Editorial: Black lives matter

Black lives matter.

This is not a political statement. This is not subjectivity, nor is it journalistic malpractice to express this sentiment. Black lives matter and will continue to be valued whether or not individuals may or may not believe in this statement.

The purpose of journalism, broadly, is to establish and communicate factual information. This purpose should not be conflated with partisanship nor poorly executed neutrality. Journalism is meant to recognize, as best as humanly possible, the truth.

Assuming a false neutrality around social issues is propaganda and catastrophically harmful to political and social movements. More importantly, it is damaging to livelihoods. The truth is Black lives matter.

Racism is not an issue of amiability or lack thereof. It is a systemic issue that pervades performative activism— bandaid solutions to decades of governmental failures on behalf of the Black community.

Justice, unity, and change are desperately needed to combat this moral failure of police brutality and institutions that benefit from white supremacy.

The Black Lives Matter protests, just like those for women’s suffrage and voting rights, the latter recently reaching its 100 year anniversary in the United States, have been beneficial to the cause and dangerous for those involved. It takes courage to stand up every day and fight back.

Pacer Times stands with the protestors and Black Lives Matter movement. We hope that one day these struggles will be worth the pain.

Pacer Times believes in a better future. We believe that black lives matter.

Once more, but forever stood by: Black lives matter.