Let us stand for each other

“Justice will not be served until those who are unaffected are as outraged as those who are.”
– Unknown

“Not everything that is faced can be changed. But nothing can be changed until it is faced.”
– James Baldwin

Fellow Community Members,

We are facing challenging times right now as a society and we need to take a moment to stop and acknowledge the injustices that so many of our colleagues and community members face. Images of the murder of George Floyd have been a haunting reminder of deep-seated injustice that continues to plague our country. There are many underlying causes for this—implicit bias, systemic oppression, a lack of police accountability, gun laws that protect assailants over victims, and persistent anti-black attitudes. For resources on dealing with some of these ills, see below. As understandable frustration spills over on our streets, it can raise uneasy feelings and difficult questions for us: Where do we go from here? How do we support one another going forward?

One of the ways we display our compassion and support for our fellow community members is by speaking up and letting everyone know that the systemic racism that communities of color have experienced in our communities need to end. Although not popular, we need to speak up when we witness these injustices because that is the only way change will occur. We stand with the Floyd family. We stand with Ahmaud Arbery’s family after he was killed jogging in Brunswick, GA. We stand with Breonna Taylor who was killed at the hands of police in Louisville. We stand and expect accountability for the loss of these fellow community members.

At PacMed, we are a community of diverse caregivers committed to providing compassionate, high-quality care to the communities we serve. Part of fulfilling this commitment is supporting everyone, from all walks of life, when they enter our clinic network. We also have a duty to show concern for the misfortunes occurring all around us. Cities across the nation are crying out for change. We support those who are expressing their concerns in peaceful protest. We support better days for everyone. We stand for equality for all and we recognize the need for change in order for every member of our society to feel safe, supported and a sense of belonging.

As we move through these challenging days, know that we all have a voice and we can use it to work for positive change and support those who are unsupported. Now is also a great time to get involved in local government and to find ways to positively influence change so that everyone receives the support they deserve. And let us stand up to individual acts of injustice when we see them in our daily lives, so our neighbors know we have their backs as we together reclaim the space for love, justice, and belonging for all.

Let’s continue to unite and support one another.

Sincerely,

The PacMed Executive Team

PacMed is currently discussing what additional actions we will take to further the work we have done to oppose systemic racism. For now, if you would like to take further action, here are some resources for racial justice and community support:

• NAACP Legal Defense Fund supports racial justice through advocacy, litigation, and education.
• Campaign Zero is a police reform group that has been working on policy solutions informed by data and human rights principles.

TAKE ANTI -RACIST ACTION:

• Learn: blacklivesmatter.com
  The official website of the movement that launched the modern fight for freedom, liberation and justice, locally and globally.
• Act: kingcountyequitynow.com
  Hear from local partners united in a platform to halt predatory development, foster community building and more.
• Listen: rainieravenueradio.world
  A local, online 24/7 radio station showcasing the diverse voices of South Seattle and those disenfranchised by our rapidly gentrifying region.
• Read: southseattleemerald.com
  Our homegrown, grassroots online news publication weaving anf equity analysis and perspective into coverage of local issues and beyond.
• Bank: blackoutcoalition.org
  A compilation on the Bank Black and Buy Black movements, including introductory materials and a map of resources.
• Spend: intentionalist.com
  Bring consciousness to consumerism by connecting with and supporting the people behind local, small businesses.
• Invest: communitypassageways.org
  Learn about and support this organization creating alternatives to incarceration for youth and rebuilding communities.
• Relate: aapf.org/sayhername
  Hear the stories of Black women and girls victimized by racist police violence, and find out what you can do to help.
• Connect: bcia-intl.org
  Ensure taxpayer-funded organizations are held accountable to goals of bettering the lives of Black families.
• Immerse: pinwseattle.org
  Grow your understanding of institutional racism through workshops and organizing aligned with others doing similar work in our region and across the U.S.