Black Lives Matter.

Photo credit: Lorie Shaull

Dear Friends of Youth Beat,

The events of the last week have been heartbreaking. Like many of you, our staff and students at Youth Beat have been processing the news headlines and video footage with shock and grief. We are all devastated. 

We’re devastated for the victims and their families, who lost their loved ones too soon. Devastated for our black friends and neighbors, whose families have endured generations of cruelty and mistreatment. And devastated for our black and brown students, who every day must live in fear of becoming the next victim.

George Floyd. Breonna Taylor. Ahmaud Arbery. Trayvon Martin. Michael Brown. Freddie Gray. Oscar Grant. Just to name a few. These senseless killings serve as a tragic reminder of the racism and entrenched anti-Blackness that pervades our police force, our society, and every aspect of American life. 

We stand in solidarity with the black community here in Oakland and all those across the nation who are saying: enough is enough. We demand justice for these victims of police brutality and the dismantling of white supremacy and systemic racism in the United States.

At Youth Beat, we provide black and brown youth in Oakland the resources, mentorship, and multimedia training to help them speak their truths and change the world. We believe that young people have the answers we need to solve our world’s most pressing problems-- and we look forward to sharing their perspectives on justice and race with you in the coming weeks.

I hope you'll tune in to hear their stories. And I hope you will step up to support organizations on the front lines of this work, fighting for criminal justice reform and an end to systemic racism in America. Here is one extensive list of resources (created by a teenager!) that includes a multitude of ways to donate, support, and educate ourselves on this important topic.

Finally, to all the amazing young people in our community, those who are protesting and speaking out on this issue and those who are processing this trauma in their own way: You are seen. You are valued. You matter. Thank you for giving us inspiration and hope for a better future. 

In Solidarity,

Jake Schoneker

Executive Director, Youth Beat