Chapter Activities for Racial Justice

We will have a few guest speakers working in different aspects of social work and will also have an open discussion for people who tune in to ask questions. Our goal is to gather opinions and ideas from our members on reconceptualizing public safety and policing.

Online registration is available until 7/1/2020

Policing in America is racially violent. We have seen this recently in the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbury. Moreover, all of these homicides occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic, which disproportionately wreaks havoc on communities of color. As a result, people from all racial backgrounds have realized that longstanding racism in America is not just morally wrong—it is deadly—and they are speaking up, peacefully protesting to demand long overdue reforms.

Calls to “defund the police” have spawned initiatives to rethink and reimagine policing. Social workers have been engaged in efforts to create more equitable and effective systems for public service for years. This virtual congressional briefing will feature the work of social and criminal justice scholars and practitioners.

NASW-MS strongly supports changing the state flag of Mississippi to move forward in the best interest of all Mississippians. Recent discussions surrounding systemic and structural racism, racially insensitive symbols, and figures in our society have continued to place a negativespotlight on the flag of Mississippi and its residents.

While decisions to change the Mississippi state flag have been called reactionary or in response to a cultural shift in America, agreed or not, the outcry for a change in the state flag has permeated in the state for almost two decades. Thus, the issue of a new state flag can no longer continue to be ignored, dismissed, or deflected.

NASW-GA asked members to contact their legislators to support Hates Crime Bill H.B. 426. We authorized our lobbyists to stay vigilant in ensuring that NASW-GA’s support of the Hates Crime Bill reached the General Assembly.

Additionally, our chapter joined a coalition led by the Atlanta-Metro Chamber of Commerce in signing a statement urging Members of the General Assembly to support, approve and sign into law a comprehensive, specific and clear bill against hate crimes. The coalition’s actions played a significant role in placing pressure on Members of the General Assembly and Governor Kemp to pass a Hate Crimes Bill into law.

• June 19: Discussing Issues of Race with Young Children
• June 25: Race Through the Lens of Trauma
• July 9: Summer Book Club Series: "How to Be an Anti-Racist"
• July 15: Myths Surrounding Immigration & Undocumented Clients
• July 21: Anti-racism in Social Work: Building Authentic Relationships and Institutional Change (2 CEs)

Urge your legislators to advance An Act Relative to Saving Black Lives and Transforming Public Safety (SD.2968/HD.5128).

This emergency bill, introduced by Senator Creem and Representative Miranda, aims to reform Massachusetts’ policing practices by setting stricter standards and increasing accountability for law enforcement.

The NASW Texas Chapter stands in solidarity with Black Lives Matter. We must all call out the racism embedded in our country and communities at the macro and micro level, and as we watch the protests across the country escalate, we cannot remain silent about the outcomes people of color face in America.

We continue to witness the brutal murder of Black men and women through police brutality. Although it is not the actions of all police, it is systemic through the criminal justice system. We must stop the systemic racism that plagues our country. We cannot sit idly by.

Racial justice begins when policies and practices empower economic, voting, social, diversity and multicultural education, health care and environmental justice. We must support the protesters’ call for change in police policies that are reasonable, well thought out, and promote greater transparency and accountability on the part of law enforcement across Kentucky.

Institutional racism has plagued us far longer and is a pandemic of greater proportions than COVID can ever be. It is unfortunate that during these times, where we were learning to exist differently for the common greater good that we turn the spotlight from supporting each other in our communities, lifting up the most vulnerable to having to bear witness yet again to the brutal abuse of power.