Star Trek was born in the Civil Rights era and the message of freedom for all peoples has been at its core for over five decades. It has celebrated diversity and the fight for justice since Star Trek: The Original Series through to the current series, which began with the launch of Star Trek: Discovery.
Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry said:
“Star Trek was an attempt to say that humanity will reach maturity and wisdom on the day that it begins not just to tolerate, but take a special delight in differences in ideas and differences in life forms.”
Recent events have demonstrated that the struggle for this future continues. During these difficult times, it is important to stand up for what you believe, and many in the Trek community are doing just that.
We at Women at Warp are aware of our incredible privilege. In addition to our crew members making individual contributions to local bail funds, mutual aid funds and racial justice organizations, we are making a central donation to the East Of The River Mutual Aid Fund from Black Lives Matter. Mutual aid funds help provide urgent supplies like food and medical equipment to people on the ground, through networks of grassroots organizations, movements and volunteers, and can direct funds where they’re most needed.
Other members of the online Trek community have also been making contributions to groups they support. The team members of TrekMovie.com and the Shuttle Pod have pooled individual contributions of $47 each – a number important to Star Trek – to make a joint contribution to the ACLU. The moderators Reddit’s Star Trek sub have done the same in support of the ACLU. The TrekCore team has donated to a collection of groups fighting against racism and police brutality. Other outlets in this joint effort doing their part include the Priority One Network, TrekNews.net, Mission Log, Portal 47, and Memory Alpha.
Roddenberry also said, “until we can value the diversity here on Earth, then we don’t deserve to go into outer space and encounter the infinite diversity out there.” Together we hope as members of the extended Star Trek community, we can help move towards a just and equal future. We ask our fellow Star Trek fans who have the means to do so, to join us in making $47 contributions, or whatever you can, to the ACLU or another organization committed to anti-racism and justice.
Together the fan sites and podcasts stand with official Star Trek, as articulated on StarTrek.com and on official Star Trek Twitter.
#TrekkiesTogether