The following is a letter from CEO Amy Binder:
We at RF|Binder are all deeply disturbed by the injustices that have been suffered by people of color in America, which have been brought to the forefront once again because of the tragic death of George Floyd. These injustices have existed for centuries and it is hard to believe how little progress has been made over the past sixty years since the Civil Rights movement first started.
As a result of this unjustifiable lack of progress, issues of racism and discrimination are still at the center of our national dialogue. The fact that Black Americans and other people of color have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19, coupled with the many tragic stories, including those of Eric Garner, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and now George Floyd, underscore the horrific consequences of systemic racism and inequality that exist in America today.
I recognize that as a white woman, my perspective on this issue has limitations, but I know with great certainty that living in an unjust society scars each of us. For most of my life I have participated in and watched the struggle of so many working to create a society that provides equality for all. I remember being turned away with a close family friend from a movie theatre in Florida because she was Black. I also remember going with my family to Civil Rights protests in NYC and in Washington D.C. as a young kid fighting for equality and justice. It breaks my heart to see that this type of civil action is still required today.
While we are all overwhelmed by grief over the state of our society and the lack of progress that we have made, some of us live with a particular fear that we or our loved ones could be unjustly impacted by the gross racism and discrimination that exists. Some of us already have experienced this firsthand. This is simply not acceptable.
At RF|Binder, we have zero tolerance for any form of racism or discrimination. Diversity and inclusion are central to us as individuals and as a company. Our Purpose is to “empower our people and our clients to have impact.” This Purpose guides how we run our business, how we interact with each other, and how we advise our clients.
As communicators and strategic partners, we have a unique opportunity to take action. I encourage all of us and each of our clients and partners to think about how we can make a difference. Together, I know we will.
As many have stated, we all have more work to do and more to learn about how we can make this a more equitable society. Among actions we at RF|Binder need to take, we will more fully and deeply support organizations that work to advance social justice and of course focus even more on our own diversity and inclusion initiatives.
We are living in very troubling times, but I am an optimist and do believe we will get through this together. What is critical is that we don’t just stand by and silently watch what is going on. Each of us can make a difference in many ways, as we work to ensure we create a society here in America that truly supports justice and equality for all.
