Library Statement of Support

The York College Library's statement of support for the Black Lives Matter movement.

York Library supports the Black Lives Matter movement and strongly condemns excessive and illegal use of force against African Americans by police.  Part of that support means we speak up whenever we see police violence taking place.  George Floyd, a resident of Minnesota, became yet another victim of brutality at the hands of police officers.  His death is disturbing and unacceptable.  How many more people have to die, how many more families have to lose their loved ones before we address the systemic racial injustice and discrimination that continues to plague our country?  We empathize with the anger and grief of the fathers, mothers, children, and friends who have lost loved ones to police brutality in the United States.  We are all in this together, and we cannot feel safe until black people and people of color are safe.  York Library supports patrons from a wide variety of cultural and economic backgrounds.  The American Dream that we seek is a place where ALL Americans, irrespective of their nationality, ethnicity, or skin color--can live without the fear of police brutality.   We must engage in an honest conversation and acknowledge that racial injustice and prejudice exist in our country.  We have made some progress, but there is still a significant amount of work that remains to be done.  As an organization we are committed to being active in this work and support our community.