We are living in ground-breaking times.
2020 has given us our fair share of challenges; from the COVID-19 Pandemic, to the 2020 presidential primaries, to the Australian bushfires, our generation has been faced with astounding tests.
Now, however, we face a not-so-new challenge: systemic racism.
Systemic racism is not a new issue, but it has been brought into focus through media coverage of recent hate crimes against Black Americans. Police brutality, white fragility and hatred have shaken our nation to the core, and now is the time to step up and fight for justice.
The entire world has been protesting in the streets due to the death of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Aubrey, and so many other innocent people. All 50 states have held their own protests against police brutality; a feat which has never been achieved in the history of our country. People are raising their voices, fighting for the oppressed, and putting an end to systemic racism.
It is crucial to be on the right side of history. Protest if you can, and if you can’t, make your voice heard through donations, petitions, and social media. Call your legislators and support black businesses. Lift up Black voices and celebrate Black culture. Now is the time to make real change in the way our government treats people of color and all of those who are oppressed.
It is not enough to not be racist. We must strive to be anti-racist and call out injustice when it bears its teeth.
The editors of Student Publications stand with all of those who are fighting against police brutality and the appalling display of racism in our country. We believe that Black Lives not only Matter, but Black lives are essential, loved, cherished and important. We stand with our OCU colleagues who are making their voices heard, and we encourage our readers to continue to fight against systemic racism.
All lives can’t matter until Black lives matter.
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