Praxis Statement on Justice for George Floyd & Movement for Black Lives

From All Praxis Staff • June 1, 2020

To our Praxis Family,

In these times of mourning, our love for family and community becomes even more visible. We continue to protect our families, each other, and our communities by making sure we are socially distancing in this age of COVID-19 (coronavirus), and also rising up to protect our communities from criminal, terrorist acts perpetrated by racist police officers and white supremacists.

News of the recent lynchings of George Floyd and Ahmaud Arbery has been especially devastating as our communities continue to fight COVID-19 with Black America as ground zero. As we fight the COVID-19 virus, we are also facing the ever-present virus that is racism. Racism is embedded into our society in the most sinister way and has infected institutions, systems, and structures that promise—but were never designed—to protect and heal us. These heartbreaking events show us again and again why Black Lives Matter. The video of Amy Cooper in Central Park sparked fitting outrage, because it cannot be taken out of the context of the recent cases of anti-Black police brutality. Even though Christian Cooper did not face a fatal outcome, the encounter was a clear result of structural violence against Black people. When it comes to injustices for Black America, it takes a video to be believed and for the public to bear witness to these events. Even with these undeniable accounts, justice is not guaranteed—like for Philando Castile and many others—and we must continue to fight, for this is unacceptable.

This past weekend has shown how our communities and allies from across the United States show up for each other to reject the racist systemic and structural underpinnings of the world we live in. There is no amount of healing without justice, or “resiliency,” that we can build in our communities to withstand the persistent traumatic stress we face, caused by structures created from racist and capitalist ideals. This is why we all need to work together to ensure that the “new normal” after COVID-19 reflects the rejection of racist police officers and the racist systems they protect. Our communities’ dreams of happiness filled with health and opportunity may seem so far away in this moment. But through our continued partnerships in protest today, and our demands for racial equity in our practices and politics of the future, we will continue to imagine and define a path towards new possibilities of a just and equitable society.

The Praxis Project calls for justice for George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, Tony McDade, and too many others who have come before. We support and uplift policy platforms and calls to action from community organizers who have been advocating for justice long before this past week. We fight in solidarity with our Black colleagues, leaders, friends, family, and community. We stand with you, for change, for survival, and for a future where we are truly free. We hold you in our hearts, and you are loved.

The Praxis Team