The North Haven Democratic Town Committee has issued a statement in support of communities of color and pledging to take action against institutionalized racism.

DTC Chair Kathy Grant said, “Too many American lives have been lost or destroyed, or have never reached their full potential because of systemic racism. We need to work towards solutions for real change. Supporting our brothers and sisters of color and working together to bring justice, peace and prosperity to the black and brown communities are the right things to do.”

The DTC’s statement is as follows:

“The North Haven Democratic Town Committee is dedicated to upholding the basic human rights of equality, freedom, and justice and stands in solidarity with communities of color. We condemn the institutionalized racist violence that infects our society and makes true equality impossible. This violence is a constant presence in the lives of black and brown Americans: We see it in unpunished police brutality against people of color, in the racial disparities that persist in our health care system, in the inequities of the criminal justice system, in the discipline and substandard education of our black and brown children, and in daily interactions people of color face that attempt to strip them of their humanity.

“The past week of protesting and violence that has occurred in cities and towns across the country is an indicator of the pain and rage that systemic racist violence engenders in those it targets and anyone with a moral conscience. The murders of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and Breonna Taylor are just the most recent and most public examples of how state-sanctioned violence impacts people of color in this country. We cannot allow such a system to continue if we are to call ourselves a civilized society. It is truly a matter of life and death.

“Therefore, we, the North Haven Democratic Town Committee, stand in solidarity with our black and brown neighbors and are committed to take action to back up our words. We support Black Lives Matter and its mission by calling out racism when we see it, working to elect representatives who work for racial justice, and collaborating with members of our community to act against racism and be accountable for the work that needs to be done.”