Support Black Lives Matter

We are the Spellers and Allies Advocacy Network. We seek to make real change for all nonspeaking people through our advocacy efforts. But, when there are injustices too great to ignore, we fight and advocate for others, just as we do for ourselves. We stand with Black Lives Matter

We are nonspeakers who spell to communicate. In these troubling times…

We, the nonspeaking neurodiverse community, will not be silent. Our allies will not be silent. The brutality directed towards people of color has been perpetuated for far too long. A Black person is 2.8 times more likely to die at the hands of law enforcement than a White person. Around 30-50% of people killed by police have a disability, including those who have an inability to speak or control motor actions. A disproportionately large portion of those victims are Black.

Those who cannot control their motor actions are unable to raise their hands over their heads when commanded by police. I cannot speak nor respond reliably to verbal commands. I cannot speak the words “I can’t breathe.” “Don’t shoot.” Police brutality against the Black community also threatens the neurodivergent community and intersects to produce devastating effects.

We cannot all be free when so many of us are struggling to stay alive. We will not rest until “justice for all” truly means “justice for ALL.” As a group, we support the Black Lives Matter movement and their mission. We support racial bias training in police departments as well as increased law enforcement ACCOUNTABILITY. We support training in de-escalation and in recognizing signs of disability for all first responders. We support more funding for healthcare and social service programs that directly assist those with mental illnesses and disabilities. We support the promotion of widespread education and awareness about the issues that affect the Black community and their intersectionality with the nonspeaking community.

We stand together to amplify our struggle. We stand together because kindness has no color. We raise our voices together. Black Lives Matter.
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