At the Center for CTC, we are sickened and saddened by the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and so many others. We stand in solidarity with Black communities across the country and those seeking racial justice and healing. We recognize the long history of racism in America and how our public systems need to change. We also understand how these concepts and conversations are complicated and difficult to have, and we encourage empathy and open minds as we continue dialogue and action.
In times of national tragedy, communities are more important than ever, particularly in creating practical solutions. We know that many are grieving, angry, and struggling to discern what to do. We also know that CTC communities are doing incredible work already. We are hopeful that our work together can create a better future. Below you’ll find possible actions for your coalition.
- Provide opportunities for engagement with people of color; listen without becoming defensive.
- Support local communities of color in meaningful ways, including patronizing businesses in those communities.
- Take care of yourself and your coworkers and associates.
- Begin conversations about what is happening across the country and what you can do locally to support criminal justice reform efforts (see for example the 2015 President’s Task Force Report on 21st Century Policing and crimesolutions.gov for evidence based approaches).
- Engage with your police department to schedule community conversations about how it’s providing public safety for all.
- Support the right to vote in your community and work to get out the vote.
We also know that communities are still navigating the pandemic. If you did not see our one pager on racial disparities and COVID-19, you might find some useful suggestions there.
Working together for a better future,
The Center for CTC