We stand with Black lives and express our solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement. The events of the past weeks have indelibly made clear that there is systemic abuse and violence toward minority communities all across this nation by members of law enforcement and people of privilege. And at least for these times, “Silence is complicity.” I apologize and take full responsibility for the WCPA’s slow response to this critical moment for social justice in Worcester County and our country.

The WCPA does not nor has it ever supported abuse by law enforcement or other groups against any community, including Black, Indigenous & People of Color, or LGBTQIA+ people. Over the next few weeks, the WCPA Board and Executive Committee will examine whether overt or systematic racism exists within the WCPA and how to respond. We will also look more closely at how the organization can better reach into our communities to affect positive change to these same issues.

Since we are a poetry organization, I offer this link to Jericho Brown’s poem published recently on the New York Times website: ‘Say Thank You Say I’m Sorry’.

Rodger Martin, President
Worcester County Poetry Association