George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, Tony McDade, David McAtee, Nina Pop, and so many more should be alive today. Their lives matter. Black lives matter.
As our nation confronts the COVID-19 pandemic, which is disproportionately ravaging Black communities, we must address the public health crisis that racism presents. Public health by definition is built on the principle of saving lives. There has been no greater threat to Black lives than the violence being inflicted at the hands of the state through centuries of policies that have systematically oppressed Black people since before the founding of our country. The over-policing of Black bodies extends far beyond the actions of individual police officers. It is in our workplaces, our schools, our public institutions. It is in our health care system. Racism permeates every structure in our society. If Black people are not afforded the bodily autonomy to live their daily lives — or protest the violence against their lives — without fear, we can never achieve justice, let alone reproductive freedom.
Now is not just the time to call out violent racism gone viral, it is also a time to look inward. We need to examine how white supremacy of the past and present continues to reverberate in the institutions we are a part of today — including Planned Parenthood. PPMW continues its journey to acknowledge historic systemic racism and how we, by our daily actions, policies, and work can participate in dismantling those systems that perpetuate inequity. We commit, once and for all, to a thorough reckoning of our own history and how it shows up today. We will continue to address and correct implicit bias within our organization. We commit to supporting and making space for the Black organizations and leaders already at the forefront of this fight. We will follow their lead.
Ways to take action:
Movement for Black Lives Week of Action: Follow Movement for Black Lives facebook page for updated action guidance (graphic below).
Black Lives Matter DC: Follow on twitter and facebook and get involved with the local Black Lives Matter chapter.
BYP100: Follow on twitter and facebook and check out their local work.
Sister Song: Follow this Southern Based - National Women of Color Reproductive Justice Collective on twitter. Join the Defending Black Bodies: A Reproductive Justice Townhall that they are hosting TODAY, Friday June 5. Register here: bit.ly/RJ4BLACKLIVES
Urge Congress to Take Action: Urge your Members of Congress to support Reps. Ayanna Pressley, Ilhan Omar, Barbara Lee, and Karen Bass’s resolution to condemn police brutality, racial profiling, and use of excessive force.
Join Color of Change: Take action with Color of Change: HERE or text FLOYD to 55156.
Support local bail funds: Support protesters in your city by donating to the Black Lives Matter DC Legal Support Fund or donate here to have your donation divided between cities across the country.
Support Black Voters Matter: Support the voter registration efforts of Black Voters Matter.
Educate yourself & the people around you: We encourage non-Black allies to deepen their understanding of how racism affects us all by reading these anti-racism resources and have conversations with your family and friends.
Planned Parenthood of Metropolitan Washington D.C.
1225 4th St. NE
Washington, DC 20002
United States
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Planned Parenthood of Metropolitan Washington D.C.
1225 4th St. NE
Washington, DC 20002
United States
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