We at WashingCon would like to express our unequivocal support for the Black Lives Matter movement, the calls to end police brutality, to break down the racist power structures in America and the passage of H.R. 40 to examine persistent effects of the transatlantic slave trade in America as well as the possibilities for reparations. This announcement may be arriving later than it could have been expected, but at this time silence is not an option and all members of our community need to be vocal about where they stand.

We are not a large organization and we are aware that our voice is not the most essential one in the conversation. But as a gathering that is managed entirely by white people, we hope to demonstrate as clearly as possible our desire for our event and our community to be open and welcoming to black people, to make space for creators of color and to stand by them where we are needed.

Racism and hatred will undoubtedly not be abolished in our lifetimes but the systems and structures that perpetuate them must be dismantled wherever they are found. It is essential that these messages be kept in the public eye to prevent complaisance. We hope moving forward to maintain whatever support we can for equality.

-The Staff of WashingCon