The Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum, the California Black Health Network, the California Rural Indian Health Board, the Latino Coalition for a Healthy California, and the California Pan-Ethnic Health Network, stand in solidarity for the lives lost to recent acts of violence in Baton Rogue, Louisiana, Falcon Heights, Minnesota, and Dallas, Texas. We do not want our children and families to live in trauma and fear.
When people are afraid of the systems that are supposed to keep us safe, racism, sexism, homophobia, and oppression are perpetuated. The history of racism, bigotry, and discrimination in the United States is a constant source of stress for communities of color, often leading to feelings of invalidation, dehumanization, and disenfranchisement. As a result of inter-generational trauma, or feeling targeted by law enforcement and the criminal justice system, our communities are living shorter lives, dying violent deaths, and living with chronic disease and mental health conditions.
Let this not continue to be the norm for our communities. Any loss of life is tragic. Let us take these painful events and turn them into action to address the fear at the root of violence and the vast disparities in violence suffered by our communities. Let these events elevate the conversation and urgency lived by members of our community every day.
Over 50 years ago, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. declared words that still ring true today, “Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy…now is the time to lift our nation from the quicksands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood [and sisterhood].”
We stand with advocates exercising their right to organize peacefully and make a difference. Our thoughts and condolences are with the families that have lost their loved ones. We must unite and work together to make this world a better place for our children, our families, and our communities.