On Blackout Tuesday, the New York State Writers Institute stands in solidarity with grieving and angry protesters who have taken to the streets to demand an end to centuries of systemic racism, discrimination and brutality against oppressed communities of color.
We will not post a new interview today on The Conversation.
We are joining #TheShowMustBePaused action on Instagram and social media to show our sorrow over the killing of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and many other unarmed Black Americans at the hands of police. We empathize with their pain and also re-affirm our belief in the transformative power and healing capacity of literature and writing that touches the mind, heart, and soul.
We will resume The Conversation tomorrow with an interview featuring two highly regarded Black activists in Albany, Dr. Alice Green and Leon Van Dyke, who have been fighting for racial justice since the 1960s.
In the meantime, we would refer you to the website of the The Center for Law and Justice in Albany, founded by Dr. Alice Green. It recently released a report, “Structural Racism and Public Safety in Albany” that addresses issues underlying the ongoing mass protests. There is other useful information for those who wish to learn more about the group’s long struggle for justice.