The murder of George Floyd and countless others was the result of police brutality enabled by a system built upon white privilege & ignorance. The CybOrg community is disappointed and vehemently against the murders of innocent black lives over the past few months, and the treatment of the protestors thereafter.
As a student-run organization focusing on technology we have seen first hand how minorities are ostracised and belittled. We are obligated to stand up, speak out, and defend those who are oppressed due to the color of their skin. We will not stand for discrimination against color, race, religion, gender, ability, or income.
Justice is long overdue for the systematic haunting that is plaguing our society and forcing those we love to live in fear for their lives. CybOrg will never hesitate to stand with people of color and embrace them wholeheartedly.
We stand with others and extend our support and our voices to the victims of racism. We are committed to change, no matter how long it takes. It is time to do better. It is time to stand up. It is time to speak out so the next fathers, sons, brothers, mothers, daughters, and sisters won’t be stolen and ripped away from those who love them.
Silence was never an option, but it became the norm. Together we can change that, it is time to speak out.
To all out black peers,
We stand with you.
We demand justice.
Say their names:
George Floyd.
Breonna Taylor.
Ahmaud Arbery.
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We are committed to making change in our community and believe that the technology industry is meant for all demographics. For this reason, we have chosen to highlight the organization Black Girls Code.
Their vision: To increase the number of women of color in the digital space by empowering girls of color ages 7 to 17 to become innovators in STEM fields, leaders in their communities, and builders of their own futures through exposure to computer science and technology. To provide African-American youth with the skills to occupy some of the 1.4 million computing job openings expected to be available in the U.S. by 2020, and to train 1 million girls by 2040
In the coming weeks, we plan to add additional resources to our website, including the statement in this email. We are also developing initiatives to increase diversity within our organization, as well as in technology as a whole. We will keep you all updated with these developments as they come to fruition. If you have any thoughts on ways CybOrg can help support the black community in the future, please do not hesitate to e-mail us at usccyborg@gmail.com.
There are many other ways that you can help bring about change during this time. We’ve included a list of resources below which detail the different ways that you can get involved and fight for what is right.
Other Organizations to Donate To
The Bail Project
Black Lives Matter
American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)
Reclaim the Block
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)
