PCAR/NSVRC are proud to honor Juneteenth.
Juneteenth recognizes the end to slavery in the United States and is considered the longest-running African American holiday. The day officially became a federal holiday on June 17, 2021.
Racism, specifically anti-Black racism, is a root cause of sexual violence. Harmful beliefs that view other groups as lesser — like sexism, heterosexism, transphobia, ableism, and racism —feed into the inequity and abuse that underscore all forms of sexual violence. In order to prevent sexual violence, we must acknowledge and take steps to undo the systemic ways anti-Black racism shows up in our communities and our work.
As an anti-violence organization, we know that under the strongholds of inequity, we are still not all free. While slavery has been abolished, power imbalances continue to impact communities of color in our country.
All systems of abuse are interconnected, and systemic racism is no exception. This is why we commit our resources and voices to highlighting the intersections of racial justice with ending sexual assault, harassment, and abuse.
We honor Juneteenth as a celebration of freedom and Black culture and strength. We support the movement to declare Juneteenth a national holiday and a day for healing and advocacy for Black Americans.
PCAR and its staff will honor the day as an office holiday for the first time in 2022. This year Juneteenth falls on Sunday, June 19th. Our offices will be closed in observance the following Monday, June 20.
We encourage our partners at anti-sexual violence coalitions, rape crisis centers, and organizations throughout the country to explore ways in which you can commemorate this day, if you have not already done so, as a time of healing and an opportunity to learn more about the history and legacy of this holiday.
We also encourage you to take part in Juneteenth events in communities across the U.S. as we continue to break down systemic racism and injustice.
Resources:
PCAR/NSVRC commitment to racial justice
The many ways to learn black history
We Can’t End Sexual Violence Without Ending Racism
We also call on our community to show your support by donating to organizations leading efforts to address the impact of domestic and sexual violence on the Black community:
Sisters of Color Ending Sexual Assault
Ujima: The National Center on Violence Against Women in the Black Community
The Swan Center for Advocacy & Research
We, As Ourselves led by ‘me too’ movement, National Women’s Law Center, and Times Up Foundation