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John,

This is not the letter I thought I would write to kick off Immigrant Heritage Month and Pride Month. Instead of sharing our line up of fierce speakers and online events, I'm emailing you with a heavy heart and request for action.

Like you, I am angered to the core of my being about the state of our nation. In the midst of an unprecedented pandemic that has ravaged communities of color and immigrant communities, we are also mourning the murders of George Floyd, Tony McDade, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery, the latest victims of a system that criminalizes people of color, and most especially Black people. It's past time to end the systemic racism and discrimination that led to these murders and the disproportionate impact coronavirus has had on our communities.

Enough is enough.

I'm asking you to join New American Leaders in taking action to end systems of oppression. Here is what you can do right now to make a difference:
1.
Learn
our
history.
We
are
here
because
of
centuries
of
oppression
and
racism.
To
dismantle
systems
built
on
anti-Blackness,
we
must
understand
how
we
got
here.
Here's
a
timeline
of
key
events.
[[link removed]]
2.
Protect
protestors.
Those
who
are
arrested
are
being
put
in
jails,
where
they
not
only
face
violations
of
their
rights,
but
are
in
unsafe,
unsanitary
conditions,
putting
them
at
risk
of
being
exposed
to
COVID-19.
This
resource
[[link removed]]
,
developed
by
activist
Karla
Monterroso,
provides
the
names
and
numbers
of
jails
you
can
call,
with
a
sample
script,
to
demand
protestors
be
released.
3.
Support
groups
fighting
for
justice.
Many
lists
are
circulating
with
the
names
of
organizations
you
can
donate
to.
Do
what
you
can
for
the
groups
locally
and
nationally
that
speak
to
you.
This
is
a
list
of
local
organizations
in
Minneapolis
[[link removed]]
working
on
the
ground
as
well
as
a
list
of
bail
funds
[[link removed]]
you
can
support
around
the
country.

In the midst of these especially difficult times, I am also turning to two Audre Lorde quotes. One is, "Your silence will not protect you." But the other, equally important, is, "Caring for myself is not self-indulgence. It is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare."

Speak up and take care of yourself and others. We are in this together.

In community,
Sayu Bhojwani
Founder and President
New American Leaders

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New American Leaders
530 7th Ave, Floor M1
New York, NY 10018
United States