We are in the midst of a dangerous and deadly clash of diametrically-opposed values.
On one side there is an attempt to revert to and impose various forms of supremacy, on another side there is laissez-faire liberalism, on another side progressivism continues, and confusion abounds throughout all these perspectives. How do and how can the values of truth, awakening, compassion, wisdom, skillful means, lovingkindness, joy, and equanimity manifest in these times?
We call this project Buddhist Justice Reporter (BJR). BJR was created in response to the torture and murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis on May 25, 2020. Our first articles, graciously and generously published by Tricycle: The Buddhist Review, were written by Buddhist practitioners of color in Minnesota. BJR’s mission has expanded beyond the trials focused on George Floyd to include a variety of articles on Buddhist perspectives on justice. Our articles also appear in Lion’sRoar, our blog, Interfaith America’s newsletter, or other publications interested in publishing our pieces. Ultimately, our purpose is to embrace the concept of justice, understand it, and apply in modern-day Buddhism with the hope that Buddhist practitioners will become skillful agents of social change in the interest of compassion and wisdom.
We are Buddhist practitioners and justice activists who write and publish for social change. We utilize Buddhist philosophies, psychologies, ethics, religion, and practices to promote engaged Buddhism and peaceful resistance to oppression wherever we may find it. Our work has also been supported by Common Ground , Kataly Foundation, and Macalester College.
CALL FOR WRITERS
Call for Writers for Buddhist Justice Reporter (BJR)2026.Buddhist Justice Reporter (BJR) is a Buddhist and justice writing project that offers a platform for Buddhist practitioners to address the pursuit of justice. BJR was initially launched in Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota by a group of Buddhist practitioners addressing the public police torture and murder of unarmed Black man George Floyd in Minneapolis in 2020.
It has been almost six years since Floyd was tortured and killed and today (January 21st), hundreds of thousands of people in the U.S. are being brutalized, detained and deported by state actors called I.C.E. (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement), and includes the National Guard, border patrol agents, and others. Most of the armed officer-soldiers are wearing masks. Illegal immigration is the pretext. Whitewashing is the goal. Many people have died in custody, and we know that Renee Nicole Good was killed by a federal agent in Minneapolis on January 7th. BJR has been and seeks to act as a witness and ray of transformation. BJR has partnered with Tricycle: The Buddhist Review and Lion’s Roar.
Interested in Writing for BJR in 2026? BJR seeks freelance writers for essays of 1,000 words. We will only publish up to six essays this year. The essays we are seeking are about what’s happening in places where “law enforcement” agents, now military soldiers at war against U.S. citizens, are wreaking havoc and destroying lives. We want essays that help Buddhists understand the pretexts, the real reasons, and the rationales for why Buddhists should care and engage in right/wise/just action. Payment If your essay is accepted for publication, you will be paid $600 for that essay.
How to Submit Interest and Deadline Please send the following to Co-Founding Chief Editor Pamela Ayo Yetunde at buddhistjustice@gmail.com:
Essay Pitch – no more than 50 – 100 words, a short Biography (including experience as a Buddhist practitioner, scholar, legal experience (if applicable), interest and engagement in social justice, and best contact email address and telephone number.
Credit/Ownership· All articles will contain the chosen byline of the writer. Writers can also have their biography at the end of their articles, and can mention a social media profile (if desired). All written content and all other media submitted becomes the exclusive property of BJR. You cannot republish the content on your own website, or any other online location. However, writers can link to the articles they have written for BJR from their own professional social media.
