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Statement From CFJ Leadership & Staff:

Black Lives Matter.

George Floyd’s life mattered. Breonna Taylor’s life mattered. Tony McDade, Nina Pop and Ahmaud Arbery’s lives all mattered. Not just because they were stolen at the hands of police and white supremacists, but because they were human beings, pieces of our communities and valuable voices we will never have back. The collective grief, pain, and rage our communities are experiencing right now is just the most recent layer on top of centuries of our nation devaluing, debasing and destroying Black lives. 

At a time where COVID-19 and its economic impact is disproportionately affecting Black communities, these murders have mobilized folks across the country to come out and demand justice. The murder of Black people and continued state violence against our communities will not stop until we systematically work to dismantle white supremacy and center Black Liberation. We will not be free until we tear down these systems of oppression.

The moment has been calling us to act, listen and reflect. 

We actively support Black people and allies across the country demanding for justice! As protests and calls for justice continue, CFJ  will continue our work to follow Black leadership including that of our staff and youth leaders and organizations like BYP100, local BLM chapters, Movement for Black Lives, Black Visions Collective, Reclaim the Block, Twin Cities Coalition for Justice 4 Jamar, and back whatever form of protest they are engaged in. 

The actions our communities are taking to the street represent a historical rage and a true need for systemic change. A change that will value Black lives over property and profit. Focusing on looting over life lost is a serious dismissal of the heart and center of the collective rage we are seeing across the nation. We condemn any narrative that uses looting and loss of property as a way to dismiss the root cause of this injustice. We also condemn and are appalled by the police violence and militarized oppression shown across the country.

We must continue to push what it means to fight anti-blackness and white supremacy in our work and in our communities. To push what solidarity with our Black communities looks like from non-Black folks and to continue to call out bias and racism in our personal and community networks. Now is the time to step up and fight alongside the Black community. 

Taking action is critical; we are talking to our youth leaders and regional teams about which actions matter most to them to advance the liberation for black youth and communities. Check on our social media accounts in the days and weeks to come as we continue to share resources, rallies, places to donate, and other ways to support. #BlackLivesMatter 

Photos from Fresno Protest, May 31st 2020

Credit:Photographer Aaron Frisby First Posted on Uspark