Extreme Kids & Crew grieves at the recent police killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and the lynching of Ahmaud Arbery. We are not OK.
We recognize that police brutality and systemic racism are deeply interwoven into American society. We understand that our black and brown community members face particularly daunting and dangerous challenges. We see people of color being murdered, being threatened with police intervention for bird watching, parents scared everyday as their children leave the home. We know that these recent murders are nothing new and that we are part of this racist system, and that we must be part of dismantling it. We are not OK.
We are in a momentous time, marked by a pandemic and political collapse. But there are seeds of hope. The massive turnouts of Americans of all colors protesting racial injustice. The policemen taking off their riot gear and marching alongside citizens. At Extreme Kids we seek to shelter this hope, whether through direct protest or quiet listening, delivering art supplies or Zoom dancing… we must hold each other up and hold each other accountable. Alone, the enormity of the challenge leads to despair; together we protect each other, inspire and nourish one another.
Black Lives Matter and we will not be silent.
This statement was written jointly by:
Caitlin M. Cassaro, Executive Director
Eliza Factor, Founder
Leigh Reid, Senior Director of Development & Communications