Rainforest Action Network condemns domestic terrorism, the white supremacist rally held in Charlottesville, Virginia, the North Carolina District Attorney’s response to activists mobilizing against symbols of bigotry and racism, and the inciteful and irresponsible rhetoric from the President. These past few days are a reminder that white supremacy is alive and well in this country. With the election of our current president and his appointment of Steve Bannon, a known white supremacist, to chief strategist, we know hate groups have a mandate from the highest office in the country. These recent incidents are a cruel reminder of what happens when hate and bigotry is left unchecked. Even outside of the events unfolding in Charlottesville, Durham and Baltimore, the impacts of racial inequity and injustice are felt everyday by communities of color in education, employment, health, environment, criminal justice system, economy and housing.
We remember Heather Heyer, Sandra Bland, Philando Castile, Tamir Rice, and the many others who have lost their lives to the hands of white supremacy and state sanctioned violence. We stand with everyone who upholds civil rights and those who use civil disobedience to gain the collective liberation of all people. In the words of Martin Luther King Jr. “The saving of our world from pending doom will come, not from the complacent adjustment of the conforming majority, but through the creative maladjustment of a nonconforming minority.”
It was an important step when business leaders, in the wake of the recent events and President Trump’s inadequate response, registered their protest by stepping down from the advisory councils. Similar to them, each one of us holds responsibility to work in solidarity to dismantle racism, xenophobia, anti-Semitism and Islamophobia, sexism, ableism, homophobia, and all other forms of systemic injustice to support those at the frontlines of these fights. We urge you to support and join local, regional, national actions and rallies being organized all over the country.
To find a solidarity event near you, go here.
Support Black Lives Matter Charlottesville here.
Support the Black Lives Matter Network/Black Lives Matter Cambridge Resistance & Response Fund here.
Support the Solidarity Cville Anti-Racist Legal Fund.
We must be the change we seek.
