WMA stands with the black community and denounces the deaths of black Americans at the hands of law enforcement. The deaths, and the systemic racism in our society, are American tragedies. We mourn the loss of George Floyd and keep his family and loved ones on our minds and in our hearts.
While we may not always understand the issues firsthand, we do know that black lives matter and we seek to live in a society where justice is blind and available to all. As military servicewomen, we inherited a legacy to serve, support and value all people and earned the opportunity to be held in the highest esteem by our sisters in uniform and in our civilian communities. It is our duty and desire to extend dignity and respect to all others regardless of ethnicity, nationality, gender, race, religion, age or sexual orientation.
The CMC/SMMC challenged us to be a part of the solution by “having conversations with our fellow Marines and ask that in doing so, that we actively listen. By listening, we learn, by learning, we change.” We, as a whole need to be the change. We must be part of the solution.
We can and should use individual and collective voices to stand for truth and to help cultivate a culture of diversity, inclusion, and racial equity. I hope that all will join in these efforts to act as the conscience of our Association and to help WMA consistently work towards providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all members.
Semper Fidelis,
Rhonda LeBrescu Amtower
WMA National President