked documents that exposed racist surveillance tactics in the U.S. He was sentenced to prison and forced to liquidate all assets to pay legal fees. CA

Mom Harassed $1500 for dance and music lessons for a six-year-old girl whose mom went 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

Journalist Stabbed $1500 for tutoring for the eight-year-old daughter whose father, a journalist, was attacked while covering a neo-Nazi rally. He was arrested and had his camera confiscated while his attacker walked free. CA

ENVIRONMENTAL & ANIMAL RIGHTS

Parents Fight to Protect Environment $14,920 for a broad range of programs and one CIF award for 12 children, ages seven to 20, from four families. Some parents were beaten and arrested while marching against environmental racism, while others were attacked or imprisoned for their organizing work. FL, GA, CA

Pipeline Protestors Targeted $8600, including a CIF award, for six children, ages six to 19, from three families. Their parents helped disrupt pipeline operations and bring attention to the impact of the fossil fuel industry. One parent was physically assaulted, another faced felony charges and another was forced to relocate. NM, WI, VA

Environmental Racism Protesters Targeted $3800 for three children, ages three to 17, from two families. Both families have spent years organizing against environmental racism in their communities and have faced targeting by employers and police. AL

Environmental Lawyer Survives Assassination Attempt $1600 for tutoring and a CIF award for two children, ages 17 and 21, whose father lives in exile in the U.S. He faced threats to his life for his advocacy in his home country for rural communities’ right to their natural resources. MA

Environmental Activist & Children Threatened $1500 for therapy for the 13-year-old son whose father and brother have faced death threats and the killing of a family dog in retaliation for their work to protect the local water basin. AR

Young Environmental Activist Expelled $1500 for homeschooling support for the 14-year-old Targeted Activist Youth (TAY) [2] who was expelled from school and harassed after beginning a public protest every Friday afternoon to raise awareness of global heating. WI

Father Falsely Accused $1000 for tutoring for the 16-year-old son whose father spent decades litigating against a large oil company and achieved a historic victory. As a result, the company targeted him relentlessly, which has resulted in frozen assets and jail time. NY

GENDER EQUALITY, LGBTQ & REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS

Reproductive Justice Organizer Threatened $3000 for tutoring and therapy for two daughters, ages five and 15, whose mom faced online harassment and attacks as a result of her fight for reproductive health access for all. The attacks forced the family to relocate. Location Withheld

Daughter Harassed $3000 for recreational activities for two siblings, ages 16 and 18, whose family faced harassment after their mother held school personnel accountable for their wildly inappropriate behavior towards her daughter and other female students. AL

Mother and Daughters Assaulted $2000 for school tuition for the 16-year-old son whose family had to flee their home country after his mother and sisters were brutalized for the mom’s work against female genital mutilation. NY

Mother Threatened with Loss of Son $1500 for equine therapy for the 14-year-old daughter whose mother, an LGBTQ rights activist, was threatened by the state with the removal of one of her children because of her organizing. OR

HUMAN RIGHTS

Parents Forced to Flee $4500 for tuition and enrichment activities for three children from two families, ages 6 to 14, whose parents fled their home countries after their human rights activism put them in immediate danger. NY, IL

Activist Forced out of Work $4380 for arts enrichment and a CIF award for three siblings, ages 10 to 19, 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 and was forced to relocate. OK

Mom Fights for Indigenous Rights $3000 for sports expenses for two siblings, ages seven and eight, whose mom was repeatedly stalked and threatened for her efforts to change Columbus Day to Indigenous People’s Day. NM

Mother Beaten $2600 for tutoring and a CIF award for two sisters, ages 17 and 19, whose mother fought corruption in her home country. She came to the U.S. after the military harassed and assaulted her. IL

Family Attacked $1500 for driving lessons and soccer for the 16-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, and many family members were beaten or threatened. The boy now lives in the U.S. with his stepmother while his father continues his activism abroad. MA

IMMIGRANTS' RIGHTS

Immigrants’ Rights Whistleblower Targeted $4500 for virtual learning supplies for three children, ages 11 to 17, whose mother lost her job and faced threats for exposing severe medical malfeasance and neglect at an ICE detention facility. Location Withheld

Mom in Asylum Limbo for 10+ Years $3900 for tuition and four CIF awards for five children, aged 16 to 24, whose mother is an immigrants’ rights activist. Because of her organizing, her asylum case was delayed for 12 years; this caused her family great financial stress and led them to spend years unhoused. NY

Mom Faces Retaliation for Immigrants’ Rights Advocacy $3127 for sports expenses for the two sons, ages seven and 14, whose mother became a vocal activist while in sanctuary. The boys’ father was detained in retaliation for his wife’s activism, and she and her community continue to face ICE persecution. Location withheld

Father Deported $2100 for educational expenses and a CIF award for two siblings, ages 15 and 19. ICE detained and deported their father in an apparent act of retaliation for his years of leadership within the immigrants’ rights movement. Location withheld

Dad Targeted While in Sanctuary $1800 for art supplies and a CIF award for two children, ages 13 and 18, 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

PEACE

Children and Parents Working Together for Peace $8700 for a wide range of programs for eight children, ages five to 17, 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 occupational therapy and enrichment activities for kids whose activist parents survived torture in their home countries. The program serves 15 children from six families. IL

Adoptive Dad Thwarted by Felonies $1500 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 felony convictions for actions he took more than 20 years ago, which have kept him from being able to legally adopt his son. DC

Peace Activist’s Vehicle Vandalized $1500 for tuition for the 14-year-old grandson whose grandmother (with whom he lives part time) travels the U.S. advocating for social justice. In response to her activism, her vehicle has been vandalized on numerous occasions and drivers have tried to run her off the road. GA

Father Fights to Stop Grand Jury Witch Hunts $1000 for physical therapy for the 17-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 sports for five children aged 11 to 18 from two families. Both fathers, themselves the sons of political prisoners, have experienced harassment and job loss because of their activism. GA, PA

Mother Blacklisted $4500 for educational support and recreational activities for three children, ages 12 to 17, whose mother advocates for individuals wronged in the criminal justice system, and, due to targeting, can’t find work within a 100-mile radius of her home. AL

Former Political Prisoner Faces Harassment $3000 for tuition and therapy for the 15-year-old twins whose father was incarcerated for anti-apartheid efforts and continues to face targeting for his work to free political prisoners. MA

Mother Threatened for Helping Prisoners $3000 for cultural programs for the nine and 12-year-old sons whose mother created an alternative program for incarcerated communities in a federal penitentiary. She was accused of conspiring with a political prisoner and threatened with prosecution. NY

Hunger Strike Participant Threatened $2000 for educational supplies and sports for two kids, ages nine and 13, 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, he was threatened with deportation, told he would not be eligible for release and taunted by prison guards. Location Withheld

Dad Punished for Anti-Prison Art $1508 for music lessons and art supplies for the 10 and 14-year-old daughters whose incarcerated father advocates for prison abolition in his poetry and writing. His advocacy has resulted in prolonged periods in solitary confinement, violent attacks and being barred from communication with his family. CO

RACIAL JUSTICE

Fighting Racism in Education Costs Families $9000 for a wide range of programs for seven kids, ages six to 18, from three families involved in the fight for racial justice in education. Some parents are students and others are teachers, but all have worked to improve equity in schools and universities. Parents have been harassed, threatened and/or lost their jobs as a result of continued organizing. GA, OR

Fathers Fired for Organizing $4725 for tuition and sports programs for four children, ages 13 to 15, from two families. Fathers in both families lost their jobs and faced harassment for their public-facing anti-racist organizing work. GA

Mother Fired for Advocating for Anti-Racist Workplace $3000 for recreational activities for two children, ages 10 and 15, whose mom was fired after she advocated for an anti-racist framework at her job. She was subsequently harassed, and her home was threatened, forcing the family to move. NC

Dad Faces Lifelong Police Harassment $2500 for educational support for two teens, ages 16 and 17, whose father has been hounded by police for decades; he experienced targeting first for his father’s activism and then for his own racial justice organizing. CO

Police Target Mother $1500 for therapy and music lessons for the 15-year-old daughter whose mother fought to reallocate police funding to mental health services. She was harassed online by local police and someone fired a gun in her driveway in the middle of the night. TX

Peaceful Organizer Charged $1200 for mental health services for the 14-year-old child of a racial justice organizer who was unjustly arrested at a peaceful protest. Because prosecutors charged her with gang involvement, she faced up to eight years in jail. AZ

Mom Persists Despite Violent Intimidation $1000 for cheerleading for the 16-year-old whose mom demands justice for victims of police violence, including her own family members. Their car has been repeatedly vandalized and they have received death threats that forced them to move. MD

Young Civil Rights Activist Targeted $1000 TAY Development grant for the 18-year-old targeted activist who was bullied due to her leadership in the BLM movement. Location Withheld

Young Activist Injured and Harassed $1000 TAY Development grant for the 24-year-old BLM activist who, during a protest, was hit by a car driven by a police officer and was arrested for protesting. He has since been denied housing due to his “criminal record,” but continues to be a frontline organizer. IA

CIF AWARDS

Carrying it Forward $7200 for 12 CIF awards for educational expenses for 12 young adult beneficiaries in eight families. Their parents are active organizers for environmental rights, civil liberties, gender equity, prisoners’ rights, immigrants’ rights, and racial justice. NC, AZ, LA, IL, AL, OK, CA

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[1] CIF awards of $600 are given to 18 to 24-year-olds to help pay for the costs associated with college or similar programs to help prepare them for adult life.

[2] TAY Development grants of up to $1000 are given to Targeted Activist Youths to further their educational needs or develop their organizing skills.