A week after the death of George Floyd in the United States, sparking protests from the Black Lives Matter movement around the world, we at Christian Aid are even more determined of our mission to tackle the root causes of poverty and injustice.
Our mission is rooted in the belief that every human being is made in the image of God and has innate dignity. This belief has been at the foundation of our commitment to tackling poverty and injustice throughout our 75-year history. Our voice has stood firm and in solidarity with marginalised communities from the time we were established. We supported the work of Rev. Dr Martin Luther King Jr in the 1960s during the civil rights movement. We created the Southern African Coalition to demand an end to apartheid in the 1980s.
The manner and circumstances of the death of George Floyd should wake all of us up to the reality that these long-fought battles for justice for all are far from over.
As a movement of people motivated by our faith to work tirelessly for dignity, equality and justice for the most marginalised groups in the world, we are outraged that globally, inequality and injustice persist – and that when it comes to climate change, crippling debt or lack of healthcare provision, black and brown people are consistently left at the bottom of the pile.
Our message is simple: George Floyd’s life mattered; and black lives matter everywhere. Just as we have stood with those who fight for social justice throughout our history, in 2020, we stand with all people of peace who believe that Black Lives Matter and are committed to bringing about desperately needed systemic change in every society in the world where communities are marginalised.