06/02/2020
Words cannot express the sorrow and anger we are feeling at the murder of George Floyd and the entrenched systems of oppression that allowed it to happen. Kennebec Valley Roller Derby stands in support of the family of George Floyd, the city of Minneapolis, and communities nationwide standing up against systemic racism. We demand justice, and we demand change. The historic and ongoing oppression and marginalization of BPOC (Black People of Color) cannot be allowed to continue.
We also recognize that words alone are not enough. That is why we are encouraging our members, volunteers, and fans to donate to Reclaim the Block, a Minneapolis group that organizes around policies that strengthen community-led safety initiatives and reduce reliance on police departments.
We also recognize we have our own part to play in breaking down the barriers of systemic racism. Roller derby has, since its inception, been an overwhelmingly white space. Though it has never been by design, we own this. However, we commit to being better, to finding ways to actively be a more explicitly open, welcoming, and diverse space.
Black Lives Matter.