In July 2020, I announced on Instagram that I would be donating 10% of all sales from the Mage By Moonlight Etsy Store to the Equal Justice Initiative, a non-profit organization that provides legal representation to prisoners who have been wrongly convicted of crimes, or those who have been denied a fair trial or effective representation.
I am entirely thrilled to share that as of July 2021, we have collectively raised $1,000 for the Equal Justice Initiative!
I want to take a moment to express my immense gratitude to everyone who has purchased pagan prayer beads, jewelry, ritual guides, tea infusers, crystals and other handmade spiritual items from the Mage By Moonlight shop.
Given the many events that brought racial inequality to the forefront of the collective consciousness throughout 2020, I felt profoundly moved to play whatever small role I could in dismantling the oppressive, deeply rooted systems of white supremacy in America.
The EJI is an incredible organization that is undertaking the difficult and painful work of challenging racial and economic injustice, ending mass incarceration and excessive punishment, and protecting the basic human rights of all Americans.
- Despite making up close to 5% of the global population, the U.S. has nearly 25% of the world’s prison population.
- More than 97% of federal criminal convictions are obtained through plea bargains.
- 5% of illicit drug users are Black, yet Black Americans represent 29% of those arrested and 33% of those incarcerated for drug offenses.
- 35% of the individuals executed under the death penalty within the last 40 years have been Black, yet Black Americans represent only 13% of the general population.
- As of October 2016, there have been 1900 exonerations of the wrongfully accused; 47% of the exonerated were Black. Source
When I decided to begin donating 10% of all sales to the EJI, I did so in honor of Tyr, the Norse god of war, law, justice, and honor. Financially supporting the fight against systemic inequality and injustice seemed like a worthy devotional act.
It pleases me beyond measure that collectively, as a community of pagans, witches, and spiritualists, we were able to donate this sum of money to such a worthy organization.
Each and every individual who purchased from the Mage By Moonlight shop over the last year played a role — it would not have been possible without you!
At this point, I will be pausing shop donations as I research and select a new charitable organization to receive 10% of all sales. If you have any suggestions, please feel free to share them with me!
Brightest blessings to you all!
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