Howard and Sheri Schultz

The tragic events unfolding across our country have filled us with anger, disgust and grief. Our family sends heartfelt condolences to the families of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and Breonna Taylor. We share their conviction that justice must be served for them and for all victims of police brutality.

Just as the pandemic and its deadly consequences are laying bare the inequalities so prevalent in our country, the tragic killings of Mr. Floyd, Mr. Arbery, and Ms. Taylor focus us, once again, on the racism that pervades American society, destroying lives, livelihoods and families.

There is so much work to do to right the wrongs that are rooted in our country’s history.

We start by acknowledging that institutional racism, systemic poverty, blatant discrimination, and unconscious bias impact the daily lives of millions of black and brown families.

We support and encourage peaceful demonstrations, open and honest conversations, and listening to those for whom racism is a daily, painful reality.

We demand actions that guarantee equity and fairness via new laws and policies, especially meaningful reforms to policing practices, as well as to the criminal justice system, to ensure that everyone is treated equally before the law.

We advocate for greater economic aid and assistance to communities of color, which are being disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 crisis.

And, we commit to addressing the systematic racism and structural barriers that create unequal access to rights and opportunities for communities of color, in part by ensuring young people in these communities have expanded access to training, education and employment.

Today, we also thank our foundation’s grantees for their ongoing efforts to address inequities in their communities as we join millions of Americans in seeking a deeper level of accountability to fight injustice.

‍

With heavy hearts and a deep sense of responsibility,

‍
Howard and Sheri Schultz

‍