In the fall of 2024 the RFC awarded almost $225,000 to 94 families. That brings the total awarded in 2024 to over $450,000 for the second year in a row. Amidst rising fascism and fears of increased attacks on activists, grants provided vital services and support.

NEW GRANTS

Mom Fights Workplace Discrimination $5000 for sports programs for four children, ages seven to 15, whose mother was harassed and fired for forming a group within her workplace for employees to share stories of workplace discrimination and stand up for one another. TX

Gender Justice Authors Face Bans $3000 for sports and supplies to build a computer for two children, ages 13 and 15, whose activist parents authored a children’s book about gender-nonconforming youth that is being banned widely by right-wing politicians. The entire family has received hate mail and threats of doxxing as a result. MA

Pro-Choice Activist Jailed $3000 for music and arts programs for two 18 year-olds whose mom, an OB-GYN and pro-choice activist, is serving an excessive sentence of prison time and probation for spray painting the outside of a “crisis pregnancy center” (fake abortion clinic). FL

Peace Activist Doxxed $3000 for dance, soccer and gymnastics for the five and 10 year-old children whose mother was arrested and then doxxed for peacefully occupying the property of a major weapons manufacturer to protest the genocide in Gaza. ME

Family Flees Torture $2800 for soccer, arts and crafts, and tutoring for three children ages 12 to 15 whose father was a prominent anti-torture activist in his home country until he himself was detained and tortured. The family was forced to flee and seek asylum in the US. IL

Journalist Attacked and Jailed $1500 for chess club, sports and tutoring for the 11 year-old son of an anti-fascist organizer and independent journalist who was physically assaulted and threatened by armed Proud Boys while covering a recruitment event. After being forced to defend herself with pepper spray, she was arrested and jailed. OR

Former Political Prisoner Fights for Abolition A $600 Carry it Forward (CIF) [1] award for the 18 year-old whose father is a prominent former political prisoner and member of the Black Panther Party and Black Liberation Movement. He has since become a leader in the fight for prison abolition. GA

Anti-Racist Organizer Fights Spurious Lawsuits A $600 CIF award for a 24 year-old whose father is a known racial justice leader in his city. He is being targeted with a spurious lawsuit and hate mail, and the family has had to move far from their community. NY

Mom Fights for Police Accountability A $600 CIF award for the 22 year-old daughter whose father was murdered by police. Her mother’s tireless fight for justice has led to years of intimidation and threats from police and police sympathizers. OH

Mom Seeks Justice After Police Shooting $1500 for art classes for a 17-year-old boy whose mother became an outspoken critic of police violence after his father was murdered by police in a shooting streamed live on Facebook. The mother continues to lead marches and make public speeches calling for justice and both mother and son have been harassed, had their property destroyed and had trash thrown at them in public. MN

CIVIL LIBERTIES

Fathers Falsely Accused $9000 for homeschooling expenses for six children, ages 10 to 18, from two families. Their fathers spoke out against the Iraq war and were falsely accused of terrorist activity and hunted by the FBI as a result. GA, OH

Activists Forced Out of Work $6600 for music equipment, tutoring, therapy and a CIF award for four children, ages six to 20, from three families whose parents were fired for advocating for racial justice and free press rights. CA, MN

Mother Surveilled $4000 for childcare and recreational activities for three children, ages five to 12, whose mom faced harassment and surveillance for advocating for political prisoners unjustly targeted in the U.S. “war on terror.” MA

Herman Warsh Fund Grant Journalist Stabbed $1500 for tutoring for the 10-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

Mom Targeted $1000 for martial arts training for an eight-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

ENVIRONMENTAL & ANIMAL RIGHTS

Parents Fight to Protect Environment $25,100 for a broad range of programs and a CIF award for 14 children, ages one to 23, from five families. Some parents were beaten and arrested while marching against environmental racism, while others were attacked or imprisoned for their organizing work. CA, GA, NY, VA

Environmental Racism Protesters Targeted $14,100 for educational and sports programs and a CIF award for 10 children, ages four to 20, from four families who have spent years organizing against environmental racism in their communities and have faced targeting by employers and police. AL

Young Environmental Activist Expelled $1500 for homeschooling support for a 16 year-old who was expelled from school and harassed after he began a public protest every Friday afternoon to raise awareness of global heating. WI

Bruce Miller Legacy Fund Grant Father Falsely Accused A $600 CIF for the 18-year-old 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

Parents and Children Fight for Trans Rights $7500 for tutoring and sports for five children, ages nine to 14, from two families fighting for transgender rights. In response to the public-facing activism of the parents and their children, they received hate messages from around the world and were swarmed and shoved by violent counter-protesters. One family had to relocate to an asylum state for trans youth. Location Withheld

Reproductive Justice Organizers Threatened $4500 for tutoring, soccer and tuition for three children, ages 12 to 15, from two families that faced severe harassment and attacks as a result of their fights for reproductive justice. Location Withheld

Mother and Daughters Assaulted $2000 for school tuition for the 18-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

Teen Activist Creating Safer World $1000 for educational supplies for a 17-year-old drag performer and gender liberation activist who builds safe spaces for gender-nonconforming youth despite years of harassment. NY

HUMAN RIGHTS

Parents Forced to Flee $8200 for educational and sports activities and two CIF awards for seven children, ages eight to 23, from four families whose parents fled their home countries for the U.S. after their human rights activism put them in immediate danger. IL, MA, NY

Activist Mother Loses Work $3000 for DJ equipment and dance classes for the 12 and 18 year-old sisters whose mom advocated against racism and rape culture in schools. In retaliation, she lost important contracts with the local schools and government and was forced to relocate. OK

Father Pushed to Leave Country $2600 for tuition and a CIF award for two children, ages 12 and 17, whose dad established an interfaith mosque to counteract society’s bias towards Muslims after 9/11. He faced harassment and detention by the FBI and fled the U.S. to end the persecution. NY

IMMIGRANTS' RIGHTS

Immigrants’ Rights Advocates Targeted $12,034 for educational and ski expenses for eight children, ages five to 19, from three families. Their parents were targeted and threatened by ICE as a result of their work exposing injustices in the immigration system. Location Withheld

Dad Targeted While in Sanctuary $2200 for educational supplies and a CIF award for two siblings, ages 15 and 21, 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

Father Deported $2100 for school supplies and a CIF award for the 17 and 21-year-old siblings whose father was detained and deported in an apparent act of retaliation for his years of leadership within the immigrants’ rights movement. Location Withheld

LABOR & ECONOMIC JUSTICE

Educator Fired & Harassed $3000 for tutoring for the two children, ages 11 and 17, whose mother, a teacher, fought for the well-being of all students after her young autistic child was physically assaulted by a school aide. As a result of her efforts, the school fired the mother and reported her as an unfit parent. AL

Mother Fired for Advocating for Anti-Racist Workplace $3000 for track and cheerleading expenses for two children, ages 12 and 17, 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

Mom Fired for Advocacy $3000 for school tuition for two kids, ages 12 and 16, whose mother was fired for advocating for the needs of her marginalized students. GA

PEACE

Children and Parents Working Together for Peace $11,900 for a wide range of programs and two CIF awards for 10 children, ages seven to 24, from three families in pacifist communities. Their parents have engaged in peaceful anti-war protests and many 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 12 children, ages 10 to 21, from six families. IL

Peace Activist’s Vehicle Vandalized $1500 for soccer and tutoring for the 16-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 healing support for the 19-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

Mothers Threatened for Helping Prisoners $6600 for school and sports expenses and a CIF award for five children, ages 11 to 19, from two families. Their mothers have been denied jobs or threatened with prosecution for advocating for individuals wronged in the criminal justice system. AL, NY

Sons of Political Prisoners Targeted $6600 for school tuition, sports and a CIF award for five children, ages 13 to 20, from two families. Both fathers, themselves the sons of political prisoners, have experienced harassment and job loss because of their activism. GA, PA

Former Political Prisoner Harassed $4000 for orchestra and basketball for the 17-year-old twins whose father was incarcerated for anti-apartheid efforts and continues to face targeting for his work to free political prisoners. MA

RACIAL JUSTICE

Fathers Fired and Harassed for Organizing $15,000 for tuition and sports programs for ten children, ages two to 18, from five families. The fathers all lost their jobs or faced police harassment for their public-facing anti-racist organizing work. CO, GA

Parents Threatened by Police $7500 for cultural programming and therapeutic supplies for six children, ages one to 21, from two families. Their parents have been threatened and one has been jailed because of their work for racial and gender justice. OR

Mothers Persist Despite Violent Intimidation $4500 for homeschooling supplies, gymnastics and therapy for three children, ages six to 18, from three families. Their mothers are leaders in the fight for police reform, immigration reform and racial justice. They have received death threats, attention from white supremacists and pressure to relocate their families. MD, TX, WA

Mom Organizes Against Police Violence $1500 for horticulture and arts supplies for the 18-year-old son whose father was killed by police; the family has had to relocate to avoid police harassment as they fight to end police shootings for good. MN

ATTICA PRISON VISITS [2]

Harry Flemming Fund $2000 for an Attica Grant to allow the great-grandchildren of an Indigenous political prisoner to visit their relative as he serves two life sentences for his role in the American Indian Movement. ND

$2000 for an Attica Grant to allow the children of a political prisoner to visit their father as he serves a severe sentence for his role fighting for Palestinian rights. TX

After nearly five decades of incarceration, we are profoundly grateful that President Biden commuted Leonard Peltier’s sentence on January 20th, allowing him to reunite with his family and community.

CIF AWARDS

$10,800 for 18 CIF awards for 18 young adult beneficiaries from 13 families. Their parents are active organizers for environmental and animal rights, global human rights and more. One is a targeted racial justice activist herself. AL, HI, IL, LA, MA, NY, TX, WI

GROCERY GIFT CARDS

$2,000 to provide $200 grocery gift cards for current RFC beneficiary families facing emergency circumstances.

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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] Attica Fund Prison Visit grants enable the children and grandchildren of political prisoners to visit their incarcerated loved ones.