Standing in solidarity with those demanding a more equitable world

We state unequivocally: Black Lives Matter. They have always mattered. They will always matter. But ever since Black people were forcibly brought to this country 400 years ago, Black Americans have not been treated as though their lives matter. Black Americans have been enslaved, disenfranchised, deprived of reproductive freedom, denied access to housing and the means of generating wealth, disproportionately imprisoned, targeted with police brutality, and many more injustices.

George Floyd’s horrific murder and the unjustified killings of thousands of other Black Americans at the hands of police are grotesque examples of how institutionalized racism continues to oppress Black communities across this nation. We are inspired by the protests to demand change and justice, and we are especially heartened by the strong response of the Bend community. 

A fundamental part of the BCD Initiative’s vision is for the Bend Central District to become an inclusive neighborhood where people from a variety of socio- economic, cultural, ethnic, and generational backgrounds thrive. To achieve this vision, we must work to repair the historical inequities that cause the equity gaps we documented in our comments to the Urban Renewal Advisory Board (URAB) in March. We stand in solidarity with those fighting to build a more equitable world, and we will continue to advocate for new models of urban revitalization which support community wealth-building through an equity lens.