Chapter Activities for Racial Justice

The NASW Texas Chapter stands in solidarity with Black Lives Matter. We must all call out the racism embedded in our country and communities at the macro and micro level, and as we watch the protests across the country escalate, we cannot remain silent about the outcomes people of color face in America.

The staff and leadership of NASW's Ohio Chapter wish to extend support and solidarity with all those protesting police violence and systemic racism in response to the unjust and extrajudicial murder of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and countless others, named and unnamed since the first enslaved African people were brought to what is now known as the United States of America.

NASW Ohio staff member, Colleen Dempsey, gave powerful testimony on June 9, 2020, in support of Senate resolution 14 to declare racism a public health crisis in Ohio. She also added comments about the need for social workers to do internal anti-racism work to not perpetuate oppression.

We continue to witness the brutal murder of Black men and women through police brutality. Although it is not the actions of all police, it is systemic through the criminal justice system. We must stop the systemic racism that plagues our country. We cannot sit idly by.

Watch a recording of this June 8, 2020, statewide social work conversation on racial justice during COVID-19.

Racial justice begins when policies and practices empower economic, voting, social, diversity and multicultural education, health care and environmental justice. We must support the protesters’ call for change in police policies that are reasonable, well thought out, and promote greater transparency and accountability on the part of law enforcement across Kentucky.

Institutional racism has plagued us far longer and is a pandemic of greater proportions than COVID can ever be. It is unfortunate that during these times, where we were learning to exist differently for the common greater good that we turn the spotlight from supporting each other in our communities, lifting up the most vulnerable to having to bear witness yet again to the brutal abuse of power.

First, we send our deepest sympathy to the family, friends, loved ones, and community of George Floyd. We will never forget witnessing the brutal and inhumaneway his life was taken from him.This blatant disregard for human life and the pervasive belief in Black and brown people's inferiority is an all too familiar occurrence in America.

Although we do not discount the human atrocities and sacrifices made by others before us that resulted in changes to public policies, we also acknowledge the deep-seated racism that still exists. We see the microaggressions and injustices that Black and brown people experience at the hands of individuals and organizations daily that continues to marginalize progress.

Watch a meeting of social workers centering names of Black individuals killed by police in Ohio and throughout the country, why and how social workers can get involved in the movement for Black lives.

NASW Pennsylvania Chapter is guided by one Code of Ethics, which calls for us to serve our communities, promote social justice, value the dignity and worth of the person, and respect the importance of human relationships. As our country confronts what Reverend Jim Wallis has called “America’s Original Sin” of racism, we must be especially mindful of these ethics when serving our communities. We must serve in a competent manner with the utmost integrity, and fight for justice and equality.