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Dear Friend,
Let’s get right to the point. On September 22nd, President Trump signed and released his “Executive Order on Race and Sex Stereotyping”—to try to stop the work of racial justice. He has ended racial equity work in federal government agencies and other federally funded contracts, and is even directly attacking those doing racial equity work in local governments like Seattle.
It gets worse. Among Trump’s banned words — words that automatically trigger defunding and punishment — are “systemic racism,” “intersectionality,” “white privilege,” “critical race theory,” and “unconscious bias.” We can’t change the problem if we can’t name the problem. He is trying to silence the movement for racial equity.
Race Forward’s President Glenn Harris recently appeared on CNN to push back on President Trump’s efforts. He and Senior Vice President Julie Nelson wrote recently that Trump clearly is opposed to a vision of “a multiracial democracy in which we all can achieve our highest potential.”
We know that the coronavirus pandemic, state and vigilante violence against the Black community, an environmental crisis, and an economic recession have exposed the horrifying impact of racial inequities between white people and people of color. We have seen people rising up everywhere to demand equity and understanding. But President Trump and his administration literally want to stop Americans from talking and working together to end systemic racism.
We won’t bow down. In fact, these attacks elevate the urgency of our work
We will continue to offer our Building Racial Equity trainings to thousands of people to end systemic racism. We will continue to offer our #RaceAnd seminars to promote understanding of intersectionality. We will continue to lead cultural equity trainings across the arts and culture sector that challenge white privilege. We will continue to fight back and tell the stories of resistance, organizing, and hope with Colorlines. We have built the Government Alliance on Race and Equity, (GARE), a national network of local governments working to advance racial justice, not only through training, but also by putting transformative ideas into action. With our network of over 250 jurisdictions, our allies, and your support, we are fighting back.
Join us NOW in fighting back. Give whatever you can to the fight for racial justice—whether $10, $25, $100, or more—here.
Join hundreds of other organizations from across the country and sign on here to commit to dialogue, education, and action to address systemic racism and create a more equitable way forward for all Americans.
And join us at Facing Race: A National Virtual Conference, November 10-12, as we come together to let Trump know that no one can stop the movement for racial justice!
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