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Know Your Rights Camp Autopsy Initiative
Free Autopsies

Free Autopsy Services:

The objective of the Autopsy Initiative (“Initiative”) is to provide a second autopsy free-of-charge for families who have lost their loved ones due to an in-custody death or under other suspicious circumstances. The services offered through the Initiative include the completion of a second autopsy, disclosure of preliminary findings, and issuance of the second autopsy report.

In-Custody Deaths:

In-custody deaths include deaths that arise during contact with state or federal government agents, including but not limited to police, sheriffs, deputies, correctional officers, ICE and USMS during arrest, pursuit, booking, transport, or incarceration.

Request Form

Board-Certified Forensic Pathologists:
Our Initiative includes a team of board-certified pathologists. Our board-certified pathologists will work objectively, efficiently, and diligently while relying on established forensic principles when conducting the second autopsy. Through careful examination, our pathologists aim to provide families with an accurate and definitive cause of death, guided by a commitment to truth and transparency.

Our pathologists will actively seek the truth to provide families with their loved one’s definitive cause of death diagnosis.

Autopsy Request:
The Autopsy Request form below may be completed by anyone with a close relationship with the Decedent, which may include the Decedent’s spouse, partner, relative, close friend, or lawyer. However, only the Decedent’s representative can authorize the performance of the autopsy.

Autopsy Request Form Website Link: https://www.knowyourrightscamp.org/autopsyinitiative-form

Pathologist Request Form Link: https://www.knowyourrightscamp.org/pathologist-request

Email Address For The Autopsy Initiative: AutopsyInitiative@knowyourrightscamp.com

Mailing Address Of The Autopsy Initiative:

Entertainment Industry Foundation
C/O: Know Your Rights Camp
10880 Wilshire Boulevard Suite 1400

Los Angeles, CA 9002

BACKGROUND

An autopsy is conducted by a forensic pathologist to determine the Decedent’s cause of death. Therefore, autopsies reveal critical information including observations and findings indicating the manner in which the Decedent died. The Decedent’s first autopsy is conducted by the coroner or medical examiner in the state where the death occurred. A second opinion is a valuable medical standard, and a second autopsy offers families a thorough review of the initial autopsy.

Losing a family member is a tragic and heartbreaking experience. The Initiative provides families access to second autopsy services that provide transparency and objectivity. Our board-certified pathologists are highly experienced in their field and dedicated to providing families with their loved one’s cause of death. Our services aim to alleviate families of the financial burden tied to pursuing a second autopsy.

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS CAMP

Legal Defense Initiative

We are horrified by the murder of 29-year-old #TyreNichols by the #Memphis Police Department.

As we have done in the past, the Know Your Rights Camp Legal Defense Initiative will provide resources for free legal representation for anyone unjustly arrested protesting this tragedy.

When there is an injustice within our community, it is our legal right to address it.

If you or a loved one is in need of legal assistance, has been arrested, or has been a victim of the violence of policing while fighting injustice across the nation, please complete the form on knowyourrightscamp.com/legal with as much detail as possible.

Once you have completed the form and it has been submitted, it will be sent to our legal team, and one of our team members will be in touch as soon as possible.

If you would like to support our efforts and fight against oppression,

please donate to the Know Your Rights Camp.

CLICK HERE TO DONATE

For Legal Assistance
If you, or a loved one is in need of legal assistance, have been arrested or has been a victim of the violence of policing while fighting injustice across the nation, please complete the form below with as much detail as possible.

Legal Assistance Form link: https://www.knowyourrightscamp.org/legal

What Is Know Your Rights Camp

WHO WE ARE

Our mission is to advance the liberation and well-being of Black and Brown communities through education, self-empowerment, mass-mobilization and the creation of new systems that elevate the next generation of change leaders.

Know Your Rights Camp 10-Points

The right to be free
The right to be healthy
The right to be brilliant
The right to be safe
The right to be loved
The right to be courageous
The right to be alive
The right to be trusted
The right to be educated
The right to know your rights

Donate To Know Your Rights Camp

Know Your Rights Camp Donate Link: https://www.knowyourrightscamp.org/donate

HOW TO SUPPORT

Know Your Rights Camp is advancing the liberation and well-being of Black and Brown communities through education, self-empowerment, mass mobilization, and the creation of new systems that elevate the next generation of change leaders.

WAYS TO DONATE: https://www.knowyourrightscamp.org/donate?form=KnowYourRightsCamp

ONLINE: Choose to make a one-time donation or a monthly donation at the button below.

BY TEXT: Text 'KYRC' to 50555 to donate $10. All standard carrier fees and text message charges apply.

CHECK BY MAIL:

Entertainment Industry Foundation
c/o KYRC - Know Your Rights Camp
10880 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 1400
Los Angeles, CA 90024

ANNUAL REPORTS (2020-2025)

Link to Annual Reports Page: https://www.knowyourrightscamp.org/annualreport

2025 Annual Report:

View Link: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1y0OEI7ExjVcVCZ3CPDhIcTOQbbvlRZHk10hfYQz0aHw/present

Download Link: https://www.knowyourrightscamp.org/_files/ugd/976826_fec4b2bb25b14e8383efb2525b0e0d99.pdf

2024 Annual Report:

View Link: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/e/2PACX-1vT_Zg4cmDLlqAuysDllnnS7CJhmbIPdeiEMlxLHPvElK0gwh3dbuBqTY-fEWeIYmsajcyA0Zxip_0_X/pub?start=false&loop=false&delayms=5000

Download Link: https://www.knowyourrightscamp.org/_files/ugd/976826_5c4ce1ff86504f3784b06b0701f33baa.pdf

2023 Annual Report:

View Link: https://9768263e-d1eb-49c1-b48d-422e0598220a.usrfiles.com/ugd/976826_a3a144472bce40c08955d99d1756df81.pdf

2022 Annual Report:

View Link: https://c4f4d81b-e5e1-4673-bab5-7cbdd9bccbe4.filesusr.com/ugd/976826_898773d6deb748f9ac465c639e093fd4.pdf

2021 Annual Report:

View Link: https://c4f4d81b-e5e1-4673-bab5-7cbdd9bccbe4.filesusr.com/ugd/976826_d2229bd3e5944ab9812927d13c47e172.pdf

2000 Annual Report:

View Link: https://www.knowyourrightscamp.com/_files/ugd/976826_597568e81ea8496095fdfa0ddd8574b0.pdf

2025 Annual Report

“Believe in something, even if it means sacrificing everything.” - Colin Kaepernick

Executive Report

In 2025, Know Your Rights Camp deepened its national impact by expanding youtheducation, increasing access to independent autopsies, delivering rapid disaster relief, andscaling digital civil rights tools.This year:• 850+ youth empowered across 3 cities• 42 independent autopsies completed (142 total to date)• $55,000 in rapid-response funding deployed• 47.5 million social impressions amplifying civil rights education• Immigration rights resources expanded to all 50 states in 3 languagesWith your partnership, we will continue building infrastructure that protects, educates, andempowers Black and Brown communities nationwide.

KYRC measures learning outcomes through pre- and post-program surveys completed by youth participants. Surveys assess knowledge and confidence across key areas including financial literacy, civic rights, technology literacy, and community engagement using a 1–5 scale.

From The Founders

Know Your Rights Camp was created in response to standing up for our community and this year… once again, we stand firm! We strengthened our youth-centered Camps, expanded the Autopsy Initiative, forged strategic collaborations with nonprofits through meaningful financial and in-kind contributions and an expanded digital presence, we continued to deliver critical resources and support. Despite significant obstacles, our commitment to education, advocacy and community uplift never wavered. The year began with devastating fires in historic Black neighborhoods across Southern California, including Pasadena and Altadena. Families were displaced and generations of stability were disrupted. We immediately amplified critical resources and directed funding to trusted frontline organizations serving those impacted and developed a searchable digital database of additional resources for families in need. In St. Louis, we hosted our 14th Camp. The gathering welcomed 400 young people to historic Harris-Stowe State University, offering a day of education, empowerment and community. Students learned about legal rights, local Black history, holistic health, art activism, technology, and finance. Participants received meals, resources, and meaningful mentorship. Special guests Toni Taylor and Michael Brown Sr. shared powerful stories that honored their sons who were killed by police. Dedicated presenters, volunteers, and partners helped create an inspiring experience, strengthening collective commitment to justice, opportunity, and hope. Weeks later, a tornado devastated predominantly Black neighborhoods in Greater St. Louis at a time when federal disaster assistance had been sharply reduced. KYRC responded immediately by providing $30,000 in rapid relief funding distributed to six trusted grassroots organizations already serving affected communities.

As national immigration policies intensified, we expanded the Know Your Rights Camp app to include detailed, state-by-state immigration rights guidance in English, Spanish, and French. Developed in partnership with New York-based firm White & Case, these resources help families navigate traffic stops, public demonstrations, and immigration encounters with accurate information. Off the heels of our app and the impact of immigration enforcement and protests, we hosted our 15th Camp in Los Angeles at Edward R. Roybal Learning Center, centering immigration rights, healing, and collective strength during a time of rising fear. Three hundred young people gathered for workshops and panels led by educators and community partners. The day reflected unity and love in action. As our ten year anniversary approaches, we returned to Oakland, where this movement began. Our first Camp in 2016 welcomed youth with a simple promise: to educate and protect our communities. Closing out 2025, young people and community groups joined us at our 16th Camp hosted with the Golden State Valkyries. The also included a powerful fireside conversation with activist icon Dr. Angela Davis who reminded us that this work belongs to the people. Our Autopsy Initiative continued to grow as one of the most vital pillars of KYRC. The program has provided more than 124 free, independent secondary autopsies for families who have lost their loved ones due to an in-custody death or under other suspicious circumstances. By offering expert support and resources at no cost, the initiative helps communities pursue clarity in moments of deep loss and uncertainty. In 2025, we expanded this critical work to meet growing needs, adding cases connected to ICE raids and ICE detention to the scope of the program. Spreading our digital footprint even further, this year also marked the launch of the in-studio KYRC Podcast, co hosted by longtime community members Amir Whitaker and Diana Barbadillo. The podcast has become a platform for honest dialogue on issues impacting our communities with researched facts so our communities are informed.

Beyond our Camps, we invested directly in communities nationwide. In New Orleans, we redirected Super Bowl attention toward local residents by funding five grassroots organizations with $25,000 in grants and hosting events centered on culture and economic empowerment. We partnered on civic engagement initiatives with Row New York and Ben and Jerry’s, supported families in Brooklyn, collaborated on migrant relief efforts, and worked alongside youth centered organizations across the country. Those closest to the struggle should be closest to the resources. Our commitment to uplifting future leaders within Black and Brown communities continues with love being at the center of the resistance, guiding every Camp, partnership, and program we build. With courage, community, and collective power, we will keep protecting rights, expanding opportunity, and creating spaces where the next generation can rise and thrive. As we move toward a decade of Know Your Rights Camp, we do so with deep gratitude. This movement belongs to the youth, the families, and the communities who continue to show up with courage and hope. With love and solidarity, Nessa & Colin Kaepernick

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS CAMP BY THE NUMBERS

2025 At a Glance: Transforming Commitment Into Impact

1. 943+ youth empowered at St. Louis, Los Angeles and Oakland Camps with tools for legal rights, history, art & activism, health, finance, and tech.

2. 20 autopsies completed in 2025, reaching 124 total, providing truth and accountability to families impacted by state violence.

3. 47.5M+ impressions, 34M reach across platforms, amplifying our digital voice and access to life-protecting legal information.

4. KYRC Podcast, in a new season with 2 new hosts tackling news for radical education and community dialogue. 5,346 podcast downloads; 56k views 5. $478,237 in-kind impact, channeling resources directly to the communities we serve.

Our Work Is Intentional We create transformational spaces for youth, deliver truth and justice to grieving families, and build digital tools for empowerment. When systems fail, we show up, immediately and impactfully. Why It Matters In a year of deep social unrest and systemic attacks, KYRC remained a trusted force, meeting people where they are and equipping them with what they need to be seen, supported, and free.

THE GENESIS OF KNOW YOUR RIGHTS CAMP

Colin Kaepernick and his wife, Nessa, founded Know Your Rights Camp (KYRC) in December 2015 following the police killing of Mario Woods in San Francisco's Bayview neighborhood, just blocks from Candlestick Park, where Colin served as the starting quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers. KYRC was formed in response to police violence impacting Black and Brown communities. The organization provides legal education, cultural programming, and community resources to help address systemic oppression and racial inequality. KYRC was built on, and continues to be guided by, 10 essential human rights inspired by the Black Panther Party’s Ten-Point Program.

CAMP LOCATIONS

KYRC’s first daylong, site-based camp was held at the Impact Hub in downtown Oakland, California on October 29, 2016 with nearly 100 youth in attendance. In total, we’ve had 16 camps ranging from Houston, Texas, Detroit, Los Angeles, Philadelphia and St. Louis to even Amsterdam. Through the end of 2025, we’ve served over 5,000 students through our Know Your Rights Camps. Expect KYRC to bring more Camps to cities across the globe.

KYRC St. Louis

St. Louis, shaped by generations of Black resilience and visionary leadership, became sacred ground for our 14th Know Your Rights Camp on March 29, 2025. More than 470 young people and community members gathered at historic Harris-Stowe State University, a cornerstone of Black excellence, filling the space with energy, purpose, and a deep hunger to learn. The day carried the spirit of the city’s powerful legacy while creating new pathways toward justice, empowerment, and community transformation. Students participated in dynamic presentations designed to educate and inspire. Civil rights attorney Brandon Jackson and KYRC Autopsy Initiative Director Nicole Martin led an essential session on legal rights, equipping youth with practical knowledge and confidence. Abolitionist author Derecka Purnell guided participants through St. Louis history, connecting past struggles to present realities. Additional workshops explored holistic health with Etoya R. White, art as activism with Brandan “BMike” Odums and Cbabi Bayoc, financial literacy with Mykail James, education and community building with Charli Cooksey, and technology careers with Abran Maldonado. Between lessons, shared meals, and meaningful fellowship, the camp reflected our mission of collective uplift. The presence of Toni Taylor and Michael Brown Sr., parents who have endured unimaginable loss, brought emotional truth and urgency to the day. Their courage reminded everyone that love, determination, and community action remain powerful forces for change. Together, we left inspired, strengthened, and ready to build a better future.

KYRC Los Angeles

NOVEMBER 15, 2025 Nearly three years after our first Los Angeles gathering at The Beehive, Know Your Rights Camp returned to a city standing at the center of urgent struggles. On November 15, 2025, nearly 300 youth and community members from Edward R. Roybal Learning Center and neighboring schools came together for our 15th Camp, focused on protecting immigrant communities and strengthening collective power. At a moment filled with fear and uncertainty, the day became a space for courage, knowledge, and hope. Students participated in powerful workshops designed to meet real community needs. Brandan “BMike” Odums and Los Angeles artist Claudia Ramos led sessions on using art as resistance. ImmSchools provided guidance on navigating educational opportunities, while The Hidden Genius Project opened doors to careers in technology. Dr. Guadalupe Carrasco Cardona taught the history of Black and Brown communities in Los Angeles, and KYRC Autopsy Initiative director Nicole Martin, alongside KYRC Podcast co-host Diana Barbadillo, delivered vital information on immigration rights. A moving panel featuring Amir Whitaker, Iris J. Franco of KIND, and Farida Chehata of Human Rights First addressed the human impact of immigration raids. The day was filled with fellowship, learning, and shared purpose. With support from Roybal staff, LAUSD leaders, volunteers, and presenters including Nicole Walters and Diana Diaz Madera, the Camp became a living example of unity and love in action. Together, we affirmed that Los Angeles stands strong.

KYRC Oakland

Ten years after Colin Kaepernick and Nessa Diab launched Know Your Rights Camp in response to the killing of Mario Woods, returning to Oakland marked both a homecoming and a renewed commitment to protecting and empowering young people. Our first Camp in 2016 welcomed 170 Black and Brown young people and community members into a space rooted in protection, education, and love. That gathering became a promise — one that has since grown into a global blueprint for developing young leaders. As KYRC approaches its 10th anniversary, bringing our 16th Camp back to Oakland carried profound meaning. In partnership with the WNBA’s Golden State Valkyries, we gathered at the Sephora Performance Center for a historic day of learning and inspiration. The program opened with a powerful fireside conversation between Colin, Nessa, and legendary activist Dr. Angela Davis. Their message to the youth was clear and urgent: leadership is not a future goal — it is a present responsibility. Four transformative sessions followed. Educator Ernest Crim III guided students through Black history and resilience. KYRC Autopsy Initiative director Nicole Martin and civil rights attorney Adanté Pointer delivered critical lessons on legal rights. Artist Brandan “BMike” Odums demonstrated how creativity can serve as a tool for truth and liberation. Former KYRC youth presenter Cayden Brown returned to encourage the next generation to organize and lead now. The presence of Gwen Woods (mother of Mario Woods) and Wanda Johnson (mother of Oscar Grant) brought love and remembrance to the day. Supported by dedicated staff, volunteers, and community partners, Oakland once again became a powerful home for youth, hope, and action.

Community

KYRC x PS 319K in Brooklyn Ben & Jerry's pint event

January 17, 2025 We partnered with P.S. 319K Williamsburg Early Childhood Center in New York and Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream to support and celebrate the school’s families through a joyful community moment. Serving students from 3K through first grade, P.S. 319K is dedicated to nurturing critical thinkers and confident readers and writers who actively shape their world, making the collaboration especially meaningful. With the support of the school’s PTA and Know Your Rights Camp, founded by Colin Kaepernick, every family received a free pint of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream. The gesture brought smiles across the school community and reflected a shared commitment to care, connection, and showing up for families in tangible ways.

KYRC x ROW NYC x Ben & Jerry's Civic Engagement Event

January 27, 2025 We hosted a meaningful lunch-and-learn with the inspiring youth of Row New York, an organization dedicated to transforming young lives through rowing and strong academic support, regardless of background or ability. The session focused on understanding individual rights and the role of civic engagement, co-presented with Mariela, who helped lead thoughtful discussion and dialogue. We also shared key information about the Autopsy Initiative, COVID relief efforts, the Legal Defense Initiative and the Know Your Rights Camp app, giving students practical tools and resources. The gathering closed on a warm note with a sweet treat from partners Ben & Jerry’s, reinforcing a day rooted in learning, connection, and empowerment.

KYRC x 100 Suits pop up

February 6, 2025 We teamed up with 100 Suits and founder Kevin Livingston for a pop-up shop focused on directly supporting migrant communities through food and clothing distribution. KYRC covered meals as part of the collaboration, helping ensure families received both nourishment and essential resources. The effort reached two locations, Jamaica and Springfield Gardens, where more than 100 people were fed and clothed. The day reflected a shared commitment to meeting immediate needs with dignity and care, capturing the impact of the initiative through a recap video that highlights the power of community-driven support.

Studio Be - Counter Programming Community Event

February 9, 2025 Know Your Rights Camp returned to New Orleans in 2025 with a counter programming activation rooted in the organization’s founding mission. While the city hosted one of the world’s most profitable sporting events, the activation intentionally redirected attention and resources toward local communities that are often sidelined during major commercial spectacles. The initiative centered around New Orleans residents, culture and grassroots leadership, creating space for community connection, education and collective care beyond the spotlight of the game. As part of the activation, Know Your Rights Camp distributed $25,000 in grants to five New Orleans–based organizations, allocating $5,000 to each to strengthen their ongoing work on the ground. The day also featured a community gathering with local vendors and organizations which reinforced economic support and visibility for those rooted in the city. Through funding, local partnerships and shared space, the activation reflected the Camp’s continued commitment to community empowerment, mutual support, and investing directly in people rather than pageantry.

St. Louis Tornado Relief

May 23, 2025 We delivered $30,000 in rapid relief funding to six grassroots organizations following an intense and destructive tornado devastated 20 miles of Greater St. Louis. Many Black residents of the community were hurt at a time where federal government funds dedicated to helping people in natural disasters were significantly cut. As Know Your Rights Camp held a Camp a month prior, we stepped up to help support our communities in The Lou. This immediate response was designed to meet urgent on-the-ground needs while empowering trusted local groups already embedded in affected neighborhoods. These organizations included: 1. Gentlemen of Vision: Mobilizing volunteers for neighborhood cleanups, checking in on seniors’ well-being, and delivering hands-on support directly to affected communities. 2. Black Men Build: Establishing mobile relief hubs in the most heavily impacted neighborhoods, coordinating emergency supply distribution, and activating volunteers to deliver immediate and ongoing support. 3. WEPOWER STL: Gave out essential supplies, services, and personalized care to families with young children, with a focus on supporting new mothers facing displacement and hardship. 4. Action STL: Providing housing support along with critical items and supplies for volunteers engaged in debris removal and neighborhood restoration. 5. Food City STL: Delivering nutritious meals and shelf-stable food to distribution sites while investing in Black and Brown owned food businesses and urban farms to support long-term community nourishment. 6. Carry On The Ball Inc: Supplying the community with clothing, shoes,

CK Visits PG County - Change the Game Book Donation

November 27, 2025 A total of 150 copies of Change the Game were donated to students and educators during a Colin Kaepernick meet-and-greet in Prince George’s County. The day included visits to the Largo High School media center and the DuVal High School aerospace hangar, creating space for meaningful engagement with students and school staff. The events concluded with a community mixer at Busboys and Poets, bringing together educators, youth, and local community members for conversation and connection around learning, leadership, and impact.

Know Your Rights Camp Autopsy Initiative

In 2022, KYRC launched the Autopsy Initiative, a critical program that provides free, independent second autopsies to families who have lost loved ones due to an in-custody death. The Initiative provides transparency and objectivity in determining cause of death during encounters with state or federal government agents. Led by Legal Program Director Nicole Martin, Program Manager Griselda Garcia, and Operations Manager Kiana Wilgus, the Initiative has conducted over 124 secondary autopsies and built national visibility through conference presentations and exhibitions. Nicole presented the Initiative’s work to the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine’s Committee on Advancing Forensic Pathology, amplifying the program’s impact at the highest levels. The team also engaged communities directly as exhibitors at major national convenings, including the National Civil Rights Conference, while strengthening partnerships nationwide with forensic pathologists, funeral homes, attorneys, advocates, and community-based organizations. In 2025, the Initiative expanded its internship program, hosting students from the University of Southern California and California State University, Fullerton, advancing workforce development in forensic justice. That same year, amid increased Immigration and Customs Enforcement actions targeting undocumented communities, the program expanded to include deaths during ICE raids and detention, ensuring impacted families access to truth, dignity, and independent answers when official accounts failed them. As the Autopsy Initiative moves forward, KYRC remains steadfast in standing with families; seeking truth, accountability, and justice in systems that have too often denied all three. Why This Matters In 2025, independent forensic reviews continued to reveal inconsistencies in official findings, providing families with documented clarity they otherwise would not have received. For many, truth is the first step toward accountability. The Autopsy Initiative ensures that families are not left to navigate grief and complex legal systems alone.

Autopsy Initiative Data

Four years of data from Know Your Rights Camp's Autopsy Initiative tell a story that official death certificates rarely do: that when someone dies in police custody, during an arrest, or behind bars, the person most likely to need an independent pathologist willing to challenge the government's account is Black.

In 2022, the program's first full year on record, Black or African American decedents made up 50% of the 42 autopsies it performed, more than triple the next-largest group. Nearly half those deaths, 45.2%, occurred while the person was incarcerated.

By 2023, even as the caseload dropped to 30, half of all deaths reviewed happened during arrest, apprehension, or police pursuit, and every single decedent identified by gender was male. The following year, 2024, the racial disparity deepened rather than easing: Black Americans accounted for roughly 53% of the 32 cases completed, more than double the White share, and 71.9% of those deaths occurred during an arrest or pursuit, a sharp jump from the year before. By 2025, with the caseload down to 20 autopsies, the number occurring specifically while someone was incarcerated spiked to 85%, and Black decedents made up 65% of the total, nearly two and a half times the White share and thirteen times the Hispanic or Latino share.

Averaged across the four years, the people whose deaths prompted a family to seek a second, independent autopsy skewed overwhelmingly young, in their mid-30s to low-40s, and overwhelmingly male, often north of 85% to 90% in a given year. That pattern is not incidental. It reflects who dies in American custody, and it reflects whose families have learned, often the hard way, that a county medical examiner's report tied to the same system that produced the death is not always a document they can trust.

That distrust has geography behind it. Know Your Rights Camp has now accepted cases in 27 of the 50 states, from Washington and California to Georgia, Texas, Florida, and New York, evidence that this is not a regional anomaly tied to one police department or one state's corrections system, but a pattern families are encountering coast to coast. Each year the program has operated in a different constellation of states, suggesting demand follows wherever the next contested death occurs, not wherever the organization happens to have set up shop.

Autopsy Initiative Outcomes

Families Denied First Autopsies: ● 2 families were denied a first autopsy by their county in 2025. Our Initiative ensured that those families received a first autopsy through our Initiative. Without our Initiative, these deaths may not have been independently examined, leaving the families without any answers to how their loved ones died in-custody. Direct Access to Forensic Experts/Efficiency: ● 100% of the families spoke directly with the pathologist who performed the second autopsy about their autopsy findings. Providing direct access to forensic experts provides transparency within the autopsy process. Preliminary Findings Calls Delivered within 3 weeks ● 100 % of families who received a second autopsy through our board-certified forensic pathologist panel had a preliminary findings call within 3 weeks. ● In 2025, families waited an average of 4 months to receive the first autopsy report. Our panel ensured families had access to information about the autopsy findings significantly before. Immediate Responses During Moments of Crisis: ● In 2025, 100% received a response to their autopsy request within 1 business day. When a family member reaches out to our program, our rapid response ensures families are not left waiting in uncertainty. Identifying Patterns: ● In 2025, two separate facilities each had more than one death occur. By tracking facilities where in-custody deaths occur, our Initiative helps uncover trends that may warrant oversight, accountability, and prevention.

Lawsuit: ● In 2025, one wrongful death lawsuit has already been filed based directly on findings from a second autopsy through our Initiative. When one’s loved one dies in-custody, their loss is irreparable, However, independent autopsy findings provide families with evidence needed to pursue accountability and seek justice. Family Testimonials: ● “Thank you and the KYRC team for being a huge part of our fight to justice for my mom” ● “We truly appreciate KYRC. Words cannot express our gratitude” ● “Thank you for your kindness and your professionalism and efficiency. You have blessed us all with a peace of mind.” ● “Thank you for all of your support with helping us to get justice” ● “First off, thank you so much for the condolences. It means a lot to our family. This is great news to our family. Thank you so much.” Lawyer Data: Of all cases in 2025, 75% had an attorney when they assisted the family with their autopsy request. Lawyer Testimonials: ● “ Thank you so much! ! This whole process has been amazing - and such an incredible benefit for our client” ● Thank you for your attentiveness and assistance. Despite the difficult circumstances, it has truly been a pleasure working with you and your team. We are very thankful for the work you all provided. ● "Thank you so much! This is really an amazing thing you guys do” ● “[All parties”] have expressed appreciation for the work the initiative does and how helpful it has been to receive information, even at a preliminary stage.”

Know Your Rights Camp Digital

KYRC’s mission extends beyond in-person programming. It lives in the digital space, where we continue building tools that empower, inform, and protect our communities.

A cornerstone of this work is the KYRC Mobile App, launched in 2023 and available on both Android and iOS. The KYRC app now provides protest, traffic stop, and immigration rights guidance for all 50 states in English, Spanish, and French, ensuring multilingual access to critical legal protections. This update equips users with critical knowledge on what to do if approached by ICE at work or at home, ensuring communities have immediate access to clear, actionable information during high-stress encounters. This expansion builds upon our 2024 research and development phase, completed in partnership with White & Case LLP.

The KYRC app also serves as a hub for exclusive educational and media content. This year also marked the launch of the in-studio KYRC Podcast, co-hosted by longtime community members Amir Whitaker and Di Barbadillo. In our first year video views increased by 338% year-over-year, reflecting growing demand for accessible civil rights education and trusted legal resources.

Podcast topics included: https://youtu.be/fFiZKVDklUE?si=vfIpWOiXxcB9krqQ

● Free Speech & The Government’s Responsibility in Maintaining It

● Critical Race Theory: Myths vs. Reality

● Immigrant Rights vs. ICE: What Really Happened in Los Angeles?

While much of this year focused on infrastructure and expansion, the groundwork has also been laid for:

● AI assistant compatibility

● Faster emergency legal updates during urgent community moments

● Enhanced civil rights tools

● KYRC Student portal As we continue bridging digital access and social justice, the KYRC app remains central to our mission, informing, protecting, and activating communities wherever they are.

Know Your Rights Camp's Digital Reach In 2025

Post impressions: 47,576,863 — up 225% from 17,323,013 in 2024, more than tripling the organization's digital footprint year over year.
Social post reach: 34 million — the number of people who actually saw a Know Your Rights Camp post in 2025.
Total social followers: 732,000 across platforms.
Instagram followers: 421,000 — the largest single-platform audience, more than triple Facebook's.
Facebook followers: 134,000.
Threads followers: 107,000 — a notable foothold on a platform that only launched in 2023.
TikTok followers: 13,900 — the smallest platform audience, suggesting room to grow on the app where younger audiences increasingly get civil rights information.
Social media shares: 323,000 — a measure of how often followers actively redistributed the organization's content rather than just viewing it.
Social post impressions: 47.5 million — nearly matching total post impressions, indicating social platforms are the primary driver of the year's growth.
Video views: 223,000 — up 338% year-over-year, the steepest growth rate of any metric, which the organization attributes to "growing demand for accessible civil rights education and trusted legal resources."
YouTube subscribers: 2,270 — a modest base relative to other platforms, suggesting video content is being watched more than subscribed to.
Website pageviews: 221,000 — roughly matching video views, pointing to a two-track strategy of social-native video plus a destination site for deeper resources.
Podcast downloads: 5,346 — the smallest audience of any channel, but a format that reaches listeners in a different context than quick-scroll social content.

KYRC Podcast: From Camp Conversations to Ongoing Community Dialogue

In 2025, we built out a dedicated studio space, secured long-term co-host leadership, and expanded our distribution across major platforms including Apple, Spotify, iHeart, and other streaming services. With Amir Whitaker, former Senior Policy Counsel at the ACLU of Southern California, and Diana Barbadillo, National Lawyers Guild Board Member, joining as co-hosts, the podcast strengthened its legal, policy, and grassroots credibility. This year also marked a measurable digital breakthrough. With the launch of weekly episodes, we saw a 338 percent increase in video views, signaling growing demand for accessible, trusted civil rights education. These conversations reflect the urgency of the current moment while expanding on themes from our Know Your Rights Camps. The podcast continues to serve as a bridge between in-person programming and year-round digital engagement. More than content, the KYRC Podcast functions as an extension of our organizing infrastructure. It amplifies initiatives such as the Autopsy Initiative, supports our educational curriculum, and provides timely analysis during moments of national concern. Through interviews, storytelling, and legal breakdowns, each episode is designed to equip communities with knowledge, context, and practical tools. What began as camp conversations has become a sustained national dialogue. As we continue building digital access points for civic education, the KYRC Podcast remains central to our mission of protecting, empowering, and informing Black and Brown communities. More great conversation to come in 2026

2021 Annual Report

Letter from the Co-Founder

Section: From The Founders A letter titled "Stronger Together" from Colin Kaepernick, Co-Founder, addressed "Dear Friend."

Key facts:

Written as the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic was ending.
In 2021, KYRC issued over $1.2 million in support for communities.
Of that: $343,000 in grants (legal defense, abolitionist organizing, Black mental health, and more) and $859,000 in resources and in-kind donations (meals, backpacks, school supplies, PPE, clothing, laptops, etc.).
States commitment to centering Black, Indigenous, and people of color communities.
2022 plans previewed: an in-person, COVID-safe Know Your Rights Camp in Las Vegas; launch of a first-of-its-kind Autopsy Initiative providing families of those killed by police access to independent autopsies at no cost; and a digital state-by-state resource on rights when interacting with police.
Signed: Colin Kaepernick, Co-Founder.

The Story of Know Your Rights Camp

Section: The Story of Know Your Rights Camp Organizational history and mission statement.

Key facts:

Colin Kaepernick and his partner Nessa created Know Your Rights Camp (KYRC) in December 2015, in the wake of the police killing of Mario Woods in the Bayview neighborhood of San Francisco — minutes from Candlestick Park, where Colin played quarterback.
KYRC provides young people with legal, cultural, and community resources to fight systemic oppression, police terrorism, and racial inequality.
First daylong, site-based camp: October 29, 2016, at the Impact Hub in downtown Oakland, CA — 100+ youth attended.
Since then, 7 additional camps were held, most recently in Atlanta, GA on October 19, 2019, serving 450+ youth.
At the start of the pandemic (early 2020), in-person camps were paused; efforts shifted to supporting Black and Brown communities disproportionately impacted by COVID-19.
Mission statement: "Our mission is to advance the liberation and well-being of Black and Brown communities through education, self-empowerment, mass-mobilization and the creation of new systems that elevate the next generation of change leaders."

The KYRC 10 Points

Section: The KYRC 10 Points KYRC's foundational rights framework, inspired by the Black Panther Party's Ten-Point Program.

The 10 Points ("You have the right to..."):

Be Free
Be Healthy
Be Brilliant
Be Safe
Be Loved
Be Courageous
Be Alive
Be Trusted
Be Educated
Know Your Rights

Know Your Rights Camps (Map)

Section: Know Your Rights Camps Map graphic showing camp locations and cumulative reach.

Key facts:

1,949 youths served (cumulative, shown on map).
Camp/city locations shown: Oakland, CA; Chicago, IL; New York, NY; Baltimore, MD; Atlanta, GA; New Orleans, LA; Miami, FL; and Amsterdam, Netherlands.

Subject Areas (Part 1)

Section: Know Your Rights Camp — Subject Areas Describes the camp curriculum structure and the first three subject areas.

Key facts:

Each camp day is broken into subject areas; workshops are led by local professionals and experts in partnership with KYRC core staff.
Know Your Rights: Often led by active, practicing civil rights lawyers; interactive session teaching legal resources to navigate encounters with law enforcement so youth can walk away ALIVE. Uses questions and role-playing.
Holistic Health: Covers physical and mental health — nutrient-dense food choices, combating food apartheid, mental health importance, mindfulness techniques.
Know Your History: Examines local histories of policing and community resistance to police terrorism, building historical literacy about structural racism.

Subject Areas (Part 2)

Section: Know Your Rights Camp — Subject Areas Continues the subject area descriptions.

Key facts:

Finance: Teaches youth to navigate an economic system not built in their favor — checking accounts, credit cards, asset building; frames financial literacy as self-defense.
Education: Focuses on post-high-school pathways — trade school, community college, 4-year college, apprenticeship — pros/cons of higher education; city-specific info included in a resource guide given to every student.
Tech - S.T.E.A.M.: Hands-on tech activities (building robots, coding via Xbox), delivered by presenters close in age to the youth; addresses disproportionate tech access for Black and Brown youth.
Empowerment: Session led personally by Colin Kaepernick, sharing his journey to self-love and empowerment; youth leave as "ambassadors" who empower others in their communities.

Section Divider: By The Numbers

Section: KYRC By The Numbers Divider page. Tagline: "Over $1.2 Million into our communities."

2021 Impact By The Numbers: Grants

Section: 2021 Impact By The Numbers Grants breakdown.

Key facts:

21 grants to community organizations, totaling $343,000.
Organizations served (21 total): International Indian Treaty Council; Brighter Bites; Lower Eastside Girls Club NYC; Beauty 2 The Streets; Hillsborough Organization for Progress and Equality; National Black Child Development Institute; The Moses White Foundation; In Touch with Communities Around the World (Arts Conservatory for Teens); Our Turn; Freedom Archives; Mississippi Move; Highlander Research & Education Center; Alternate Roots; Afro-American Cultural Society of the Golden Triangle; Nonviolent Peaceforce; Darkness Rising Project; Promise of Justice (fiscal sponsor of Solitary Gardens); Lower East Side Girls Club Abolition Project; The Village of Arts and Humanity (fiscal sponsor of Care, Not Control); Helping Oppressed Mothers Endure; Assata's Daughters.

2021 Impact By The Numbers: Resources & In-Kind Donations

Section: 2021 Impact By The Numbers In-kind donation breakdown.

Key facts:

Resource & in-kind donations totaling $859,000.
Breakdown: 56,510 meals; 21,000 facemasks (PPE); 2,402 backpacks; 410 school supply kits; 350 coats; 100 sweatshirts; 250 shirts; 12,000 pairs of socks; 250 pairs of shoes; 20 laptops.

Section Divider: Initiatives

Section: KYRC Initiatives Divider page introducing the Initiatives section.

COVID-19 Relief Fund

Section: COVID-19 Relief Fund Overview of pandemic-response grantmaking.

Key facts:

Responds to rising food/housing insecurity, widening educational disparities, and disproportionately high COVID death rates among incarcerated individuals in Black and Brown communities.
Grants and resources distributed across 5 pillars of support: Food, Shelter Relief, Education, PPE, and Criminalized & Incarcerated Populations.

Legal Defense Initiative

Section: Legal Defense Initiative Describes KYRC's legal support program.

Key facts:

Launched beginning May 2020 in response to police violence and human rights violations against protesters demonstrating over the killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and others.
Provides support for people arrested, those who had their rights violated, and those victimized by police terrorism (including people in pretrial detention).
Operated in partnership with the National Lawyers Guild.
In 2021, provided over $204,700 in legal support grants.

Section Divider: Beyond Initiatives

Section: Beyond Initiatives Divider page introducing additional programs/partnerships beyond the core initiatives.

Abolitionist Organizing

Section: Beyond Initiatives — Abolitionist Organizing "In Support of a Future Without Policing & Prisons."

Key facts:

In 2021, KYRC granted $85,000 to four organizations supporting abolitionist organizing.
Grants coincided with the release of Kaepernick Publishing's first book, Abolition for the People: The Movement for a Future Without Policing & Prisons.
10,000 copies of the book were distributed to incarcerated individuals via the #BooksAreWeapons program.
Grantee organizations: @solitarygardens (New Orleans), @carenotcontrol (Philadelphia), @darkriseproject (NYC), @girlsclubny (NYC) — done in partnership with Kaepernick Publishing.

KYRC x Colin x Ben & Jerry's

Section: Beyond Initiatives — A Sweet Partnership Mural unveiling and community event in Tampa, FL.

Key facts:

February 2021: unveiled a mural in Old West Tampa Bay, FL, titled "Change the Whirled," honoring Colin Kaepernick's fight against police violence and systemic racism.
Mural: 30' x 90', created by artist Brandan "BMike" Odums, who also designed the "Change the Whirled" non-dairy ice cream pint for Ben & Jerry's.
100% of Colin's proceeds from the Ben & Jerry's partnership benefit KYRC.
A COVID-safe, drive-thru community event at the mural site distributed: $20,000 in grants to 4 local community organizations; 350 meals (feeding families of 4–6) from a local Black-owned caterer; 1,000+ pints of Change the Whirled; 266 gift certificates from a local Black-owned barbershop and salon.
Organizations/businesses supported: Hillsborough Organization For Progress and Equality; Moses White Foundation; Arts Conservatory for Teens; National Black Child Development Institute; Foster's Barbershop; Mimie's House of Beauty.

Mississippi Storm Relief

Section: Rapid Response Community Support Disaster relief response.

Key facts:

February 2021: severe storms across the U.S. South caused widespread damage and sustained loss of electricity and clean water.
KYRC provided $50,000 in grants to four mutual-aid organizations: Mississippi Move; Highlander Research and Education Center; AlternateROOTS; Afro-American Cultural Society of the Golden Triangle.
Support funded food/water distribution, home repairs, emergency kits, and wellness checks/mental health support.

Youth Empowerment (Part 1)

Section: Youth Empowerment Describes youth engagement during the camp pause, plus an Ebony Magazine feature.

Key facts:

With in-person camps paused for safety, KYRC continued youth engagement through grants (e.g., to Our Turn) and community partnerships.
Ebony x L.E.S. Girls Club: Colin invited two youth leaders from the Lower East Side Girls Club (past KYRC camp attendees, now camp ambassadors) to join his interview for Ebony Magazine. KYRC connected them with interviewer Sunny Hostin (co-host of The View) given shared interest in broadcast journalism careers.

Youth Empowerment (Part 2)

Section: Youth Empowerment Two additional youth-focused partnerships.

Key facts:

KYRC x Warriors ("Beyond 28" podcast): Golden State Warriors' podcast episode about KYRC camps and leadership; featured Eric Reid (who kneeled alongside Colin during the national anthem) plus two KYRC leaders and two youth camp ambassadors.
TEDx x Morehouse: A KYRC youth cohort joined a virtual workshop on business entrepreneurship with TEDx Morehouse College, featuring a panel of professionals from health, film, hospitality, logistics, science, environmental impact, and civil rights.

Digital Presence

Section: Know Your Rights Camp Digital Presence Social media reach and news coverage stats.

Key facts:

Mission emphasis: providing free, accessible, public-facing political education content to change/elevate the narrative around the value of Black lives.
6.4 million+ total followers across platforms.
Handles: KYRC — Instagram/Twitter/Facebook/TikTok @yourrightscamp (facebook.com/yourrightscamp; tiktok.com/@yourrightscamp); Colin Kaepernick — Instagram/Twitter @kaepernick7; Nessa ("Nessa on Air") — Instagram/Twitter @nessnitty.
In the news: In 2021, KYRC was referenced in 2,384 news articles with an online reach of 7,787,968,870.

Digital Resources to Educate & Empower

Section: Digital Resources Netflix tie-in educational guides.

Key facts:

KYRC created an episode-by-episode viewer's guide for Colin Kaepernick's Netflix limited series "Colin in Black and White."
Six guides, designed for educator-guided or self-guided learning, packed with discussion prompts, questions, and resources:
1. Episode 1: Cornrows
2. Episode 2: Quarterbackin'
3. Episode 3: Road Trip
4. Episode 4: The Decision
5. Episode 5: Crystal
6. Episode 6: Dear Colin

How To Support Know Your Rights Camp

Section: How To Support KYRC Forward-looking plans and calls to action.

Key facts:

2022+ plans: broaden legal defense efforts with a first-of-its-kind police accountability initiative; develop (with legal partners) a comprehensive digital tool to help communities understand their rights with law enforcement; resume hosting in-person Know Your Rights Camps nationwide.
Calls to action: Donate and Sign Up for Newsletter.
Stay Connected: Instagram/Twitter/Facebook @yourrightscamp; website www.knowyourrightscamp.com.
Legal/financial disclosure: Know Your Rights Camp is a fund of the Entertainment Industry Foundation (EIF), a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. EIF is a Charity Navigator 4-Star Charity meeting all 20 BBB Charity Standards and carries the Candid Platinum Seal of Transparency (2022). All donations are tax-deductible through KYRC's 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsor, EIF.

Quick-Reference Summary of Key 2021 Figures

Total invested in communities: $1.2M+
Grants to community organizations: $343,000 across 21 organizations
Resource & in-kind donations: $859,000 (56,510 meals, 21,000 PPE masks, 2,402 backpacks, 410 school supply kits, 350 coats, 100 sweatshirts, 250 shirts, 12,000 pairs of socks, 250 pairs of shoes, 20 laptops)
Legal Defense Initiative grants: $204,700
Abolitionist organizing grants: $85,000 (4 orgs) + 10,000 books distributed to incarcerated individuals
Ben & Jerry's/Tampa mural event: $20,000 in grants + 350 meals + 1,000+ pints + 266 gift certificates
Mississippi Storm Relief: $50,000 (4 mutual-aid orgs)
Cumulative youth served at camps (through the report's map): 1,949
Total social media followers: 6.4 million+
2021 news mentions: 2,384 articles, online reach of 7,787,968,870
Founded: December 2015 by Colin Kaepernick and Nessa, in response to the police killing of Mario Woods
First camp: October 29, 2016, Oakland, CA (100+ youth)

2022 Annual Report

A Letter From Our Founders

Section: From The Founders Letter addressed "Dear Friend," signed Colin & Nessa.

Key facts:

Written 7 years after KYRC's founding; frames 2022 as a year of several milestones.
Hosted the first COVID-safe in-person camp since the start of the pandemic.
Launched the Autopsy Initiative — a cost-free service providing families who recently lost a loved one to a police-related death with a neutral, objective secondary autopsy.
Launched a community solidarity grants program providing rapid-response resourcing to communities affected by government disinvestment.
Example cited: on learning residents of Jackson, Mississippi had no potable drinking water due to decades of infrastructure disinvestment, KYRC arranged for 5,000 gallons of drinking water delivered by semi-truck within 3 days.
2023 plans previewed: a substantial update to the Know Your Rights Camp curriculum and hosting at least 2 camps over the next calendar year.

2022 By The Numbers (Impact)

Section: Know Your Rights Camp: 2022 By The Numbers Headline impact statistics.

Key facts:

8 community grants totaling $95,000
32,000 meals for the community, worth over $270,000
More than $100,000 worth of in-kind donations, including backpacks, shoes, and masks
42 autopsies for families of those involved in a police-related death, totaling services worth $350,000
125 youth served by the first COVID-safe in-person Know Your Rights Camp since the start of the pandemic
$1 million+ in total impact

2022 By The Numbers (Social Media)

Section: Know Your Rights Camp: 2022 By The Numbers Platform-by-platform social stats for @yourrightscamp.

Key facts:

Instagram: 438,000+ followers; 786 posts; 2.3 million engagements
Facebook: 91,000+ followers; 646 posts; 136,000+ engagements
X (formerly Twitter): 72,000+ followers; 1,300+ tweets; 68,000+ engagements

Mission Statement

Section: Mission Full-page mission statement:

"Our mission is to advance the liberation and well-being of Black and Brown communities through education, self-empowerment, mass mobilization, and the creation of new systems that elevate the next generation of change leaders."

The Genesis of KYRC

Section: The Genesis of KYRC Founding story plus the 10 Points.

Key facts:

Colin Kaepernick and his partner Nessa created KYRC in December 2015 in the aftermath of the police murder of Mario Woods in the Bayview neighborhood of San Francisco, blocks from Candlestick Park where Colin played professional football.
KYRC was formed in response to police terrorism against Black and Brown people; offers legal, cultural, and community resources.
Guided by 10 essential human rights inspired by the Black Panther Party's Ten Point Program. "You have the right to..." 1. Be Free · 2. Be Healthy · 3. Be Brilliant · 4. Be Safe · 5. Be Loved · 6. Be Courageous · 7. Be Alive · 8. Be Trusted · 9. Be Educated · 10. Know Your Rights.

What Is a Know Your Rights Camp?

Section: What Is a Know Your Rights Camp? Describes the camp model.

Key facts:

Camps are daylong, site-based youth camps, tailored to local contexts; the organization's signature programmatic offering.
Planning begins months ahead through outreach to local grassroots organizations and after-school programs to identify adult community leaders and youth attendees.
Venues are chosen for historical and cultural significance — examples given: the Audubon Ballroom in Harlem, the DuSable Museum in Chicago.
KYRC prioritizes supporting local Black and Brown vendors for all camps.
Youth leave with actionable knowledge plus supplies and resources.

Where Have Camps Been Held?

Section: Camp Locations Map of camp cities and cumulative reach.

Key facts:

First daylong, site-based camp: Impact Hub, downtown Oakland, CA, October 29, 2016, with 100+ youth.
Since then, 8 additional camps, the most recent in Las Vegas, Nevada, after a multiyear pause for the COVID pandemic.
Through 2022, over 2,000 youth served through Know Your Rights Camps.
Cities/locations listed: Oakland (CA), Harlem (NY), Chicago (IL), New Orleans (LA), Miami (FL), Baltimore (MD), Atlanta (GA), Amsterdam (Netherlands), Las Vegas (NV).

Section Divider: KYRC Las Vegas

Section: KYRC Las Vegas Divider page introducing the Las Vegas camp section.

KYRC Las Vegas (Overview)

Section: KYRC Las Vegas Recap of the 2022 camp.

Key facts:

Held Saturday, April 23, 2022 at the College of Southern Nevada (CSN) in Las Vegas — the first in-person camp since the beginning of the pandemic.
Free meals offered all day, inspired by the Black Panther Party's free breakfast program.
Topics covered: local histories, legal rights, mental and holistic health, education, finance, tech, and the power of art.
125 young people attended.