Thriving is a Human Right
June 1, 2020
To our CoCA community,
We are devastated to witness the escalation of racism against African American people in this country. We at CoCA stand against all facets of racism and hate. We weep for the pain, fear, and systematic oppression experienced by African Americans in our community.
We grieve the lack of equity, safety, and opportunity that racism engenders. At CoCA, we choose artistic action. We value the creative voices of artists from unserved, underserved, and underrepresented communities.
We support a fully empowered creative life for all people. Every day we champion policies and practices of cultural equity that build communities of belonging. We recognize the racist history of exclusion that has led to ongoing inequities for black people.
At CoCA we embrace confronting our collective biases and operationalizing a culture of belonging and shared values. We challenge ourselves to deconstruct frameworks of exclusion while building opportunities for artistic expression and growth for all.
CoCA stands with African American communities and their Diaspora in this time of pain and loss. We mourn the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Aubrey and so many others and the irreconcilable grief experienced by their families. We must move forward with clarity, compassion, and courage against racism.
The City of Seattle, as well, must take immediate government action that decreases violence against the African American community. Thriving is a human right.
With best regards,
Royal Alley-Barnes, MAT, CoCA Executive Director
Judith Rayl, MD PhD, Co-Chair Board of Directors
Ishi Malik, MBA, Co-Chair Board of Directors
Eddie Reed, Ed D, President, Board of Directors
Alison Post, Operations Manager
Nat Thornton, Curator
“If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor” - Desmond Tutu
“WE CHOOSE ARTISTIC ACTION.”
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ABOUT WHAT THAT MEANS FOR COCA.
