Silence = Death
This LGBTQ community learned a long time ago about the stark, brutal, truthful reality of that slogan. We watched as an entire nation ignored the multitude of suffering and death in our communities during the AIDS epidemic. An entire generation passed before attention was paid. Many in that number were African-American men.
We learned it at the Stonewall Inn in 1969 as our transgender women of color fought back against the harassment, cruelty and inequality from which our community suffered.
We learned it as our LGBTQ youth committed suicide in staggering numbers to get the world to notice their pain. We learned it as our transgender women of color have been brutalized and murdered without a modicum of attention that accompanies even a local college football game.
We learned it as our Orlando LGBTQ Latino family was slaughtered at the hands of hate.
And we learned it again this week as Alton Sterling and Philando Castile were violently killed without reason.
And so we say as a civil rights organization that we will not stand silent against the illegal, brutal and systemic murder of black men and women at the hands of law enforcement. We unequivocally say that Black Lives Matter and we will stand behind this community and its demand that all Americans of color deserve full equality and full enfranchisement as American citizens and their very lives be wholly valued as such. These are members of OUR community. And this will not stand.
We call upon our community, our city, our state and our nation to implement all methods necessary in which to stop this unforgivable loss of precious life.
And now Dallas. We vehemently deplore, despise and condemn any and all violence or harm directed against law enforcement officers in response to this crisis. We refuse alliance with any group or any individual that promotes or utilizes violence for any reason. Against anyone.
The future is uncertain. But one thing is for sure….
There will not be silence.
