George Floyd was murdered by MPD officers in south Minneapolis. Murdered. And, we are still aghast. We demand justice.

George Floyd Mural Minneapolis

If you watch the cell phone video, or the additional security footage of the events leading up to his death, you can easily see a hundred thousand ways it didn’t need to happen. But it did. He was murdered, and the world is rightfully reeling from it.

Black lives matter
Black lives matter to us
Black lives matter to Gimlet

Black lives matter because this small company values life, equality, community, and justice for everyone. And, because we abhor violence, whether physical, mental, or institutional. This world belongs to everyone, equally.

Gimlet began as a way to keep two great friends writing code together in Madison. Along the way, we’ve been able to provide an important service to many libraries, but we’ve also been able to provide this service free of charge to many organizations that undertake the greater good: food shelves, community organizations, cancer organizations, churches, orders of nuns, and more.

Beyond being a small business, Gimlet helps support organizations who in-turn support their communities. And, for that, we couldn’t be any prouder.

Last week, we made some financial contributions to improve the communities we Gimlet staff live in and alongside. Here are the groups we identified as most meaningful and valuable in these difficult times:

Campaign Zero

Supporting the analysis of policing practices across the country, research to identify effective solutions to end police violence, technical assistance to organizers leading police accountability campaigns and the development of model legislation and advocacy to end police violence nationwide.

EveryLibrary Institute’s HALO Fund

Supporting library workers who have lost their jobs or had their wages significantly reduced.

We Love Lake Street

Helping to rebuild Minneapolis’ Lake Street small businesses and community organizations. (Eric lives in Minneapolis)

Boys & Girls Club of Dane County

Downtown Emergency Relief Fund to support local businesses and to help rebuild downtown Madison. (Nate lives in Madison)

It has been hard to watch all the destruction Lake Street and State Street endured this past week. Those streets are so absolutely vital and important to their cities and communities. But! It is simply not comparable to all the lives unjustly taken by police violence against people of color.

Please take a moment to consider how you can contribute to the communities of people who need your help. We hope you all are safe and well, and taking care of all your neighbors around you.

Sincerely,
– Eric & Nate