Black Lives Matter
LifeWire stands against the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and Manuel Ellis, as well as the countless others killed by police and perpetuated by systemic racial inequality in the United States. For over 400 years, Black and Brown mothers, fathers, children, brothers, and sisters have been victimized by inequity built into the very foundation of many American institutions.
As a DV organization, LifeWire knows that Black people have a disproportionate experience of violence across our communities. A staggering forty percent of Black women will face domestic violence in their lifetimes. They’re also two and a half times more likely to be murdered by men than their white counterparts.
Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) face interconnected barriers in education, housing, job opportunities, and police brutality. Barriers faced by Black people stem from a long history of power structures, policies, and laws that favor White people, and these systems are harming all communities. When we come together as one community, with one voice, we have the power to inspire change and support a better future for all survivors.
Building a Safer World Together
LifeWire envisions a world in which every person lives in a safe environment, free from oppression and with the opportunity to thrive. Building a safer world means speaking out against the racial disparities inherent in our justice, housing, healthcare, education, and other systems.
Right now, people in our community and across the country are finally acknowledging racial justice is important. Together, we have an opportunity to begin having dialogue and healing.
We invite you to join our staff in learning about the history of racism and oppression in our country by reading one or more books from our Anti-Oppression reading list. White staff members also recently read and discussed this article on being an ally.
Ending violence against women and girls cannot happen until every person is treated with respect and dignity.
Andrea connected with LifeWire last year through our partnership with Open Arms Perinatal Services. Her partner had physically abused her throughout the first two trimesters of her pregnancy and began beating her again shortly after she gave birth.
