AUREA's Statement on Police Violence
Written by the AUREA team
Word count: 361 words
Estimated reading time: approx. 2 minutes
As we make our way through Pride Month this June, we are reminded of not only AUREA's beginnings but also the beginnings of Pride itself. What we know as Pride today began as a riot in protest against systemic violence perpetrated by police toward queer citizens. The events at Stonewall Inn propelled forward the movement toward queer liberation.
The first Pride was led by trans women of color. Our roots are Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. To forget this now would be an insult to their bravery and 50+ years of preceding and subsequent activism. As such, we as an organization condemn the current and long-standing police violence against the vulnerable members of society. Just as many stood with the forerunners of the first Pride in solidarity, we stand in solidarity with the protesters around the world as they demand justice for the deaths of people of color caused by police brutality. The murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis is just one example of the violence and oppression faced by marginalized people around the world. Even if you are far from the United States, there is much work that can be done.
AUREA is still in its infancy, but we are committed to learning from and elevating underrepresented voices within the aromantic community. We are always open to feedback, especially from aromantics of color who have repeatedly pointed out the racism present in our community, and we encourage all members of the aromantic community who feel underrepresented to reach out about contributing to the website.
It is our job as allies and community organizers to support those marginalized within our own communities by educating ourselves on issues of race and effective allyship. This means listening to and uplifting the voices of aromantics of color, and supporting black artists, businesses, and community measures during these difficult times.
Furthermore, we encourage you to donate to the NAACP, the Equal Justice Initiative, and Black Lives Matter. If you are unable to contribute directly, there are other ways you can lend your support such as: signing petitions, writing letters and emails to local political representatives about this issue, participating in fundraising streams online, and going to local protests.