YWCACM CEO Statement on March on Washington Anniversary and Racially Motivated Attacks

Today, as we reflect on the 60^th anniversary of the March on Washington, we also mourn the lives of Anolt Laguerre Jr., Jerrald De’Shaun Gallon, and Angela Michelle Carr., whose lives were ended in a cowardly act of white supremacist and anti-black violence at a Dollar General Store in Jacksonville, Florida.  As activist Brittany Packnett astutely observed, “A white gunman just killed 3 Black grocery shoppers in a state that won’t let children learn why.” The dream and the promise of a society where all can enjoy life, liberty and justice unencumbered by segregation, racial discrimination, and racially motivated violence remains elusive. As we continue to witness these anti-black acts of violence and attempts to impede progress, we stand steadfast in our fight for racial justice and equality.

The “fierce urgency of now” that Dr. King talked about in his famous speech challenges all of us to not wait for a better time or a more strategic time to address issues of racial inequities; we must act now. We must stand up and call out inequities every day, all the time.  We must act with courage, even when it is not popular.  While we have come a long way, we still have a long way to go to ensure the most marginalized among us are able to live lives free of discrimination and violence. Last week YWCA CM stood with our LGBTQ+ allies to protest anti-LGBTQ policies.

As a person who claims many identities, I understand the insidious way in which the inequities of marginalized groups intersect. We must stand up against such inequities all the time.  We invite you to join us as we continue to demand equality and justice. As Dr. King reminded us in his “I Have a Dream” speech, “We cannot walk alone…And as we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall march ahead.”

Deborah Hall, YWCACM CEO

#untiljusticejustis #ywcacmonamission #eliminatingracismempoweringwomen