BLACK LIVES MATTER: A MESSAGE FROM MINORITY LEADER EMILIA STRONG SYKES By Honorable Emilia Strong Sykes As a country, we have two viruses that are disproportionately killing Black people right now: the coronavirus and racism. After the deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and Breonna Taylor, we are seeing people protesting injustice. People who want to be heard. As Black people, we are learning that people do not care about eliminating racism and ensuring our health and safety. We’ve done task forces and study groups. We’ve prepared reports in fancy binders that look nice, and they sit on a shelf in an office. There is never any action. We are witnessing around the country a begging to be seen and heard. This community, the Black community, after multiple attempts at protesting, kneeling, demanding legislation, is begging to be heard. Racism is real. It’s the biggest health crisis already know is wrong and broken. The time the citizens of this state face. The institutional for studying racism is over. racism in our society and the trauma it causes is not okay, and it must be recognized. Members of the Ohio Legislative Black Caucus will be introducing a resolution this Black Americans deserve to be heard today, week to declare racism is a public health tomorrow, and always. Racism can no crisis. If we want to ensure there is equality, longer be a burden people of color shoulder we should lead the nation and pass this themselves. It is up to white people to check resolution. and acknowledge their privilege. We can offer conversations about the inequities Ohio House Democrats have introduced bill facing communities of color, but until white after bill to address criminal justice reform, communities truly look inside themselves and improve gun safety, increase the minimum say “We would not want this for ourselves,” wage, prohibit discrimination in various we will not see any change. forms, and are constantly calling for more diversity and inclusion. These bills don’t In order to have real and meaningful change even have a chance of passing. in our society, we need EVERYONE to stand up and denounce racism, have the No matter how we activate, organize, or uncomfortable conversations to better engage our communities, these bills are understand one another, and end it, once and falling on the deaf ears of Ohio Republicans. for all. They are telling us time and time again that black lives do not matter. I am asking anyone who is not black: take the time to look inside yourself to find what Whether or not we take action is up to the you can do to be helpful because it is up to white, Republican Governor, Speaker of you. We have pleaded, protested, cried, and the Ohio House, and President of the Ohio let you know. It is up to you. If you do not Senate. These are the people who have the do anything, you let us know we are not a power to protect Black people. We hear you priority. loud and we hear you clearly by your inaction that you do not believe black lives matter. If you feel uncomfortable talking about racism, imagine what it feels like to live Action can be taken legislatively, but the with it. Black Ohioans are not ok. We need first thing those in the legislature must do is immediate action, not the creation of another care enough to do something. They must care task force or study group to confirm what we enough about the Black people in this state to
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act. They have to care. They have to have the will, the fortitude, and the courage to stand up and do something. We could start with passing anti-profiling legislation, requiring data collection on who is stopped by the police, and mandating independent investigations of all officer-involved shootings. There is no need to reinvent the wheel. These are recommendations made by the Ohio Task Force for Community-Police Relations appointed in 2015 after Tamir Rice was killed in Cleveland. Five years later, none of these measures have been enacted. Racism is truly undermining and crumbling our society. It is the willful ignorance of people in the legislature to not see it. I will not elevate it any further, it is undeserving of anything more than that. As legislators, we have a responsibility to listen to and empathize with ideas, even those that make us uncomfortable. Racism is real, whether they want to admit it or not. Their inaction will make it loud and clear that they believe some lives matter more than others. I just hope they want to be on the right side of history. Emilia Strong Sykes represents the 34th District of Ohio (Akron) and serves as the Minority Leader of the Ohio House of Representatives.
