I've been thinking about the arrest and shaming of Black men in DC, wondering how white people can step up....

Our options for helping victims of Trump's racist harassment are limited, as I'll explain below. However, I'm certain that local organizations and nationwide bail funds will adapt quickly to this new reality. It's on us, as white allies, to keep our eyes open for new bail funds specific to Washington, D.C, so that we, too, can adapt and respond.

In the meantime, this is why bail funds are so important:

One of the worst impacts of these arrests will be the unfair system that keeps arrestees in jail for days, months, or even years — unless they can come up with bail money. Depending on the arrestee's circumstances, even a bail less than $1000 can be enough to park them in a cage indefinitely.

In the meantime, just a few days is long enough to cost them their jobs. The financial loss creates havoc for their families. Their educations suffer.

They suffer.

Our bail system is one of the most damaging parts of America's so-called justice system. In worst case scenarios — which occur all too frequently — innocent men spend years in horrific places like Rikers, leading to permanent psychological damage and, potentially, physical harm.

In the case that comes most immediately to mind, a teenager was arrested for walking his own bike home. He'd found it after reporting it stolen, but the police chose not to believe it was his. Once he was in jail, he couldn't be released until his hearing. He spent THREE YEARS waiting. When he was finally acquitted, he suffered from unrelenting depression and ultimately committed suicide. This was a life full of promise, snuffed out by our government because his family couldn't find the money to cover his relatively small bail.

We can't stop the arrests. But we can help these young men get out of jail in time to save their lives and futures.

That's why my knee-jerk reaction to "what can we do?" is

SUPPORT BAIL FUNDS.

For more information, start here. At the end of the linked post, there's a list of bail funds to get you started.

Trump's attack on cashless bail

In an effort to alleviate the suffering imposed by the bail system, some cities have instituted a cashless bail system. On Aug. 25, 2025, Trump terminated cashless bail in Washington, D.C., ensuring maximum damage to the targets of his racist arrests. The capital's cashless bail system has been in place since 1992.

Trump also intends to inflict financial punishment on other cities where cashless bail is in place.

• From 2018: What Changed After D.C. Ended Cash Bail, an NPR interview with D.C. Judge Truman Morrison, Sept. 2, 2018. (Includes a five-minute audio and transcript.)

• Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Imposes Measures to End Cashless Bail and Enforce the Law in Washington, D.C., a "fact sheet" from The White House, Aug. 25, 2025.

• Prior to the Trump edict, this is how the bail system worked in the capital: Posting Bail in Washington, D.C.: 4 Things to Know, a page of the Stuck In Jail website.

• What is cashless bail, and what are the pros and cons?, by Safia Samee Ali, NewsNation, Aug. 11, 2025.

• What to Know About Cashless Bail After Trump's Executive Order, by Associated Press, U.S. News & World Report, Aug. 25, 2025.

Because of the capital's 1992-2025 cashless bail system, no assistance was needed — until now. As a result, there are currently no bail funds specific to Washington, D.C.

My best guess — my hope — is that organizations like the Community Justice Exchange's National Bail Fund Network and The Bail Project will regroup quickly in response to the new bail requirements.

Likewise, Black Lives Matter has a legal assistance fund for Black protesters in Washington, D.C. Hopefully, they will also extend their assistance to include a bail fund.

• Black Lives Matter has a GoFundMe for Washington, D.C.. (In a statement dating back to the George Floyd protests, the organization said: "While DC does not use bail in the way other jurisdictions do, legal support is always needed. Legal support is a regular part of our work and significantly increases depending on the current situation. From Copwatch, protest support, to jail care and support, representational support all other related support, it all takes resources. Please donate to ensure we are able to continue to protect and defend Black People in DC. It is our duty to fight for our freedom, love and protect one another..." It's worth keeping an eye on this fund, in case BLM updates its goals.)