We stand for justice, equity, and freedom for George Floyd
Posted on June 1st, 2020Dear Friends,
As we mourn the murder of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police officers, we are overwhelmed by the raw emotions experienced by our community.
We grieve for a community member and valued human being, for his loved ones who shared their lives with him, and community members who knew what a kind and gentle presence he was to all who were fortunate enough to know him.
We see and hear the pain of our Simpson staff, community, and our program participants who are at the center of this crisis. Our participants, many whom are Black, Indigenous and People of Color individuals (BIPOC) have suffered from hundreds of years of historical trauma resulting in their current experiences of economic inequity, educational disparities, unemployment, trauma, physical health vulnerabilities, and homelessness.
We stand against the institutional racism and white supremacy that plagues our communities and nation.
We believe in the strength of community partnerships, with the voices of BIPOC communities providing a strong voice and presence in the rebuilding of just systems and safe communities.
We are committed to doing the hard work of deconstructing racism and its harmful impact on our BIPOC guests and participants we serve, our BIPOC staff members, and our diverse community.
We start with ourselves. Our staff is listening to the voices, perspectives, and pain of our Black community members. White staff and board members are reflecting on their own racial biases and the damaging contributions of white privilege and structural racism in our workplace and in our nation.
We invite our staff, participants, volunteers, supporters, and community members to listen, make your voice heard, and join us in asking and responding to tough questions.
We stand in solidarity and gratitude with everyone committed to justice and change.
Sincerely,
Steve Horsfield, Executive Director
