06/17/2020 by Michael Fink
Black Lives Matter
I stand with the Black community in the fight for equality, and against racial injustice in this country. The murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, Corey Jones, Oscar Grant, and so many other senseless killings continue to highlight the racial injustice and imbalance of power in our country. Words are not enough. We must begin to put our money where our mouths are, put feet in the streets and demand change at the highest levels of government. Actions will be the only valid evidence of a genuine desire to be part of the progress to dismantle structural racism.
Personally, I do not know what it’s like to confront this pain daily. What I can do is stand up and take action, put my donation dollars toward supporting the BLM movement, and calling out situations when I see them, for what they are, focusing on action and support, rather than simply using words or hashtags that ring hollow.
I invite you to join a conversation, express your emotions, share stories, and to begin the work required for change.
My practice exists to create a place where everyone feels welcome, a place of healing, and an escape from the stress of our daily lives. The reality is that creating a restful escape from the day-to-day in 2020 is far more challenging. With the COVID pandemic and the issue of systemic racism impacting the United States as a whole, we are tired and angry. Still, I am committed to creating a place of welcoming, of warmth, and inclusion for all.
But here’s my belief: by refusing to be on the sidelines, by standing with the Black Lives Matter Movement, and by calling out injustice when we see it, we are taking a stand for equality, and we can be a part of the solution to eradicate systemic racism.
This is only the beginning. I know that change will not happen overnight, but the brutal treatment of Black people in America must end now. If we all do our part to stand united as one, refusing to allow these incidents to go unchecked, we can push this movement forward and see real positive change.