On June 16th, following the murder of George Floyd, the YWCA of Southeastern Massachusetts began offering a Community Reading Circle and book Discussion on racism. The discussion is hosted by Andrea M. Garr-Barnes, MSW, an Equity and Inclusion Facilitator (and NAACP New Bedford Branch member); Jamie Berberena, Community Advocate; and Jordan Latham of the YWCA. Registration for the discussion group, which now numbers over 100 Zoom participants, is closed. The group is now reading Robin DiAngelo's White Fragility: Why it's so hard for White People to Talk about Racism and will be meeting for the third time on Tuesday.

In Minneapolis four police officers ignored pleas from the public to stop asphyxiating George Floyd, who died handcuffed as one of them knelt on his neck for nine full minutes. This followed in short order the lynching of Ahmaud Arbery in Georgia by a police officer and his son, and a shoot-first, ask-questions-later home invasion by a SWAT team in Kentucky which killed an 26 year-old EMT, Breonna Taylor. These murders were the last straw for many folks, and the country has erupted in protest which, in retrospect, should surprise no one. Thoughts and prayers won’t cut it this time....