OWHE's Statement on Racial Injustice: Black Lives Matter
Dear OWHE Peers and Colleagues,
We are reaching out today to express our sincere sadness and recognition of the deaths of Ahmaud Arbrey, George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Tony McDade, and all Black people who have been murdered due to police brutality and unnecessary use of their power. The OWHE Board of Directors wants to bring light to the trauma, fear, and anger this has caused for many of our colleagues of color. We share in your feelings and offer our support as we work through processing the impact of these injustices while simultaneously conducting our day-to-day lives during a global pandemic.
You may be aware of the various protests, uprisings and rebellions that are occurring nationally right now. They depict and demonstrate the community-wide anger many of us are feeling due to these continued historical injustices. The feelings brought from these recent events reminded the Board of how important it is to check in on each other, to be an informed anti-racist ally/accomplice, and to not be a bystander of racial injustice and microaggressions.
Not just for now, but forever.
We offer an outstretched hand to our colleagues who are suffering. It is okay to feel unsettled, to feel as though you do not know what to do or how to support, to feel angry, to feel confused. We encourage you to stay informed and review the resources and possible action steps below if you are in need of clarity on how to support colleagues of color and/or how to cope and persist during times of racial injustice. We encourage you to speak out and uplift Black voices, businesses, and experiences. White supremacy’s focus on perfection can make this work challenging but don’t let perfect be the enemy of good. We are all feeling discomfort but it is important to experience this now in order to make lasting change.To our colleagues of color - we honor your existence, we see your courage and resilience, and we commit to the continued fight for liberation and justice.
Black Lives Matter.
Donate:
- Donate to the organization of your choice that supports Black Lives Matter or any Black, Indigenous, People of Color organization, or bail out fund.
- Submit a screenshot of your donation to chair@owhe.org, OWHE on Facebook, or OWHE on Instagram.
- OWHE will match that donation to the organization.
- Follow OWHE on Facebook, or Instagram to stay up to date with the latest matching limit.
- Our current matching limit is now $500 in total, but if you'd like to contribute towards matching, message chair@owhe.org.
Learn:
OWHE Resource List
This list is not exhaustive. If you have a resource you’d like to share with the OWHE community, join our Community Slack Channel to engage in critical conversation and share resources.
Engage:
OWHE Community Slack Guide
Black Lives Matter Action Guide