As we get ready to close May, Mental Health Awareness Month, we want to uplift the essential workers at the forefront of the COVID-19 fight. In the month of May, we observe days and weeks in which we honor teachers, nurses and emergency medical service workers. It feels especially relevant to recognize these groups right now, and also acknowledge that they are part of a larger group of essential workers consisting of mail carriers, food deliverers, grocery store workers, restaurant staff, bus drivers, plumbers, construction workers, domestic workers, janitorial and sanitation workers, community advocates, and so many others.
Peace Over Violence salutes all of the essential workers who play a critical role during this global public health crisis—at a time where systems and institutions have failed to protect and serve. We recognize how these workers in our communities are being impacted. In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, we invite you to consider giving back, not only by staying home to protect the most vulnerable, but also by financially supporting mutual aid and relief funds directly supporting workers, by volunteering, by building awareness with your community, or by advocating to increase public help for those who need it.
May is Asian Pacific Islander Heritage Month and typically a time to celebrate the diverse peoples, histories, and cultures of Asian and Pacific Islander communities. This year is different, in that there have been higher rates of racist acts committed against communities of color in the United States. We are continuing to learn more about the increase in Sinophobic and anti-Asian hate crimes, with hateful and fictitious correlations being made globally between COVID-19 and Asian communities and people. We are also learning more about how COVID-19 is affecting Black communities at disproportionate rates.
At Peace Over Violence, we speak a lot about solidarity, because we hold this value close and recognize its necessity in the work we do. Solidarity involves educating ourselves in the issues that affect not only us and the communities we belong to, but the issues that affect our neighbors as well. Solidarity also involves action; we must actively listen to what types of support all communities need at this time and then act accordingly. This will help strengthen our coalition-building work together in the movement to end violence.
Solidarity Masks
We know that sheltering at home may not be safe for those who fear violence, and we are highly attuned to the continued need for solidarity and increased support during the ongoing global pandemic. These are unprecedented times and it is critical to ensure that the most vulnerable are protected. We cannot and will not abandon survivors.
Peace Over Violence now has Solidarity masks available for purchase at our online shop. Proceeds from each mask purchase provide critical unrestricted funding during this unsettling time and will be used to directly support individuals experiencing sexual and domestic violence, child sexual abuse, and other interpersonal trauma during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Working in the spirit of solidarity, production of these masks will be local in order to support our small business manufacturing partners during this time of heightened economic uncertainty.
2019 Annual Report is Here
Peace Over Violence’s 2019 Annual Report is now LIVE.
