-
MWEG Deep Dive Recap: Michaelâs Story â Understanding Systemic Racism
In the wake of the terrible, tragic death of George Floyd at the hands of a police officer in Minneapolis, we have a new urgency to understand why and how such a thing could happen. We know itâs happened before many times to both Black adults and Black children, but this time is different. This time we were witnesses to the callous cruelty of an officer of the law as he knelt on Georgeâs neck until he was dead. We are beginning our journey to understand how our system of law, justice, child custody, schools, building codes, housing, healthcare, and social services interact to put young children and adults of…
-
Official Statement from Mormon Women for Ethical Government on Confronting Systemic Racism
The women of Mormon Women for Ethical Government join our voices with those calling for justice and accountability following the deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and countless other Black Americans at the hands of law enforcement officers and self-deputized citizens. The wave of widespread human despair triggered by the callous killing of George Floyd has been overwhelming. That both the brutality of his killing and the depth of public response were inconceivable to so many should stand as a profound indictment of white American indifference to the suffering of people of color. The inhumanity displayed by four officers of the law brought into focus the myriad ways…
-
Encouraging Local Police Reform: Letters to Local Officials
After the death of George Floyd, Charlotte Mountain, MWEG’s anti-racism lead, has invited all of us to write letters of witness. MWEG has taken up her charge to confront systemic racism, starting by encouraging local police reform. Follow the six steps below to get started. Then, click over to the “Confronting Systemic Racism” call to action page on our website to share your letter. 1. Decide on your audience. You could write to the chief of police, the mayor, the city council, the city manager, county commission, etc. Write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper. Share your message in more ways than one! 2. Find contact information…
-
Media Literacy: Ethical Coverage of Police Violence â Reporting on George Floyd and Beyond
When it comes to reporting on the police killings of and violence toward black and brown people, news coverage can provide important background and context to the national conversation, sparking a wide range of actions and reactions. But that news must adhere to certain standards in order to contribute meaningfully and minimize bias. In the Society of Professional Journalistsâ Code of Ethics, reporters and editors are urged to âboldly tell the story of the diversity and magnitude of the human experienceâ while at the same time âavoid stereotypingâ and âexamine the ways their values and experiences may shape their reporting.â Likewise, photojournalists should, âBe complete and provide context when photographing…
