It’s been more than a week since we watched – helpless, horrified, and furious – as George Floyd’s life was taken away. More than a week since his racist and senseless murder. During that time, we’ve reflected on how to respond as a company. Words are surely not enough. Particularly when we should be doing more listening than talking, elevating the voices of the Black community, and working harder at increasing equity and inclusion in our office.
So, here’s what we’re doing as a start:
First, we will become better allies of People of Color, and the Black community in particular, in the fight against racism by backing the organizations and the initiatives that are already doing the work. There are people and groups who have been leading this fight and they need our support. We’re making a financial commitment to the following organizations and programs:
The Official George Floyd Memorial Fund
A fund created by George Floyd’s brother to support the Floyd family.
https://www.gofundme.com/f/georgefloyd
Justice for Breonna Taylor
A fundraiser to support the campaign for justice for Ms. Taylor.
https://www.gofundme.com/f/9v4q2-justice-for-breonna-taylor
Know Your Rights Camp
Colin Kaepernick’s project to educate Black and Brown kids about their rights.
https://www.knowyourrightscamp.com
My Block, My Hood, My City
Providing young People of Color with experiences outside their community.
https://www.formyblock.org
Big Brothers, Big Sisters
https://www.bbbs.org
Southern Poverty Law Center
Fighting hate and intolerance through education and advocacy.
https://donate.splcenter.org
Campaign Zero
The campaign to end police violence in America
https://www.joincampaignzero.org
Second, we will do better when it comes to improving equity and inclusion in our workforce. It’s not enough to say, “Well, we tried,” when we fill a position and fail to find a diverse candidate. In practice this means we will actively work to recruit more Black and Brown college graduates and young professionals to political consulting. It also means reaching out to our friends in politics and finding ways to grow the presence of the Black community, and other Communities of Color, in our industry. Adding a broader range of voices to our team not only sends a message that inclusion is ESSENTIAL, it improves our work and our creative approach.
We know the names of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and countless others whose murders have been violent, racist, and senseless. They were killed at the hands of a corrupt system that allowed it.
We are saying now that this system must change, and we will actively do our part to make that change happen.