02/12/2025
Our sport is one that has always challenged the “norms” in terms of creating a space that is truly about community and inclusion. This is an inalienable and integral part of who and what our coalition is; the very heart and soul of roller derby itself. We will not stand by and be silent while members of our community are being targeted and driven out of space that is theirs by right. Nothing will change our commitment to being a team where people can come and be their genuine, authentic, and wonderful selves without fear of discrimination. We know that the rest of the roller derby community will continue doing the same.
We stand with and support the rights of refugees, asylum seekers, and immigrants, especially their right to equitable paths of citizenship, and we strongly advocate for the continuation of policies like DACA. We stand with and support the rights of our BIPOC communities, especially their right to equity, inclusion, and representation in all aspects. We stand with and support the rights of our LGBTQIA+ communities, especially our trans, agender, and non-binary members and their right to participate in sports or any other endeavor they choose. We do NOT stand with or support any policies, ideology, words, or actions that in any way strip people of their rights and, most importantly, their humanity.
While words of assurance and support are a start, we acknowledge that actions speak louder and want our community to know that we are working on implementing policies to uphold the safety and inclusion of our marginalized and minority members during these fearful times and beyond. This is being done with input from those being explicitly targeted by these executive orders as it is important that their voices be heard and their concerns be addressed. We encourage others in the roller derby community to have these same discussions and reviews as well, if you’re not already, so that we may continue to be the harbor in the storm for those who need it.
