In observance of Black History Month, Ann Toback, CEO of the Workers Circle released this statement:
February 28, 2023
Black History Month is an opportunity for our community to evaluate how well our country has met its responsibilities to provide equal opportunity, protection from discrimination, and civil liberties to its Black citizens. Evaluating whether Black citizens of the United States are being provided equal rights and protections should happen every day in the Halls of Congress and state houses across the nation. However, we acknowledge we are not living in an ideal world, and the reality of the injustice and racism in our country charges us not only to evaluate, but to act—this month and every month.
The brutal police murder of Tyre Nichols makes it clear we must demand a multiracial democracy that delivers on rights long denied Black Americans. Following the horrific murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery in June of 2020, the Workers Circle made an explicit Pledge of Solidarity in Dismantling Racism in which we committed to “stand with Black-led organizations and movements who have pioneered the way toward the America we must become; an America where Black lives matter; an America that ends the centuries worth of unrelenting harm through overt and institutional violence against Black people; an America that is prepared to repair that damage using every means at hand.”
Holding our country and its government accountable to its promise to defend the rights and freedoms of its Black citizens has been a promise the Workers Circle has upheld throughout its history. From our active partnership with the Black labor movement in the 1920s to the numerous members we sent to the March on Washington in the 1960s to our leadership in advocacy and activism today.
I invite you to make use of our newly launched Racial Justice page. There, you’ll find educational programs, essays, videos, public policy statements, and more. The Workers Circle is committed to the cause of racial justice and we invite you to join us in our work as a partner in the national movement to end systemic racism in the United States.
As Black History Month draws to a close, we are inspired to keep fighting for racial justice, invigorated by strong partnerships, new efforts, and shared activism in the year to come.
About the Workers Circle
Founded 122 years ago, the Workers Circle (formerly known as the Workmen’s Circle) is a social justice organization that powers progressive Jewish identity through Jewish cultural engagement, Yiddish language learning, multigenerational education, and social justice activism. For over a century we have provided this 360-degree approach to Jewish identity-building. Through contemporary cultural programs, strategic social justice campaigns, vibrant Yiddish language classes, interactive educational experiences and more, we connect Jewish adults, kids and families of all affiliations with their cultural heritage, working to build a better and more beautiful world for all. Learn more at www.circle.org.