Statement from Next100
Rest in power, George Floyd and countless others. Black Lives Matter.
From Central Park to Minneapolis, what we are seeing this week is not new. It is centuries old, anchored in our nation’s history. It is not the action of a few individuals. It is structural and systemic. It is horrific; but it is only shocking if you haven’t been paying attention.
Inflicting racist terror is reprehensible. Inflicting racist terror is unacceptable. White people armed with weapons made for war can storm our government buildings with no consequences, but Black people dare not go birding without having their lives threatened by the shadow of police violence.
We stand in solidarity with the protesters around the nation calling for justice for George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and countless others. We believe law enforcement should be more interested in protecting all citizens than in protecting property, including holding accountable their law enforcement counterparts. Until then, the pain demonstrated by Black people worldwide should be seen and heard without a declaration of war from our president.
We need to stop killing Black people. We need to stop killing Black people with guns. We need to stop killing Black people with chokeholds. We need to stop killing Black people with knees. We need to stop requiring Black people to bear the burden of the disproportionate impact of COVID, of our inequitable health care system, of our unjust criminal justice system, of our unequal school system, of structural barriers that keep people in poverty.
We need to stop killing Black people.
Rest in power, George Floyd and countless others. Black Lives Matter.