Good Afternoon. My name is Ana-Alicia Lopez and this is my partner and husband Chris Howard. Chris and I are the founders of The House of Music Therapy, and we would like to make an announcement today on behalf of ourselves and our business.
I can’t breathe… These are the dying words of George Floyd that fell silent among his murderers, but today resonate loudly not just to a nation but to a global community.
We at The House of Music Therapy believe the systemic police brutality targeted toward people of color must come to an end today. We demand justice for George Floyd and all people of color who have been brutalized by police and continued acts of racism. We believe, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” To be silent is to be complicit.
We also call for children of all ages and abilities to be educated about the perils of racism, and the inequities in our society today, for not every child is privileged enough to not need to learn about these things for their own safety. We believe that this education is critical to overcoming the challenges in our community today, and we will commit to doing our part in supporting this education.
George Floyd’s murder is yet another manifestation of a system that devalues the lives of Black people, and we will not stand for it. We call on all Music Therapists, healthcare workers and small business owners to educate your community and stand up vocally in support of the Black Lives Matter Movement.
We stand in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter Movement as we continue to practice: We’re not black, but we see you
We’re not black, but we hear you
We’re not black, but we stand with you