Atheists United for #BLACKLIVESMATTER

Activism

Jun 6

Atheists United stands in solidarity with the protesters and activists across the country who are demanding racial justice. As a community that values compassion and reason, we’re outraged by the death and destruction brought upon our human family by unchecked police brutality.

The murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery, and the destruction of millions of other innocent black American lives are directly connected to the United States' legacy of white supremacy. Our criminal justice system was constructed with systemic racism in its foundation and must be re-envisioned.

In our home city of Los Angeles over 600 people have been killed by LAPD officers in just the past seven years according to Black Lives Matter LA. New research shows that death by a police officer is now one of the most likely causes of death for young black men across America. No matter your identity this state-sanctioned violence is clearly unacceptable and antithetical to our shared secular values.

This week’s demonstrations are a righteous uprising after years of suffering and exasperation by the black community. Atheist organizations can no longer sit back and quietly observe racial injustice from a physical and intellectual distance. Our silence has contributed to today’s systems of oppression and we must do more than performative allyship to support our local black communities moving forward.

We ask the members of our community to donate, follow, share, and support (we're all able to support in some way) the following causes and organizations fighting for change here in Los Angeles:

Throughout history, freethinkers have mobilized to challenge those that maintain power through oppression and tradition. We do this because we know a difficult truth is always better than an easy lie and we commit to defending and uplifting all human life. Today, with these values in mind, we come together and unite for #BlackLivesMatter.

We encourage all members planning to join future protests to learn your rights before attending and do your part to lower the spread of COVID-19. We also encourage non-black attendees to follow the leadership and guidance of black organizers.

Only a few days ago a member of our community was forced to undergo emergency surgery after being shot directly in the groin by an LAPD rubber bullet while peacefully protesting. It's been well documented that the LAPD met anti-police-violence protesters with countless examples of excessive force, targeting journalists and peaceful demonstrators, and escalating confrontation as a pretext to arrest protesters demanding reform.

For freethought and equity to thrive we must end the scourge of police violence on our communities. We demand an immediate and radical restructuring of our criminal justice system NOW.

In solidarity!