On behalf of the Columbia men's soccer team, we would like to acknowledge and address our solidarity in regards to the recent and preventable murders of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and countless other Black Americans who have been affected by racial discrimination, police violence, and systemic injustice within our society.

We are incredibly saddened and disgusted by the unjust murders, and we want to express our deepest grievances to the victims and their families. We understand that anti-black racism and oppression continues to persist in the United States. These recent events are not anomalies – Black Americans face daily forms of violence, inequity, and injustice by the police and other powerful institutions in this country.

There is no time to be silent on this issue, and we must all demand change. We stand in solidarity with the protests in New York City and across the country. We understand that these injustices are rooted deep within American history and will continue unless we have transformative shifts in our society.

As a team, we are reflecting on our own privileged position within the world, and trying to find practical ways to address implicit bias and racism within our team and community. In particular, we know that our Black neighbors and community members in West Harlem and Washington Heights are deeply impacted by these issues. We all must take time to work together, educate one another, and actively listen in honest, reflective, and productive conversations. We will find ways to continue these conversations and make anti-racism a staple for team culture in how we carry ourselves both on and off the field.

We, the members of the Columbia men's soccer program, would like to express our support to the Black community. We stand with those who protest, donate, and are continuously spreading awareness.

Black Lives Matter.

With love and respect,
- Columbia Men's Soccer

How we can take action:
Color of Change – sign the petition
Wecantbreathenational.org – sign the petition
NAACP.org – education resources and sign the petition
Change.org – sign the petition
Official George Floyd Memorial Fund – donate to the official fund for George Floyd
 
Resources:
National Museum of African American History and Culture "Talking About Race" Web Portal
The 1619 Project, The New York Times Magazine
Article by Natasha Cloud – The Players' Tribune
The Players' Tribune (search "racism" and "racist" for content from different athletes across sports)