In Solidarity: An Open Letter on the murder of George Floyd

We, the Part W collective, speak out against the murder of George Floyd and the violent actions of the police. We stand in solidarity and call for others to join with us in shouting out that black lives matter. We are appalled and heartbroken by what we are seeing unfolding in America right now.

We will not stand by and be passive witnesses to black people and minority ethnic groups being repressed, punished and murdered for the colour of their skin. We will not wait to offer up our support to those who are being oppressed, hoping someone else will speak out for us. We are speaking up – on behalf our group, our friends and our wider world family.

Together, we are a collective of people who work in the design and the built environment sectors. We are acutely aware of the fact that cities and spaces are interlaced with inequalities that see those who are poor and those from minority backgrounds having a disproportionate lack of access to good housing, to safe streets, a lack of access to sustainable transportation, to green space and to clean air. Inequality is threaded through the very fabric of our cities and towns and as we are seeing right now in America this is mirrored in policy, policing and societal inequities that see black people and ethnic minority groups being treated unequally to white people.

Right now, during this time of global pandemic that has turned upside down the lives of so many, some people are longing for a sense of ‘normal’ to resume. But we realise that for millions of African Americans, the ‘normal’ means injustice, bigotry and harassment.

We want all people to be able to wend their way through their cities, safe in the knowledge they will not be attacked whilst out for a walk. We want all parents to let their children play in the street or visit the local park, feeling safe that their children will come home. We want joggers to be able to run freely through their home town, knowing they will not be killed. We want cities to safely host peaceful protests, without those peaceful protestors being assaulted for standing tall and speaking out. We want to look out onto a world where all villages, towns and cities are safe places for all people. Everyone should be able to go about their business without being targeted or suspected, simply because of their race. Systematic, political and cultural change must happen, right now. 

It is not right for white people to sit idly by, thinking this is someone else’s problem. Our belief is that the suffering of others leaves us all weaker, not stronger. Our ways of life are richer when there is true democracy and respect of civil rights and our future is more – not less – secure when people are freed of oppression. There is more joy, more richness and more value in a world when all people are treated equally. We wish for all our black and under represented colleagues and friends, to know we stand alongside them in solidarity and support. We call on our industry leaders to voice their horror at the mistreatment of others. We ask our media to consider its role and step up its contribution to making visible the suffering of others. For those who are able to do so, we encourage you to speak out – on behalf of all those who cannot. We invite you all to offer up your support, your solidarity and hold on to your wider sense of hope.

Part W // 1 June 2020