The Parker Collins team joins others in our community in standing up and speaking out against systemic racism in our state and the United States at large. We stand in solidarity with the communities affected by the hate, discrimination, and violence committed by White supremacists and institutions including local law enforcement. Our hearts continue to go out to the family, friends, and communities of individuals whose lives were taken due to racism and excessive force by police officers, including those of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor.

It is our stance that change must take place for oppressed communities to have justice, and that the pace of change must be accelerated. Words are not enough; action is required at all levels—individual, systemic, and institutional. These actions include police reform, banning of choke holds, recognition of systems of injustice and the present and historical trauma experienced by people of color, accountability taking by those with privilege and power, and racial healing. We believe it is primarily the responsibility of the White community to act against racism and oppression, starting with the recognition and understanding of White privilege.

Parker Collins believes in racial equality. We will continue to challenge systematic racism and the oppression of people of color. We believe protest is not only a right, but a necessity. We acknowledge the trauma, pain, anger, and frustration of Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) as well as immigrant communities. Silence and complacency are not options. It is important for us to continue to state, unequivocally, that Black Lives Matter. We also acknowledge that the increase in violence and xenophobia against Asian Americans must stop. We want to see change towards equality and justice for all community members. Nothing good comes from oppression, and there is no room for healing without equality, accountability, basic human rights, and love.

How can you help?

As our clients, staff, and communities of color continue to mourn the murders of BIPOC and face the effects of racism on a daily basis, questions of what each of us can do abound. Below is a link to anti-racism resources for White people that you can read, pass on, and discuss in our communities. Much respect and credit for creating this resource is given to Sarah Sophie Flicker and Alyssa Klein, May 2020.