Once again our hearts are full of sorrow and anger.  Two more Black men have been killed by police, two more families are bereaved, and two more communities are shell-shocked and grieving.  We send our condolences to the families of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile.

Everyone who strives for justice must ask themselves what we can do to dismantle systemic racism and stop the violence. The responsibility to take action is especially incumbent on those who have privilege and power in our country.  At the very least, we cannot be silent; at our best, we must actively devote our power and privilege to the struggle for justice.

For GLAD, a legal organization, this means elevating our work on racial and economic justice; cultivating meaningful community partnerships, doing strategic legal interventions, and engaging in anti-racist coalitions, as well as pay8ing attention to our internal culture and practices.  We will not strive for perfection and we will make mistakes, but the urgency of the work compels us forward.

We commend the Department of Justice for stepping in to investigate the killing of Alton Sterling in Baton Rouge, and hope that DOJ’s involvement will ensure accountability and some measure of justice. We hope that DOJ will also bring its power to bear in the killing of Philando Castile in Minnesota.

Janson Wu is the Executive Director of GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders (GLAD).

July 8, 2016
Contact: Carisa Cunningham, (617) 426-1350