Project Bread stands in sorrow and solidarity with Americans who are devastated by the violent insurrection on our Capitol.
The attack on our nation’s Capitol and our democracy shook me to the core. I watched with fear as friends and colleagues with whom Project Bread works to advance hunger solutions were in danger. I watched with disgust as white supremacy was on full display, unchecked. And I watched with anger, as I recognized that people of color, who still face oppression and the repercussions of our nation’s long history of racism, experienced this trauma 9 months into a pandemic that has disproportionately harmed their health and financial wellbeing.
Any efforts to suppress our democratic process also weakens our ability to address the challenges families across the nation are facing, particularly right now. As a country, we cannot solve critical systemic inequities like food insecurity and poverty without affirming our democracy.
And while we at Project Bread are shaken by this week’s events, our commitment to being anti-racist in all components of our work is unwavering. We remain driven by our conviction that everyone has a right to access and afford food with dignity. We know solving hunger is a critical step in building a more just and equitable society.
We are grateful for the leadership of our Massachusetts congressional delegation and the hope their dedication to democracy inspires. We thank them and their respective staff for courageously --and in unimaginable circumstances-- protecting our democracy. We look forward to continuing to partner with them to unravel racist systems that prevent people from meeting their most basic need - food.
Stay safe and stay present in the fight.
Erin McAleer
CEO