The class of 2021 wrote the following document following the death of George Floyd and comment on the Black Lives Matter Movement. Emily explains:

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We’ve been incredibly saddened by the murder of George Floyd and the continuing pattern of police brutality and discrimination against black people, not just across America but in our own country too, which is again at the forefront of public conversation. Whilst it may seem that as young people people living in the UK there is a limited amount of change we can contribute to the issue, what we can definitely do is write and educate. Too often young people shy away from voicing their opinions on social and political issues because they feel that they don’t have a holistic view of the problem, or a firm enough grasp on statistics and facts to back up their argument when challenged. This article aims to inform and educate, and to give our friends and peers the confidence to speak out on current events like the Black Lives Matter movement, secure in their knowledge and in their awareness of the specific problems and solutions within the wider issue. Most importantly, it is our utmost hope that this article will provide an alternative view to those cynical, disapproving or wary of the Black Lives Matter movement and its aims. Racism is a multi-faceted issue. It is not a relic of the past, it is active in the civil laws that protect us, in the constitution we uphold, in the books we read, in the education we receive and in the language we use. Sometimes racism is malicious, sometimes it is unintentional, sometimes it is unconscious, but it is always damaging, and we should aim to challenge its presence and its perpetuation in whatever way we can, no matter how big or how small. I am so grateful to everyone who has been involved in the crafting of this article, and more widely to the activists, charities, communities and campaigners who have brought this issue to light and continue to tackle the issues of police brutality and discrimination on the frontline. Someday we hope to see the permanent eradication of racism and discrimination, both socially and institutionally, but there is still a long road ahead. In the meantime, keep reading, keep supporting, keep campaigning and keep having difficult conversations, both with yourself and with others. Everything counts.

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Click on this link to read on:

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