HAVI Statement on George Floyd, Racism, and Structural Violence
The Health Alliance for Violence Intervention is a community of violence intervention specialists, doctors, survivors, social workers, and many more who work to address the pervasive challenge of violence in roughly 70 cities across the country.
The senseless murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbury, and countless others are heartbreaking reminders of the deep-seated racism, state-sponsored violence, and broader structural violence in America. The magnitude of this trauma not only presents itself today, but has burdened each generation since the founding of this nation. Sadly, these individuals stand as the most recent crescendo in our Nation’s history; a lingering trauma we have yet to overcome.
Demonstrations across our country and increasingly around the world are profound expressions of pain, anger, and grief and an impassioned call for change. While peaceful protests co-mingle with violent acts, we are struck by the powerful words of Frederick Douglass, "The thing worse than rebellion is the thing that causes rebellion." We set our sights and our efforts on the core issues: people deserve to have the opportunities, support, and resources to thrive without being in fear for their lives. As demonstrations continue, we hope for the safety and well-being of every single person whose voice yearns to be heard.
Our network is fundamentally grounded in the belief that violence itself has root causes in structural inequities - racism, poverty, and an overuse of policing and the criminal justice system alongside a lack of access to health resources, education, and opportunities for economic mobility. More importantly, we believe that those who have been impacted by those structures hold the power to transform them. The men and women who help interrupt cycles of violence are oftentimes from the communities they serve and focus fundamentally on the humanity, health, and well-being of their communities - particularly those who may otherwise be vulnerable to these pervasive structural inequities.
To the hospital based, hospital-linked violence intervention programs within our membership, and the emerging programs throughout our country, we stand with you and hope that you continue to:
Facilitate Community Care: take care of yourselves, your families, and one another;
Address Trauma: recognize and openly acknowledge the pain and grief that your community is experiencing, particularly in communities of color.
Create Peace: many of you are being called upon to help demonstrators’ message be heard by interrupting acts of violence during the protests. Creating peace does not mean silencing anger, it creates and environment for bold, clear action.
Seek Opportunities for Structural Change: pay attention to strategies that address structural change, including health approaches to addressing community violence and supporting racially just policing.
Facilitate Dialogue on Racism: as a multi-racial network, it is critical that we speak to one another and our communities about racism and its impact. This is not a time to remain silent.
We envision a world in which resources and investment actually reflect the magnitude of the inequities that lie at the root of violence, providing the conditions for all neighborhoods to heal and thrive without terror. This work is neither easy nor fast - it requires deep commitment to long-term sustainable change.
The HAVI is by your side and will be a partner to enact change. We thank you for your commitment. We invite you to join our movement. We share your hope and vision for a new world.