One Young World was created a decade ago to give a platform for change to brilliant young leaders, as the world’s senior leaders were failing them. Sadly, they are failing more than ever today as they fuel hate and xenophobia around the world.
As our One Young World Counsellor Desmond Tutu said: “If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor”.
We are sickened by the senseless racist murders of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Tony McDade, Breonna Taylor and all those who went before them. We are sickened by the fear that black people and people of colour live with the United States of America and many countries around the world today.
Structural racism causes violence and iniquities in every country in the world and is the cause of most of the poverty in the Global South as well as the Global North. We recommit to our fight for a more equal world with more responsible and effective leadership.
The One Young World Community comes from 196 countries, numerous different backgrounds, religions and cultures and stands united with the protestors as they express their anger and frustration at decades of racism and injustice in America. There is no place for racism in the United States of America or in the world. There is no place for injustice. There is no place for intolerance.
We join the One Young World Community, Ambassadors, Counsellors, Partners and Supporters in raising our voices to shout out against racism and injustice and demand an end to systemic racism and police brutality. Work is underway with One Young World Ambassadors everywhere who are driving this change. Where the law encourages or allows injustice it must be changed.
One Young World will continue to uplift the anti-racist movement, beginning with funding projects that specifically contribute to closing the gap in outcomes for Covid-19 patients which, at present, are significantly worse for black people, people of colour and indigenous people. We will continue to create and facilitate dialogue to be part of the societal change that is so desperately needed.
RIP George Floyd. May your tragic death be a catalyst to ending racism, injustice and intolerance.
The world needs changing. And as President Obama said, it’s up to a new generation of activists to change it. One Young World supports young leaders driving that change.