JLR condemns racial injustice

“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Letter from Birmingham Jail, April 16, 1963

The Junior League of Raleigh condemns the killings in the Black community that have once again raised the veil on the racial inequities and violence that pervade our cities and our country. We stand against discrimination and racial injustice of any kind; there is no place for discrimination in the Junior League of Raleigh or in our nation.

The Junior League cannot stay silent and sit on the sidelines watching as our community feels the heaviness of grief. Junior League women strive to be civic leaders; we must hold ourselves accountable for our own biases and racism and must call out both as they occur. We must do the work. We must speak out and be willing to be visible and vulnerable. We must know when to be quiet and listen, and when to use our privilege to amplify the voices of others.

To our members who identify as Women of Color, we understand your feelings may be magnified during this time. We stand united with you. We are here to listen to our members and are ready to engage in difficult conversations and, most importantly, to act.

Many of you have asked what we can do. We don’t have all the answers, but we plan to implement first steps, with immediate effect. We must give support to our Black members, and all members of color, as well as our neighbors, friends, coworkers, and partners. As an organization we stand for justice, equality, and inclusion. It is time to use our training to improve our communities through effective action and leadership.

We encourage every member, and our community, to engage in the important dialogues, trainings, and other opportunities that the League will offer. As an organization, we will continue to take intentional, sustainable steps to continue to be stewards and advocates for change. We are committed to doing the work. Words alone are not enough, and we renew our pledge and commitment to contribute and create a platform for change.

JLR 2020-2021 Board of Directors