Lamoille Restorative Center’s Statement on Race and Justice
June 19, 2020
Like so many others, the board, staff, and volunteers of the Lamoille Restorative Center (LRC) are feeling profound grief as a result of recent – and ongoing – national events. These painful and troubling incidents have exposed the deep and destructive forces of racism in ways that can no longer be ignored.
We want to be clear. LRC stands in solidarity with Black Americans and people of color, and commits to address the intersecting issues of race, and economic, health, and social justice. We have an obligation to step up and provide leadership in our community’s efforts to become a place where every citizen is fully valued, respected, and treated with dignity. We commit to working toward meaningful and lasting change – however long that takes – and as part of that change we embrace the learning and unlearning that requires.
LRC’s four core values: dignity, hope, empathy, and kindness will guide our approach. In the coming days, weeks, and months, we will figure out how to bring these values to life toward full justice for all Lamoille’s citizens. We are clear that the cumulative and generally unacknowledged impact of centuries of cultural, educational, and economic injustices and attitudes will not be undone quickly or without pain. And, it’s time for us to marshal our collective will and dedicate our resources to addressing this issue. We welcome anyone who wants to join us.
“In a racist society, it is not enough to be non-racist. We must be ANTI-racist.” ~Angela Davis