By the Bi-College News Editorial Board
To the Bi-College community of Haverford and Bryn Mawr,
In light of the nationwide protests in response to the police murder of George Floyd, the Bi-College News affirms its utmost solidarity with the Black community on campus, at home, and across the world. We condemn the blatant displays of white supremacy and police brutality that have resulted in the murders of countless Black Americans, including Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, Tony McDade, Riah Milton, and Dominique Re’emie Fells. As a student organization, we pledge to make anti-racism central to our mission by amplifying the voices of marginalized and oppressed individuals within our community.
We will work to improve our platform in the following ways:
- Covering issues facing the Black community year-round, not just when it becomes the focus of the media.
- Calling attention to the history and experiences of BIPOC at Haverford and Bryn Mawr.
- Reaching out to the Black community on campus to ensure our reportage accounts for all perspectives in the Bi-Co.
- Continuing our practice of capitalizing the “B” in “Black” whenever it appears in our articles to convey the importance of race in our reportage.
- Including contact information in our print editions and website for affinity groups to increase accessibility for all Bi-Co students.
This list is far from conclusive. The Bi-Co News will continue to search for ways to address racism in our newspaper, especially by encouraging diversity in our newsroom and providing resources for readers who want to advocate for anti-racism.
From the members of the Bi-College News of Bryn Mawr and Haverford Colleges, we extend our support and gratitude to those protesting in cities large and small across the country, especially as COVID-19 prevents many who wish to protest from doing so for fear of infection. Sadly, police brutality has proven equally dangerous. Peaceful protestors have suffered appalling injuries from a law enforcement apparatus that behaves less like a peacekeeping force and more like an invading army. Even in a time of global pandemic and police militarization, it is crucial to shine a light on systemic injustice whenever and wherever it appears.
As a newspaper, we are disappointed by the broader media’s failure to cover the aftermath of George Floyd’s murder in a constructive manner. Rioting and looting have received far too much attention, while peaceful protests and the everyday violence perpetrated on Black bodies remain largely ignored. Moreover, our current 24-hour news cycle fails to expose the systemic racism that Black Americans must navigate everyday. As a newspaper beholden to the diverse array of students in the Bi-Co, we see it as our responsibility to report on the most pertinent issues confronting our community, especially those that are routinely ignored. We pledge to devote as much time, energy, and ink as possible to the lived realities of Black students.
Black lives matter. Black trans lives matter. Black futures matter. Black communities matter. That these have become politically charged statements shows the massive work we must all do to expunge white supremacy from ourselves, our discourse, our institutions, and our communities. The Bi-Co News stands in solidarity with the Black community, and we aspire to be part of the solution to the myriad plights of Black Americans. We invite our readers to join us on this long journey of self-education and advocacy. Only by reckoning with the racism that permeates our society can we ever hope to build a world where all are truly free.
Sincerely,
The Bi-College News
Image credit: Black Lives Matter
