SMW Solidarity Statement
June 3, 2020Black people have built America since before it was a country, often driven to the task by systematic oppression and racism. Recently, George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, Tony McDade, Oscar Grant, Mario Woods, Kayla Moore, and countless others suffered deadly violence, with all of us as witnesses. The brazenness and impunity of these acts—the inevitable result of systemic racism in the country that Black people helped make—may have been meant to silence dissent. It hasn’t worked. In response to these injustices, Black communities and their allies around the country have once again stood up in sorrow and rage to demand change. This is a call to action for all of us to do better, speak up, and be part of the solution. This has gone on for far too long. We stand with those across the country protesting for change. We condemn the escalating racist violence and brutality. And we acknowledge that we must work to challenge these systems of oppression and support other organizations committed to the fight.