We as individuals and as a company acknowledge that our society has long been built on systems and inequities that oppress black people and black communities that we often serve. Our society has been quiet for too long and it’s shameful that the recent killing of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and many others were the events that outraged the world to actively stand up against racism. It’s shameful that it took the cell phone video footage from private citizens to ignite widespread protests against black oppression and brutality to bring this to light for so many.
We commit to using our position and longstanding place in our local society to resist and reverse systemic racism whenever and wherever we see or sense it. This includes within our own organization, our community and business partners, and will do our best to support meaningful change.
We believe that USArchive, and our technical partners, are a caring community that welcomes and respects diversity and social justice in all aspects of our lives. We will accept nothing less.
We publically affirm that Black Lives Matter and that racism can be unconscious or unintentional, and as an anti-racism organization we vow to purposefully identify, discuss and challenge issues of race and color and the impact they can have on our organization. We will also speak out against all forms of racism, discrimination, and bias in our environments, our institutions, communities, and society.
Michael & Noreen Plath
