I dont think anyone is too surprised, said vegan nutritionist Paul Kerton.

In a video released on YouTube earlier this week, Jon Venus revealed that he is no longer vegan after becoming a dad two years ago made him question his general philosophical perspective on veganism and the fact that its nutritional benefits are contentious.

His announcement has led to many from the vegan community including his own brother Dr. Leo Venus speaking out on Venuss decision to switch to an omnivore diet.

Dr. Venus said in a follow up video, that (Jons) decision isnt going to look the best for the vegan movement for a while, but its not that big of a deal, we still have the science, we still have a ton of people.

Redress the claims

Paul Kerton, a vegan nutritionist and influencer made his own video discussing the news and said that while he didnt want to slam Venus for his decision he didnt want people to be swayed without knowing the truth.

He then proceeded to answer Venuss arguments in a stepwise fashion.

Answering venuss concern on the nutrition of his baby, Kerton responded: We know that the higher serum LDL level of the mother, the more likely that the fetus or the unborn baby will have fatty lesions , the bedrock of atherosclerosis in their aorta.

Thats right folks the number one cause of death in humans starts in the womb predicated on whether your mum beats animal products or processed junk.

In the beginning of the video, Kerton recommended parents concerned about raising their kids vegan read Becoming Vegan, as it is a comprehensive guide on plant-based nutrition.

No confusion

Debunking Venus next argument on nutritional papers being confusing, Kerton said it was only confusing for the ones following those who didnt understand how the science works.

He continued that there is evidence that plant based doctors are treating and reversing some of the deadliest diseases and no animal based diet has been similarly proved to prevent 14 of the leading 15 causes of death and reverse 5 including the top killer -heart disease.

Biases

According to Venus: A lot of times when youre vegan, especially for me, you are in this bubble. You are in the mindset of we are doing something that is ethical, were doing this because it feels right in every single wayand because this is my perspective, Im only going to listen to other people with the same perspective that have the same mission.

While Kerton agreed that at times people did develop biases but it made no difference to the fact that animal products are horrible for human health and does not contain any nutrient that cant be better sourced from elsewhere and after months of research, Kerton said he had come to the conclusion that if he didnt go vegan, he wouldve been the orchestrator of his death similar to 75% of his fellow westerners who die because of eating a heavy animal diet or processed junk food.

Countering Venuss opinion in which he said that he was influenced into feeling a vegan diet was optimal based on the targeted opinions of big associations like The American Dietetics Association (ADA), Kerton said that the ADA has never explicitly advocated a vegan diet. He referenced a post, in which ADA recommended that children should be fed fish and parents should take their children fishing.

Questioning Venuss claim that we are all trying to come from a place of compassion and love and trying to make the world a better place, Kerton asked: How can that be done while paying for murder and environmental devastation?

Kerton addressed Venuss other points of contention such as the need for B12 supplementation, inconclusive evidence that veganism was optimal for children, long term health benefits of a vegan diet, and more.

Dismissing Venuss rant about how close friends and allies divorced him after his decision to ditch veganism, while his other friends said they respected his choice Kerton replied: I personally cannot believe that any serious vegan could respect anyone for funding animal abuse.

Share this story to promote the benefits of veganism.

The Totally Vegan Buzz Team are a gang of extremely entertaining writers who also happen to be vegan. Together, they bring you all the vegan infotainment you need trends, news, quizzes and more. Leave them a comment! They love it when you guys say hi

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Jon Venus blasted after announcing he has quit veganism - Totally Vegan Buzz

Jackfruit has become popular in the west in the last five or six years. In the UK, customers can order jackfruit pepperoni-topped vegan pizza from Italian restaurant chain Zizzi and pizza delivery chain Papa Johns. In the U.S., in West Los Angeles, there is a whole vegan cafe dedicated to jackfruit. But what is jackfruit? and how do you turn it into vegan meat?

When shredded, jackfruit has a similar texture to pulled pork or chicken, it can also be used to create vegan fish dishes, nuggets, and various other meaty textures.

While jackfruit may be new to western consumers, its not new to many across Southeast Asia and South Asia.

Food writer and blogger Pat Tanumihardja wrote for Food 52:a good portion of the worldthink Southeast and South Asiahas adored jackfruit for centuries. She added,while its being touted as a vegan miracle in the west, jackfruit is an abundant food source for millions in Asia, not just vegans.

Its not known for certain when jackfruit was first discovered, but it could date back as far as 300 B.C.

There are records of Greek philosopher Theophrastus writing about a wonderfully sweet and large fruit being consumed in India at this time. Jackfruits can grow very big; they are the largest tree fruit in the world and can weigh up to 100 pounds.

There are two types of jackfruit available: young and unripe and mature and ripe. The former is ideal for vegan meat alternatives. Tanumihardja explains, its pale green and starchy, and meat-like in texture. Treated like a vegetable, unripe jackfruit is very versatile and absorbs the flavors of the spices its cooked with.

If you buy a whole jackfruit, it may be quite tricky to break apart. It can also end up being quite sticky. Once open, youll need to cut away the stringy parts that are between the fruits, according to food blog The Happy Foodie. These are the parts that can be used to create a pulled pork-like vegan meat.

You can also buy jackfruit in a tin, which is arguably less messy. Food writer Jessica Lockyer-Palmer writes for The Happy Foodie:all you will need to do is drain and rinse the jackfruit, remove the core and cut the pieces in half, removing any seeds as you go.

Jackfruit has a number of nutritional benefits. Its a good source of potassium, vitamin C, and dietary fiber.

It also contains phytochemicals, including flavonoids, saponins, and tannins. The American Institute for Cancer Research states that many phytochemicals have antioxidant properties. Antioxidants can help to combat free radicals, aka highly reactive molecules, which may play a role in cancer development and other chronic diseases.

As the name suggests, Biona Organic specializes in selling 100 percent organic, ethical, and sustainably-sourced products. It offers several different types of canned jackfruit, including Jackfruit Yellow Thai Curry, Jackfruit Stew, and Jackfruit Chilli & Lime. Biona Organic is stocked in various different health food shops across the UK, as well as major supermarkets, including Sainsburys, Tesco, Waitrose, and Ocado.

Uptons Naturals offers a wide range of jackfruit-based products, including Original Jackfruit, Bar-B-Que Jackfruit, and Sweet and Smoky Jackfruit. The Chicago-based brand also offers seitan products, vegan meal kits, and vegan jerky bites. Its products are available from a range of locations, including Amazon, Thrive Market in the U.S, Pak n Save in Australia, and Holland & Barrett in the UK.

The Jackfruit Company is the number one jackfruit brand in the U.S. It sells everything from Plant-Based Pulled Pork to Teriyaki Jackfruit to Bulk Smoked Jackfruit. You can buy it from a number of retailers, including Amazon, Vons, and Whole Foods.

London-based Clearspring sells a variety of jackfruit products. The company specializes in selling Japanese, macrobiotic, and organic fine foods. It offers Japanese Umami Jackfruit Burgers, Organic Young Jackfruit Chunks, and Vegan Jackfruit Fish Fingers. Head straight to the website to buy.

If you love BBQ pulled pork, but you dont want the cruelty involved, then this recipe is for you. Its simple, tasty, and will fool any meat-eater. It calls for young green jackfruit in water, which is drained and cleaned, and then tossed with BBQ spices. Serve with tasty avocado slaw.

Get the recipe here.

Hosting a curry night? Swap chicken for jackfruit with this easy, creamy, tasty curry recipe by Vegan Richa. Its gluten-free, soy-free, spicy, and flavorful.

Get the recipe here.

A warm, flavorful bowl of stew is the ultimate comfort food. Follow this recipe and mix jackfruit with plenty of vegetables and season with herbs, garlic, and onions. Not only is it delicious, but its healthy too.

Get the recipe here.

Love Kentucky fried chicken? Why not try Kentucky fried jackfruit? According to The Veg Life, these jackfruit bites are crispy, tender, and juicy.

Get the recipe here.

Top these delicious meaty vegan jerk jackfruit tacos with mango guacamole and serve on warmed corn tortillas. Recipe creator Jenn Claiborne says: if you want to impress someone with vegan food, these [jerk jackfruit tacos] should be on the menu.

Get the recipe here.

Summary

Article Name

What Is Jackfruit? How the Hottest Vegan Meat Was Found In a Fruit

Description

What is jackfruit? The vegan meat substitute has recently become popular in the west. Here's where to buy it and how to use it in a recipe.

Author

Charlotte Pointing

Publisher Name

LIVEKINDLY

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What Is Jackfruit? How the Hottest Vegan Meat Was Found In a Fruit - LIVEKINDLY

Singing sensation and flutist Lizzo has been keeping us entertained amidst the endless hours at home by sharing fun videos from her kitchen of her cooking up vegan meals on TikTok, and were loving all of herdishes. Now she claps back against body shamers with a workout video and narration that is totally great and could be in one of her songs:

"So I've been working out consistently for the past five years. And it might come as a surprise to y'all that Im not working out to have your ideal body type, Im working out to have my ideal body type. And you know what type that is? None of your f**king business, becauseI am beautiful, I am strong, I do my job and I stay on my job,

"So next time you want to come to somebody and judge them, whether they drink kale smoothies or eat McDonald's, or workout or not workout, how about you look at your own f**king self and worryabout your ownself, because health is not just determined by what you look like on the outside but who you are on the inside. Sohow about you look at your own self and a lot of yall have to a f**king cleanse for your insides. Namastay. Have a great day.

As she says this, we watch her on her deck doing strength training with a hand weight and on her stationary bike, pedaling andLizzo shows off her curves in a bathing suit, to be strong and beautiful, just as she says. Her nearly 4 million viewers are loving it.

First, there was her plant-based riff on McDonalds Spicy McChicken Sandwich Then came vegan Jamaican beef patties). Now, were getting hungry just watching her whip up her latest plant-based meal, this time with a cameo from one of our favorite vegan staples,the amazingly real tasteJUST Egg formula. Hey, so Im eating my feelings because the world continues to let me down. So Im making some biscuits right here.

Lizzo narrates the start of a recent cooking tutorial. In the video, she spikes her batter with some jalapeos and what appears to be vegan shredded cheddar cheese, along with some veggie sausage and some JUST Egg to give the biscuits delicious texture and eggy flavor. To accompany these savory, sausage-stuffed biscuits, Lizzo makes fried oyster mushroom, which also features JUST egg in the batter to help transform the mushrooms into a crispy, crunchy chicken leg-inspired marvel. Lest you think carbs and shrooms were all that was on Lizzos plate, the singer rounded out the meal with a simple spinach salad with strawberries, tomato, and onion with a squeeze of lime and olive oil. After everything came out it tasted delicious, listen to this crunch!, she says as she exhales and emphatically adds, boy, stop. Watch the full video below.

original sound - lizzo

Were looking forward to taking a stab at this recipe on our own, but for the time being, we think well be popping some new JUST Foldedinto our toaster, plopping these plant-based eggs on toast, adding hot sauce, and calling it a night.

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Lizzo Slams Body Shamers in Workout TikTok, and Cooks Vegan Meals - The Beet

The demand for cruelty-free and vegan beauty products is higher than ever before, and and a growing number of skin-care, makeup, and hair-care brands are listening. Leading the charge to offer products that don't test on animals or include animal-byproduct ingredients are black-owned beauty brands. Largely independent, these brands are often driven by passionate founders whose compassion toward animals matches their enthusiasm for hair health, glamorous makeup looks, and glowing skin.

As more and more brands prioritize being cruelty-free in the formulation of their products, there has been a push not only for ingredients that haven't been tested on animals, but also ingredients that aren't derived from animals. So many of the brands on this list, even if they can't say all of their products are vegan, can say they are vegan-friendly by offering an impressive number of vegan options.

Inspired by a recent Instagram post by @veganmakeupshare, we're highlighting some well-known and up-and-coming Black-owned cruelty-free and/or vegan beauty brands so you can add them to your to-shop list. Get to know them and some of their best products below.

All products featured on Allure are independently selected by our editors. When you buy something through the retail links on this page, we will not earn an affiliate commission.

Continued here:

14 Black-Owned Vegan and Cruelty-Free Beauty Brands to Support - Allure

I love vegan sausage rolls. They are a serious craving of mine. Ive been obsessed with them ever since buying them at the canteen in highschool. I think in reality I just love puff pastry, but the puff pastry is the reason I didnt want to upload this post. As delicious as it is, its not very healthy.

Most store-bought options are actually vegan but are made with highly processed margarine which is a source of trans fats, refined flour, and preservatives. For that reason, I dont have pastry very often at all. I hardly ever cook with it at home.

I wanted to attempt to make my own puff pastry, but I was too scared in the end. Its a lot of work for a dish that should be relatively easy. And I didnt want to risk the recipe not working. (Im not good with dough and pastry making.) I had a friend that said if you just load the veggie sausage rolls up with as much healthy filling as you can, then a little bit of puff pastry from time to time is probably ok. I completely agree with that. So I decided to go with it and just upload my favorite sausage roll recipe.

In the past, I have been more particular about making sure all the recipes I upload were consistent with my idea of healthy (yes I know we all have different definitions of healthy), but the truth is that even though healthy eating is incredibly important, its also important to not stress over food. I dont like the idea of dieting and restriction, and I definitely eat unhealthy things on the regular. Besides the filling is pretty healthy and delicious! Thats all I am going to say for this post. Enjoy!

Vegan Meaty Sausage Rolls With Walnuts and Lentils

Ingredients

Instructions

6.4.5

For more delicious and savory recipes like my vegan sausage rolls, try making this warm and hearty vegan tomato and spinach pie! In addition to healthy tomatoes and spinach, this recipe calls for tofu, plant-based milk, flax seeds, and chives, just to name a few.

This recipe was republished with permission from Hazel and Cacao.

Recipe Name

Vegan Meaty Sausage Rolls With Walnuts and Lentils

Author Name

Hazel and Cacao

Published On

2020-06-12

Preparation Time

0H20M

Cook Time

0H30M

Total Time

0H50M

Link:

Vegan Meaty Sausage Rolls With Walnuts and Lentils - LIVEKINDLY

There were activists with bullhorns, and artists painting designs on the street.

Stalls collected donations for the homeless and others offered vegan curry. There were people posing for images in front of a boarded-up police station, while others sat on the grass. There were people of colour, and there were white people, lots of white people.

But the ugly anarchists denounced by Donald Trump on Twitter that very morning? Could it be they existed only in his imagination?

The Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone, six city blocks close to the centre of Seattle that has become the focus of a protest in the wake of the death of George Floyd, may be many things. Yet an attempt to take over, or occupy the city it is not.

I think that is a ridiculous circumstance by which they even presented the narrative. This is not an autonomous zone. Were not trying to secede from the United States, said a protester called Maurice, asked about the presidents comments.

Created with Sketch. Created with Sketch.

Police spray mace at protestors to break up a gathering near the Minneapolis Police third precinct after a white police officer was caught on a bystander's video pressing his knee into the neck of African-American man George Floyd, who later died at a hospital, in Minneapolis

Reuters

A protester holds a sign with an image of George Floyd

AP

Protesters demonstrate against the death of George Floyd

AFP via Getty

A protester throws a piece of wood on a fire in the street just north of the 3rd Police Precinct

Getty

People in other US cities also protested the murder, like Los Angeles

AFP via Getty

Getty

AP

Reuters

AFP via Getty

AFP via Getty

AFP via Getty

A police officer lobs a canister to break up crowds

Reuters

A protester is treated after inhaling tear gas

Getty

Two police officers stand on the roof of the Third Police Precinct during a face off with a group of protesters

Getty

Protesters outside a Minneapolis police precinct two days after George Floyd died

EPA

Protesters run from tear gas

Reuters

AP

Demonstrators gather to protest in Los Angeles

AP

Police remove barricades set by protesters

AFP via Getty

Getty

A fire burns inside of an Auto Zone store near the Third Police Precinct

Getty

Flowers, signs and balloons are left near a makeshift memorial to George Floyd near the spot where he died

AFP via Getty

A policeman faces a protester holding a placard in downtown Los Angeles

AFP via Getty

A couple poses with a sign in Los Angeles

AFP via Getty

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - MAY 27: A man is tended to after sustaining an injury from a projectile shot by police outside the 3rd Police Precinct building on May 27, 2020 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Four Minneapolis police officers have been fired after a video taken by a bystander was posted on social media showing Floyd's neck being pinned to the ground by an officer as he repeatedly said, "I cant breathe". Floyd was later pronounced dead while in police custody after being transported to Hennepin County Medical Center. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images) Stephen Maturen

Getty

Getty

A protester reacts after inhaling tear gas

Getty

Getty Images

Protesters use shopping carts as a barricade

Getty Images

Protesters clash with the police as they demonstrate against the death of George Floyd

AFP via Getty Images

Police spray mace at protestors to break up a gathering near the Minneapolis Police third precinct after a white police officer was caught on a bystander's video pressing his knee into the neck of African-American man George Floyd, who later died at a hospital, in Minneapolis

Reuters

A protester holds a sign with an image of George Floyd

AP

Protesters demonstrate against the death of George Floyd

AFP via Getty

A protester throws a piece of wood on a fire in the street just north of the 3rd Police Precinct

Getty

People in other US cities also protested the murder, like Los Angeles

AFP via Getty

Getty

AP

Reuters

AFP via Getty

AFP via Getty

AFP via Getty

A police officer lobs a canister to break up crowds

Reuters

A protester is treated after inhaling tear gas

Getty

Two police officers stand on the roof of the Third Police Precinct during a face off with a group of protesters

Getty

Protesters outside a Minneapolis police precinct two days after George Floyd died

EPA

Protesters run from tear gas

Reuters

AP

Demonstrators gather to protest in Los Angeles

AP

Police remove barricades set by protesters

AFP via Getty

Getty

A fire burns inside of an Auto Zone store near the Third Police Precinct

Getty

Flowers, signs and balloons are left near a makeshift memorial to George Floyd near the spot where he died

AFP via Getty

A policeman faces a protester holding a placard in downtown Los Angeles

AFP via Getty

A couple poses with a sign in Los Angeles

AFP via Getty

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - MAY 27: A man is tended to after sustaining an injury from a projectile shot by police outside the 3rd Police Precinct building on May 27, 2020 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Four Minneapolis police officers have been fired after a video taken by a bystander was posted on social media showing Floyd's neck being pinned to the ground by an officer as he repeatedly said, "I cant breathe". Floyd was later pronounced dead while in police custody after being transported to Hennepin County Medical Center. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images) Stephen Maturen

Getty

Getty

A protester reacts after inhaling tear gas

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Seattles CHAZ: Inside the occupied vegan paradise and Trumps ugly anarchist hell - The Independent

For some dads, you just want to wow em this Fathers Day with gifts geared towards the fitness and wellness gurus they aspire to be. But sometimes, you know the gift that dad will love the most, that will really hit the spot, is a delightful plant-based pizza washed down with a glass of vino.

As we recently discovered through VegNews, Vegan Winesand The Pizza Planthave joined forces to create a wonderful bundle for dad come June 21st.

The Fathers Day Pizza and Wine Packageincludes an eight-pack of take-and-bake vegan pizza pies and four bottles of wine. The gift set will cost you $262 with shipping included. Order by June 15th at 3 p.m. EST to make sure it arrives in time for dads big day.

Food and wine-wise, dad is in for a big treat. On the za front, hell get two pies each of:

For the wine, dads of diverse palates will have something to enjoy. The four vegan-friendly wines included in the gift package include a 2018 Proteus Ramato Pinot Gris Ros, 2016 Luca Di Tomaso Montefalco Rosso, Pandolfi Los Patricios Chardonnay, and a 2018 Serracavallo Besidiae.

For the food coma and ensuing hangover, dont let dad blame you for his tasty trip to Funghitown.

Read more here:

This Father's Day, Treat Dad to a Delivery of Plant-Based Pizzas - The Beet

Adidas, one of the most best-loved sportswear brands in the world, has justtransformed some of its most iconic sneakersand made them accessible to a segment of customers who couldn't previouslypurchasethem. By removing all animalmaterialsfromtwo of their classic shoes, these Adidasdesigns can now be worn by vegans, and anyone else who doesn't feel it is ethicaltobuy an item comprised ofthe leathers and suedes typical in performance shoes.

Called the "Our Icons Go Vegan", thebrand islaunching the line by releasingtwo sneakers today, June 9th, which both retail for $80. The Samba and the Continental 80 are both made of a recycled polyester material coated in PU rather than with animal materials. In the Samba's description, the sportswear giant describes, "A step in the right direction. The Adidas Samba shoes are no stranger to covering expansive ground. With the same look and feel as the original style, this version advocates for a better future with an entirely vegan design. The signature T-toe keeps them rooted in the soccer fields of the past."

Adidas' website touts therevamped Continental 80 as, "The shoe that once found its rhythm in the packed fitness studios of the '80s makes some new moves today. These vegan Adidas shoes completely eliminates the use of animal products. So swap out the bold colors of the '80s and exchange them for a brighter future." In addition to PU and recycled polyester, the Continental 80 also features an EVA foam derived from algae which helps to clean an estimated 30 liters of polluted lake water.The Continental 80design is available in a range of three different colors.

The one newdetailthatthe Vegan Samba and the Vegan Continental 80 feature is a stamp emblazoned with "Adidas Original Vegan" on the back heel to help customers differentiate between the animal material-free version and the leather original.These two additions to Adidas' range of leather and suede-free options are notits first foray into vegan shoes:The release follows a sustainable collaboration between the brand and vegetarian designer Stella McCartney, which transformed the company's beloved Stan Smith sneaker into a leather-free version. We can't wait to see what other iconic designs Adidas adds to its "Our Icons Go Vegan" collection in the coming months.

See the rest here:

Two of Adidas' Most Iconic Shoes are Now Vegan - The Beet

Meet the volunteers keeping local Black Lives Matter protesters fed, safe and supported.

Night after night, protesters trek through Tampa Bay. Masked and holding up handmade signs, they march through heat and rain to demand racial equality.

They arent alone.

There are the volunteers marching alongside them, passing out water bottles and granola bars. The lawyers waiting by the phone, ready to take on pro-bono cases. The artists, lending skills to create sharable resources.

Here are some of their stories.

Community Mutual Aid St. Pete was founded at the beginning of June to give people a tangible way to support the safety and longevity of local demonstrators.

If this isnt your reality every day like police brutality, racism, etc., its hard to know how to kind of break in and try to open yourself up to the movement, said organizer Karli Schneider, 31.

There are people who are showing up for the black community, despite the pandemic, so I wanted to be able to provide some of the comforts and some of the necessities to kind of keep the movement going."

Half of Black Crow Coffee Co. in Old Northeast is empty because of the coronavirus, so Schneider, who works at there, asked the owner if the group could use the space to fill care packages for protesters.

They raised over $2,500 through Venmo donations in three days. The funds are used to buy supplies for protesters, as well as people in the homeless community.

Another organization, Tampa Bay Action Collective, was established June 3.

Were a group led by black, queer, fat disabled folx," said co-founder Chastity Martin, 24. We work to distribute resources and uplift people.

Within four days after the groups first Instagram post, about 50 volunteers stepped forward. Some shop for snacks, face masks and first aid equipment. Others fill supply bags with sunscreen and resource lists, or drag wagons filled with Gatorade bottles to protesters in Tampa and St. Pete.

Co-founder Katye Waddle, 26, made a protest guide. It passes down wisdom from experienced protesters, including what to expect while marching, COVID-19 testing sites to visit after going out, safety tips and inclusive therapists.

I just want to be personally the best ally I can be as a white person and uplift black voices and help those in the community who are victims of racial oppression [and] systematic oppression, Waddle said. Especially since Im physically unable to go out and protest.

View this post on Instagram

We see you all out there fighting for whats right. We also know its important to remember we are still facing a pandemic as well. Here is a list of testing locations in the St. Pete/Tampa Bay Area. We urge you to go get tested if you have attended an action in the past two weeks. BAYCARE at Raymond James Drive through, appointment required, no referral required (813) 272 - 5900 Select CVS locations are doing drive up testing CENTRA CARE locations are doing testing, no appointment required, but you may need a referral TGH Urgent Care 4505 Gunn Hwy, 33624 813-925-1903 (813) 272-5900 you can call for testing locations and to make an appointment for symptomatic residents in Hillsborough county. Community Health Centers of Pinellas, INC 1344 22nd St S, St. Petersburg, FL 33712 (727) 824-8181 Minuteclinic locations in Largo/St. Pete AFC Urgent Care Clearwater 1500 N, McMullen Booth Rd, Clearwater, FL 33759 (727) 266-1266 COVID19.pinellascounty.org has a full list of testing sites sorted by location, availability, etc. We urge you to take care of yourselves and those around you in these times! Much love TBAC

A post shared by Tampa Bay Action Collective (@tbactioncollective) on Jun 9, 2020 at 7:20am PDT

In less than a week, volunteers made over 1,200 bags for protesters and donated over $500 worth of supplies to Food Not Bombs as well as $500 to the Incarcerated Workers Organizing Committee.

As a black woman who was raised by a single mom, Im very aware of the impact of the community," Martin said. Growing up, we were raised in church, and Ive always understood the power of giving and community support. And so right now for me to be able to lead something is so important."

Their mission doesnt end after the protests do, Martin said. The group plans to partner with Food Not Bombs and local restaurants to feed black and brown families and the homeless.

Tampa Bays restaurants are also finding ways to support the movement.

Behind our brick and mortar, and a block west, protests have been happening for nearly a week. We see folks with signs...

Some are welcoming weary marchers with snacks and a space to cool down, like St. Petersburgs Green Bench Brewing Co. Black Crow Coffee Co. donated reusable bags for protest kits. Valhalla Bakery sent vegan granola bars. The owners of Bandit Coffee are helping Tampa Bay Action Collective distribute supplies for protesters.

During the coronavirus shutdown, customers bought boxed lunches at Golden Dinosaurs Vegan Deli and the restaurants employees delivered the meals to to healthcare workers at Bayfront Health St. Petersburg. The initiative kept the deli afloat.

Now, Golden Dinosaurs is preparing and delivering free meals to protesters

Were just doing this because we feel like this is what needs to be done," said Audrey Dingeman, 37, co-owner of Golden Dinosaurs.

On May 29, the deli matched employee tip donations, sending a total of more than $1,500 to Campaign Zero, an organization focused on ending police violence.

Golden Dinosaurs teamed up with Nah Dogs Vegan Hot Dog Cart to continue passing out meals.

Everyone goes out there for hours and hours, said Golden Dinosaurs employee Tiffany Beyer. Theres only so much you can do to prepare. So to have food and water and those kind of resources available to them, I think is really helpful.

Derek Bernstein at St. Pete-based Bernstein Law is one of the local lawyers taking on pro bono work to help protesters who have been arrested.

I want to do good because I think its unfair and unconstitutional for police to be arresting people for using their First Amendment right," he said. I dont think they put the freedom to assemble as No. 1 on accident."

Please share so people know they have legal backup

Bernstein, 34, typically works in personal injury and family law. He says having knowledge of criminal law and the constitution can be helpful for protesters.

Bernstein is vetting cases to make sure that the people he represents pro bono have values that align with his. He is also offering free advice to groups of protesters over FaceTime. Last week, Bernstein told a group of about 30 Largo protesters what to do and say if confronted by an officer. He also shared those tips on his Facebook page and Youtube channel.

Maybe one of those people who is kept out of jail by asking a simple question will make a big impact," he said.

Attorney Derek Bernstein discusses how to plan to protest. Some things that people do not think about that if youre going to go to a protest you need to be prepared to be arrested. With that means is you need to be prepared to have somebody take care of your animals, inform your boss, have bail money ready to bail you out, and research attorneys in your area willing to help out. These things and many others should be considered when protesting. If you have any other tips please leave your comments in the box. http://www.lawbernstein.com

Local artists are using their talents to amplify black voices and messages of anti-racism.

Sun Signs St. Pete, for example, is using its social media platforms to share downloadable posters for protesters.

Print St. Pete sold out of its antiracist posters and raised over $720 to donate between Black Visions Collective and Reclaim the Block. The Gulfport-based print shop is planning to make more prints to sell in the future, but is prepping a free digital version for people to print on their own.

Swamp Sister, a music collective that supports art, and Tiny Rain Bows, a pair that hosts DIY craft workshops, teamed up to create a Pocket Protest handbook.

I started reading that youre not supposed to have your phone on during protesting, said Swamp Sister founder Kai Holyoke, 22. I was just kind of thinking, we should make something where all these resources are all together and easily accessible to anyone.

Holyoke reached out to friend Mia Hollenback of Tiny Rain Bows to figure out the best way to create a portable guide. They crammed local legal resources and safety tips, many from the Tampa Bay Action Collective, onto one piece of paper.

They spend nights printing, cutting and folding close to 1,000 free zines to pass out to protesters. The guide is also available in a printable format online.

I havent seen this many people come together like this for such an important cause that is beyond themselves," Holyoke said.

HEADING OUT TO THE PROTEST? How to protect eyes from tear gas, pepper spray and rubber bullets.

WHY DO POLICE KEEP CLASHING WITH PROTESTERS? We looked at law enforcement rules. They urge de-escalation but only to a point.

WHAT ARE THEY USING? A guide to non-lethal and less-lethal weapons used in local, national protests.

WHAT ARE THE CHARGES? About half the charges filed have included unlawful assembly, a second-degree misdemeanor punishable up to 60 days in jail.

WHAT THEY WANT: Protesters explain what changes would make them feel like the movement is successful.

HOW TO SUPPORT: Whether youre protesting or staying inside, here are ways to educate yourself and support black-owned businesses.

SOME ARE NEW, SOME ARE LONGTIME FAVORITES: 15 black-owned restaurants and food businesses in Tampa Bay

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How Tampa Bay businesses, artists and activists are helping protesters - Tampa Bay Times

A local Dallas activist is planning a Potluck Protest on Saturday, June 13, to showcase a number of the regions Black-owned restaurants and food trucks, and to highlight the role food plays in community and change.

The event will take place from 3-6 p.m. Saturday at Reverchon Park, right after a 1 p.m. protest at the park organized by the Next Generation Action Network. The lineup for the event is still in the works, but participating vendors already include Bams Vegan, Hardemans Barbecue, and Michaela Starling of Cooking for Cost.

Jeziel Jones, a Garland native, came up with the idea while attending a protest in Dallas earlier this month, he told the Dallas Morning News. Jones, who works as a software engineer, said he was especially interested in the way food and food service is tied to systems of oppression, as well as past civil rights movements. As the DMN points out, many historical protests have involved food and beverage service establishments, from lunch counter sit-ins to the Stonewall Riots.

Food and the community of sharing a meal also plays a pivotal role in shoring up political movements, giving space for activists to practice self care in the midst of a movement.

In addition to food vendors, The Potluck Protest will include discussions with community leaders, and a fundraiser to benefit both Black-owned restaurants and Dallas-area families in need of groceries. And The Potluck Protest may soon go national the website lists potential upcoming events in Austin, Chicago, San Francisco and other cities.

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The Potluck Protest Will Showcase Black-Owned Restaurants and Feed Protesters This Weekend - Eater Dallas