Black Lives Matter

WEDS strongly supports the Black Lives Matter movement. The murder of George Floyd by the police was horrific, but sadly just one of many acts of police brutality against Black people. It’s all too easy for people in the UK to think this is a US problem. It’s not. The UK also has a problem with systemic anti-black racism, and we too have our own incidences of unjust treatment of Black British people by the police

WEDS stands with Black Lives Matter protesters. Protesting for rights during a pandemic in which the Black community are at disproportionately higher risk of fatality only serves to highlight the devastating impact of racism — that we live in a world where some people have to choose between risking their lives in one way, to try saving them in another.

Systemic racism is reflected in the tech industry too, in the low numbers of Black professionals who work in tech companies, particularly in senior positions, or get platforms to speak at conferences, or get investment for their startups or work in Venture Capital…

To folks who have supported our message about making startups inclusive for all and who aren’t sure how to respond to current events :-

If you are not Black and especially if you are white:

• publicly share your support for BLM, especially in white only spaces
• take this opportunity to learn about privilege and what it means to be anti-racist
• seek out and listen to Black people’s firsthand experiences — who do you follow on social media? What books/films/blogs/podcasts do you consume?
• donate to fundraising efforts if you can
• advocate for change by using your privilege to amplify the voices of those who aren’t being heard

In addition, if you are in a position of leadership in a startup:

• ask yourself, what have you done to acknowledge current events and be clear on your company’s position?
• ask yourself, what have you done to support your Black team members?
• …and if you don’t have any Black team members, now is a great time to ask yourself why.

Resources for education, petitions and fundraising

Black Lives Matter: A collaborative learning resource on matters of race, privilege and combating white supremacy by Gabby Menezes-Forsyth and Miriam Bennun

Anti-racist Resource Guide by Victoria Alexander, MEd

Anti-Racist Allyship Starter Pack by Tatum Dorrell, Matt Herndon and Jourdan Dorrell

Anti-racism resources by Sarah Sophie Flicker and Alyssa Klein

iNews article with list of UK-specific funds and petitions