hammond

“If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor.” – Desmond Tutu In keeping with a belief in the truth found in the phrase above and in light of the events of the past weeks which have been painful reminders that black people in the United States continue to suffer under the oppression of racism and injustice, we are issuing a statement declaring that we stand for justice and good. At the U.S. Supreme Court building in Washington D.C. the concept of justice is depicted in a number of places with the most prominent being the statue of Lady Justice holding a smaller Lady Justice blindfolded and holding scales designed to depict that justice is fair and impartial. The ideal of justice being impartial has oft been proven to be illusory relative to the treatment of persons of color. As the poet Langston Hughes wrote, That Justice is a blind goddess Is a thing to which we black are wise: Her bandage hides two festering sores That once perhaps were eyes.” My favorite of the depictions of justice is not the prominent statue by the steps but, rather the frieze located on the west wall inside the courtroom which depicts the battle of good vs. evil. In this depiction, Lady Justice is not blindfolded but, rather, she has her hand on her sword and is prepared to fight the forces of evil for good. She is surrounded by depictions of divine inspiration and wisdom. We have a shared responsibility to be on the side of good not evil; to speak out against acts of racism and oppression; to act to bring about meaningful change; and, to be a positive force in creating places of work, communities, cities, and a nation that stands for [...]