To the editor:

The Lawrence City Commission is to be commended for signing a statement that included “…solidarity with Black Lives Matter, Standing Rock and all those oppressed.” And a “thank you” for taking the time and effort to write a formal letter. Many faith communities, universities (including KU), environmental groups and cities are becoming increasingly aware of the need to address racism today. They do not want to continue to be derailed, through various means, the questions raised by the historical consequences of the theft of land from Indigenous people, who were either killed or removed, and the millions of Africans who became an economic resource in the making of the United States.

The need to curtail the flow of oil is painful for a society addicted to the use of such energy. The need to respect the integrity of Native Americans has again been curtailed through such addiction. The priority of profit again looms, without being questioned. And for African Americans, the history has been from slavery, Jim Crow laws, to an extraordinary incarceration of the black population. The continuation of the master/slave hierarchy is the result.

Being in solidarity with both blacks and Native Americans can result in more actions taken to address their concerns, including learning to listen and not assuming what is best without acknowledging the results of our nation’s history.