Washington, DC – Today, Kids in Need of Defense (KIND) President Wendy Young issued the following statement on behalf of the organization:
“Rooting out racism, unequivocally affirming that Black lives matter, and taking meaningful and concrete steps in the fight for social justice is vital to our nation’s future. As an organization devoted to protecting immigrant children, giving them access to legal protection, and helping them find a safe path forward, we recognize the urgent need to ensure that our work aligns with efforts to eradicate the historic and pervasive institutional racism that continues to place Black communities in the crosshairs of injustice. We cannot allow the brutal murders of Breonna Taylor, Sean Reed, George Floyd and countless other Black lives to be in vain. We must also work to ensure the dangerous displays of force brought to bear against peaceful protesters across our nation do not erode their clear constitutional rights and legal protections against the use of excessive force by law enforcement. In this watershed moment, we acknowledge the urgent need to ensure our work always reflects KIND’s commitment to equity, safety, and accountability for all. We know this effort must be sustained, and it must be in solidarity with our inspiring partners across the human rights and social justice communities.”