The following statement was issued today by DCARA:

DCARA Statement on Racial Injustice

Statement: “We Stand Together in the Face of Racism”

[Video description: A white male, has white hair and beard. He is wearing a light grey shirt with black background.]

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We as an organization acknowledge the racism, oppression, and injustice that continue to contribute to the ongoing inequality of the Black community. We stand together with Black Lives Matter and the Black Deaf communities.

DCARA believes that the services we provide to our community are born from our underlying strength – the diversity of our communities and individuals. We as an organization must join together with thoughtful and meaningful action to listen, support, and heal our communities. 

DCARA acknowledges that things will not change unless we, as an organization, address it from the inside out. With that being said, DCARA is committed to continuing to have an open dialogue and working together as a Board of Directors, staff, and community members, in changing our policies, providing much-needed training, and contributing resources to address racial injustice promoted by systemic white supremacy ideology.

We must stand together in the face of racism, and we owe it to the memory of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Stephon Clark, Tamir Rice, Trayvon Martin,  Breonna Taylor,  Ezell Ford, Michael Brown,  Michelle Shirley, Redel Jones,  Kenney Watkins, Botham Jean Dreasjon “Sean” Reed and countless other Black individuals who have lost their lives because of white supremacy. These individuals listed were either shot while asleep in their bed, a kid walking home, and stopped by the cops for no reason and had to die within a few miles away from home. They were all vulnerable because of the hatred of Black bodies.

[Screen fades to show a group of some white staff making the same statement together.]

To our Black community and our Black Deaf Community, we see you. We stand with you. Your lives matter. 

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