Say their names. George Floyd! Breonna Taylor! Ahmaud Arbury! Tony McDade!

The team at Health Outreach Partners are saddened and horrified by yet another senseless murder of an African American person in our nation. We send our heartfelt condolences to the friends and families of these and all victims of a failed justice system. We stand in solidarity with African-American communities across the country who continue to live in fear from violence at the hands of those paid to serve and protect their communities.

Reflecting on the work of HOP- our mission is to work towards health equity in vulnerable communities, and bring down the structures that promote racism and inequities. Our vision is communities where everyone has a voice, can care for their families peacefully, and has the right to lead healthy lives and thrive. Our team feels outrage and sorrow at continued racial violence. It is shocking that the leaders of our nation and communities do not take swifter action in bringing forth justice.

Our institutional systems continue to fail black people. Our country has a serious responsibility to advance racial justice and we citizens must not remain silent. Structural racism is uncomfortable. We must sit with our discomfort and allow people of color to tell their stories and be heard, we must educate ourselves, and we must not remain silent to injustice. Our work must remain steadfast to break down the structures that allow violence towards our friends, families, and neighbors of color. Our nation has endured too much loss, especially in recent weeks. Anger and sadness must be respected as protests against structural racism take place across the country.

We have a lot of work to do to end the violence and promote health equity in our communities. As leaders we must accept nothing less than immediate change. #BlackLivesMatter.

-Cindy