Like so many, we are reeling from the news of the past two weeks. As a community, RAD is comprised of many people who are all too familiar with the pain and terror of gun violence and racism in our country.
Our hearts are heavy. We are faced with layers upon layers of grief, following one of the deadliest school shootings in U.S. history in Uvalde and the horrific white-supremacist massacre in Buffalo. This moment demands action beyond thoughts and prayers; we cannot be silent.
It is up to us to mobilize and organize, to make the values of our communities actually guide the policies of our government, and to win the transformative changes we so desperately need, from stricter gun laws, to well-resourced and inclusive schools, to a democracy that works for all of us.
“I am deeply saddened by the tragedies that are unfolding around us, in the midst of the many overlapping crises that we are living through. There’s such a grief that lives in our bodies and bones, and it is heartbreaking to see people exhausted by the constant barrage of challenges that we have to rise up and face, while there are people actively working to make it worse and divide us for their own gain,” said Executive Director Kiah Morris.
“I also know that we must continue fighting to create something different, and put an end to these deadly cycles of racism, hatred, and violence. We don’t have to be all things to all people, but we can be there for all people. We must truly hear and see each other in our pain, turn our heartbreak into a hopeful vision, bring people on the margins into places of influence, and commit to building power and healing together, so that we can transform our world.”
We must give ourselves the space to grieve and rest. We must also remain grounded in the future we are fighting for. Collectively, we grieve for the lives lost to this cycle of violence, and we are resolute in our work to ensure this hatred has no place in our future.