Washington State Deaf and DeafBlind Organizations in Support of Black Lives Matter
As Deaf / DeafBlind organizations in Washington State, we are deeply troubled by the recent and historical cases of police brutality against Black people: George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, Tony McDade, Nina Pop, Manuel Ellis and countless others. Their lives and dreams were cut short.We recognize that the root cause of police brutality and violence is anti-Black racism. Since they arrived on United States soil against their will, Black people have been stolen, oppressed, jailed, falsely accused, murdered and ignored because of white supremacy in white and non-Black communities. This includes the anti-blackness within our Deaf community against our Black Deaf, Black Hard of Hearing, Black DeafBlind, and Black Deaf Disabled community members.We are committed to addressing racial equity within our organizations and Deaf communities.
This statement is only the start. We promise to challenge racism and anti-Blackness within ourselves, our communities, and our organizations. We are committed to engaging with and advocating for our Black Deaf, Black Hard of Hearing, Black DeafBlind, and Black Deaf Disabled community members. We stand in solidarity with Black Lives Matter and the call to end police brutality. We call on our Deaf, Hard of Hearing, DeafBlind, and Deaf Disabled communities to show their support to Black Deaf / DeafBlind communities through different ways:
Donate to local and national Black Deaf organizations such as
Black Deaf Center
Helping Educate to Advance the Rights of Deaf Communities (HEARD)
National Black Deaf Advocates (NBDA)
Cascadia Deaf Nation
Visionaries of the Creative Arts, Inc
Urban Jazz Dance Company
National Deaf People of Color Conference
Deaf Women of Color Conference, and more.
Support Black Deaf owned businesses
Register to vote, update your residential address, and vote
Educate ourselves about white supremacy, racism, and anti-Blackness
Support Black Deaf leaders and activists
We invite other peer Deaf /DeafBlind organizations to join us on this path to an anti-racist society.
Here is a BLM resources sheet for you to learn and discuss with your friends, peers and families. This will be updated often.
Black lives matter.In Solidarity,
API Chaya
Deaf Spotlight
DeafBlind Services Center (DBSC)
Puget Sound Association of the Deaf (PSAD)
Spokane Deaf News (SDN)
Washington Advocates of Deaf & Hard of Hearing (WADHH)
Washington State DeafBlind Citizens, Inc, (WSDBC)
Washington State Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (WSRID)
Washington State Association of the Deaf (WSAD)