Dear Members of the Emerson Community,

We are writing to you following this weekend of widespread mass protests and community organizing mourning the murders of George Floyd, Tony McDade, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, David McAtee, Nina Pop, and so many individuals whose names do not make headlines in ways that reach collective consciousness. Each of these murders is devastating and now they are happening in the midst of an ongoing pandemic that is disproportionately harming Black, Brown, Indigenous, and immigrant communities.

The violence of racism, white supremacy, and other forms of systemic oppression is a continuing crisis that becomes hypervisible in public moments like this. In this accelerated time, we ask for patience and understanding as we move slowly, with deep intention, thoughtfulness, and care for the ways these ongoing and recent events are also close to home for us, and disorganize the cells of our bodies and the rhythms of our lives. In this intensified moment, we are working daily, both to address acute and persistent harm, as well as to celebrate the resiliency, dignity, and beauty of our communities.

In the days and weeks to come, we will continue to create ways to hold space with communities. We will share more information in the near future.

If you are currently looking for ways to engage in allyship and solidarity, we encourage you to use the many resources that people have already created explaining white supremacy, structural violence, and how to build an anti-racist practice instead of asking individuals and communities of color to do more labor to help create understanding or give guidance on what to do. You can find some of these resources compiled at https:/linktr.ee/sjc, as well as watch or read the transcripts of SJC LIVE on anti-racist practice and power, violence, and institutional betrayals. In addition, we are regularly sharing information, links, and art reflecting the brilliance of our communities on Facebook and instagram.

The Social Justice Center