June 1, 2020
Dear Members and Friends of the Interfaith Alliance on Poverty,
Our hearts break because of the recent deaths of black men and women. These deaths confirm to us once again the underlying racism that pervades our country. We stand next to our African-American neighbors and friends during this time of grief.
As the Interfaith Alliance on Poverty has focused on the underlying systemic causes of poverty, we have learned about the long term structural discrimination against communities of color. This extended history of intentional lack of access to equal treatment has led us to where we are today – where these deaths can still occur at the hands of police who should care for and protect people.
We join with the African American leaders in Portland who yesterday “encouraged Oregonians to stay focused on stubborn racial disparities in education, housing and employment and not be distracted by the ripple of civil unrest. “ This is where our mission is – to push for equal access of all who have not had that access and indeed end up perennially stuck- generation after generation- in the “have not” position. This has become even more apparent as our most vulnerable have been more susceptible to COVID-19.
We strengthen our pledge to work with others to make sustainable change in the lives of those in communities of color who are part of our city and yet continue to not have access to the privileges enjoyed by some. We work toward change in being treated with respect, change in being treated fairly and with justice, change in being able to make a living- as promised by the American dream, and change to live in a healthy community with a place to sleep safely at night. In order to achieve this change, and in the spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., we call for constructive dialogue, a listening heart, tangible action and a commitment to non-violence.
In Active Solidarity,
Interfaith Alliance on Poverty Coordinating Committee
Dave Albertine
Sarah Carolus
David Groff
Tom Hering
Sarabelle Hitchner
Rae Richen
Holly Schmidt
Carol Turner
Les Wardenaar