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REFORMA Statement on Solidarity with BCALA

The REFORMA Executive Committee stands in solidarity with the Black Caucus of the American Library Association (BCALA) in condemning violence and racism toward black people and all people of color, and has endorsed BCALA's statement condemning increased violence and racism towards Black Americans and people of color. As other library associations have recently made statements in support of BCALA and #BlackLivesMatter (APALA, ALA), REFORMA also supports the right to protest and rebel against white supremacy, police violence, state violence, systemic and institutionalized racism, and the militarization of police forces.

REFORMA has also endorsed APALA's statement that condemns the rise in xenophobia and racism due to the novel coronavirus outbreak, and has signed the pledge to combat the rise of xenophobia and racism against Asians and Asian/Pacific Americans due to COVID-19.

 

Let us all stand together, build coalitions, and be each other's accomplices in the struggle to end internal, interpersonal, and systematic forms of racism and all other forms of oppression.

 

The REFORMA Executive Committee urges its members to support BCALA's condemnation of the systemic and systematic social injustices endured by black people and people of color, and to proactively work on eradicating racism anywhere and everywhere it exists, especially working against anti-blackness in Latinx communities and to promote Afro-Latinx excellence.

 

In solidarity and on behalf of the REFORMA 2019-2020 Executive Committee,

 

Kenny Garcia, President

Oscar Baeza, Vice President/President-elect

Madeline Peña, Immediate Past President

Ana Campos, Secretary

Denice Adkins, Treasurer

Manny Figueroa, Eastern Region Chapter Representative

Nicanor Diaz, Central Region Chapter Representative

David Lopez, Western Region Chapter Representative

Allina Migoni, Member-at-Large Representative

 

Established in 1971, REFORMA has actively sought to promote the development of library collections to include Spanish-language and Latino-oriented materials; the recruitment of more bilingual and bicultural library professionals and support staff; the development of library services and programs that meet the needs of the Latino community; the establishment of a national information and support network among individuals who share our goals; the education of the U.S. Latino population with regard to the availability and types of library services; and lobbying efforts to preserve existing library resource centers serving the interests of Latinos. For more information on REFORMA, visit reforma.org.

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