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<P><STRONG>Our countries are at a moment of reckoning</STRONG> that I, honestly,
didn’t think was possible in my lifetime. Both the US and Europe have a long,
shameful history of Black people being killed by the police. But it was the
murder of George Floyd, after the murder of Breonna Taylor, after the murder of
Tony McDade, in the midst of a pandemic that kills Black and Brown people at
twice the rate of white people, that has reflected in stark reality an
inequitable system affecting all aspects of our lives.</P>
<P>As a white woman and brand new Executive Director for our community, I have
been spending the past week doing some hard work: my own reckoning with the ways
I have failed to be a co-conspirator with anti-racist movements; an
organisational reckoning with a fierce and courageous team to identify and
change the racism of our internal practices and policies; and a vow to amplify
the work that staff of colour have been doing for years. <STRONG>This is a
moment of recommitment to running campaigns with all of us that are core to our
mission -- people over profit -- but also those that create a world where
communities of colour aren’t under attack, and we can all thrive.</STRONG></P>
<P>Personally, I have been doing a lot of listening. I’ve also been talking with
colleagues and friends, learning and asking questions, reading, and re-reading,
including the powerful and essential work <A
href="https://act.sumofus.org/go/535982?t=1&akid=74912%2E15424008%2Edvp9nc"><EM>How
to be an Anti-Racist</EM> by Ibram X Kendi</A>. I have been giving the resources
I can to the organizations doing the long and hard work of system change in the
US, such as the collection of essential groups behind the <A
href="https://act.sumofus.org/go/535983?t=2&akid=74912%2E15424008%2Edvp9nc">Black
Trans Protestors Emergency Fund</A>.</P>
<P>A few staff here at SumOfUs have also recommended <A
href="http://act.sumofus.org/go/536120?t=3&akid=74912%2E15424008%2Edvp9nc">Reni
Eddo-Lodge’s <EM>Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race</EM></A>,
and <A
href="https://act.sumofus.org/go/536121?t=4&akid=74912%2E15424008%2Edvp9nc">Akala’s
<EM>Natives: Race and Class in the Ruins of Empire</EM></A> as really powerful
books by Europe-based writers.</P>
<P><STRONG>This is work that will only happen if we do it together.</STRONG> We
are a massive, global community that knows we have the power to change the
world. And it doesn’t matter where each of us is on our journey with racism and
oppression. If you believe that everyone has the right to live, breathe, and
walk down the street, this space is for you. Taking action, donating, and
supporting this movement today shouldn’t be the end of our action-taking, it
should be the start. This will continue far beyond the protests and the
newspaper headlines they generate.</P>
<P>To help me and our community, I’d love to know about the resources and
readings that are bringing you pause or hope or learning during these times. You
can email me at <A href="mailto:emma@sumofus.org">emma@sumofus.org</A> so
we can continue to learn and grow together.</P>
<P>Sending strength and hope,</P>
<P>Emma</P><IMG alt=""
src="https://act.sumofus.org/o.gif?akid=74912.15424008.dvp9nc"> </DIV>
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<DIV style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; font-color: black"><B>From:</B> <A
title=us@sumofus.org href="mailto:us@sumofus.org">Emma Ruby-Sachs, SumOfUs</A>
</DIV>
<DIV><B>Sent:</B> Wednesday, June 17, 2020 6:10 PM</DIV>
<DIV><B>Subject:</B> Doing the work</DIV></DIV>
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