Dear John,

SACNAS President Dr. Sonia I. Zárate, issued the following statement today in response to state violence disproportionately impacting Black communities:

“As an inclusive organization at the intersection of STEM, culture and community, SACNAS condemns the institutional racism and acts of state violence that continue to occur towards our communities of color and that feed the flames of injustice in this country. 

SACNAS is committed to advancing historically excluded populations in STEM so we can achieve true STEM diversity, and we stand with Black communities to demand accountability from law enforcement, to condemn racism, and to dismantle oppressive systems. Black lives matter.

We enthusiastically call on other scientific and professional societies to join our efforts to support Black communities and address racial injustice through our respective platforms.

Specifically, SACNAS encourages the STEM community to reflect on the ways in which we have contributed to the upholding of racial injustice and to be dedicated to removing the systemic barriers that have served to exclude persons of color from full participation in society and the scientific enterprise.

The murders of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor, coupled with the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on Black, Latinx and Native communities have made navigating the hostile national terrain a heavier burden to bear. Please give others grace and grant yourself permission to engage in restorative activities and self-care.”