Statement By Roots & Shoots Youth Leaders on Racial Injustice in The U.S.

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By on Youth Power

Written by René LaPointe Jameson, Roots & Shoots Roots & Shoots Youth Council USA Member 2014-2020

Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said, “In the end, we will not remember the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.” We cannot be silent about racial injustice.

Roots & Shoots is committed to making the world a better place for people, animals, and the environment. To support all people, we must acknowledge race and how it impacts people by providing unearned privileges to some and oppression to others. Confronting society’s structural racism is uncomfortable but allowing discomfort to prevent addressing inequality is worse.

We urge members of the R&S community to take action: organize projects and fundraisers, educate ourselves, empathize, and listen to oppressed voices. We stand with the Black community and those fighting for Black lives to be protected and respected. Black Lives Matter!

Signed,

Members of the 2020 United States Roots & Shoots Roots & Shoots Youth Council USA

René is a sophomore at Tufts University and has been a member of the Roots & Shoots Youth Council USA for five years. Her favorite Roots & Shoots project was designing and building a community garden at her high school. The garden raised awareness about food insecurity and the produce was donated to a local food bank. Additionally, René has organized food drives, aided in banning plastic bags in her town, and takes particular interest in inspiring other youth to realize their leadership abilities. At university, René is working to make higher education more accessible and inclusive for all. She plans to use her environmental engineering degree to further address environmental and racial injustice. René has received her town’s Community Service Award three times, the President of the United States’ Volunteer Service Award, and is a 2016 HerLead Fellow.

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