[NFBMI-Talk] article NFB newsletter

[Michael Powell]

Greetings all.

I ran across this while reading the latest NFB newsletter from President
Riccobono.

Since we had a brief discussion at our state board meeting concerning
supporting our brothers and sisters who are impacted due to negative
attitudes concerning race and our commitment to support all people I thought
I would share this.

Michael Powell

President, NFBMI

Release Date

Thursday, June 4, 2020

Type

 <https://www.nfb.org/press-release-types/news-brief> News Brief

Category

 <https://www.nfb.org/press-releases/national> National

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


National Federation of the Blind Stands in Solidarity with All Those
Impacted by Racial Injustice


For eighty years, the National Federation of the Blind has viewed addressing
discrimination and promoting equality as essential elements of our work.
Today we stand in solidarity with the black community in their fight for
justice and in their pursuit of equal treatment under the law. We condemn
the continued murders of black Americans including those of Ahmaud Arbery,
Breonna Taylor, and George Floyd. Further, we acknowledge that these
horrific deaths represent a vile and long-standing pattern of
institutionalized racism that permeates the criminal justice system. While
there are police officers that are doing good work, the fact remains that
black and brown individuals are disproportionally impacted by police
brutality, unfairly condemning people of color to prison cells and
graveyards.

As a civil rights organization with a diverse membership, we strive to grow
in our understanding of conditions that affect us. Throughout our history,
we have participated in civil disobedience and honor the value that it holds
to bring about social change. We are firmly committed to enacting our
organizational diversity statement, which in part expresses, "We recognize
that our views and convictions will be challenged, and we expect this
challenge to take place in a climate of tolerance and mutual respect in
order to maintain a united organization." Recognizing that this is a time of
intense grief, a time of learning, and a time of reflection, we stand with
our members who are in pain and pray not only for peace but for justice. We
stand in solidarity with our black members and publicly commit to do
anti-racist work within our organization. We ask our nonblack members to
take the time to self-reflect in ways we can participate to create an
anti-racist world. With you in love, with you in justice, we affirm that
#BlackLivesMatter.


Related Links


*
<https://www.nfb.org/blog/open-letter-members-national-federation-blind>
Love Conquers Hate: An Open Letter to the Members of the National Federation
of the Blind

###

About the National Federation of the Blind
The National Federation of the Blind (NFB), headquartered in Baltimore, is
the oldest and largest nationwide organization of blind Americans. Founded
in 1940, the NFB consists of affiliates, chapters, and divisions in the
fifty states, Washington DC, and Puerto Rico. The NFB defends the rights of
blind people of all ages, and provides information and support to families
with blind children, older Americans who are losing vision, and more. We
believe in the hopes and dreams of blind people and work together to
transform them into reality. Learn more about our many programs and
initiatives at  <https://www.nfb.org/> nfb.org.

CONTACT

Chris Danielsen

Director of Public Relations

National Federation of the Blind

410-659-9314, extension 2330

410-262-1281 (cell)

 <mailto:cdanielsen at nfb.org> cdanielsen at nfb.org