Today marks one year since George Floyd was lynched by a police officer. The brutality we witnessed that day is not an unprecedented or infrequent reality for Black Americans. The racial justice reckoning that followed in the wake of this tragedy has been transformational for our nation; long overdue and enduring. We remain steadfast in our ongoing commitment to support the Movement for Black Lives.
The climate crisis is fueled by the belief that it is acceptable for some communities to be sacrificed and exploited. Systemic racism has forced BIPOC communities to shoulder the greatest burden of pollution, policing, and incarceration. Our energy system, our justice system, and the institutions that uphold them were built to benefit some while exploiting the livelihoods of others. We cannot confront our greatest challenges if we ignore systemic racism. Today we remember and reiterate that our planet cannot be protected until every life is valued. There cannot be climate justice without racial justice.