Black Lives Matter.
George Floyd's murder is not a stand-alone exhibit of police brutality in our country, it's part of a relentless pattern.
The staff at the Berkshire Food Co-op can not pretend that everything is okay. We have a voice and it is time that we use it to speak out against racial injustice, violence and discrimination. As a community supported organization that constantly works to empower our neighbors, we recognize it is our responsibility to oppose racism by taking action.
Berkshire Food Co-op stands in solidarity with Black communities across the country. It's our responsibility as humans to support our community - specifically the Black community who is hurting and needs our support right now.
We have chosen to donate to Campaign Zero, a platform to end police brutality in America, and we encourage you to do the same. We challenge you to speak up, take action, be an ally and listen.
We call upon you to support peaceful demonstrations in any way you can. Donations and protests are important to the movement, but we know these may not be an option for everyone. Here are just a few things you can do to take action in other ways:
Donate medical supplies for those working as medics at the protests
Make or buy some food to feed people who are part of the protests
Volunteer to distribute food and water
Educate those around you
Help with transportation to and from protests
Offer to watch the children of organizers or protestors
Share links to resources - bail funds, safety precautions, updates
Write articles in support of the protests
Organize within your job or community for equitable practices
And confront racism wherever you see it.
Standing up against racism may sometimes feel uncomfortable, but our current reality needs to change. Your help in dismantling systemic racism is a critical step.
As a grocery store, one way we can help is by supporting Black-owned businesses - especially now in the midst of a global health crisis that is disproportionately affecting Black communities (21% of Black-owned businesses have said they don’t think they’ll survive the pandemic, compared to 5% of white-owned businesses).
Our plan is to increase the presence of Black-owned businesses on our own shelves. This plan runs parallel to the Fifteen Percent Pledge, which calls on major retailers to designate 15% of their shelf space to Black-owned businesses.
We pledge to bring 50 more Black-owned businesses to our shelves by July 1, 2020. We’ll be highlighting these brands on social media as they hit the shelves, and you’ll find signs next to the product in the store to let you know who’s behind the great food you’re about to buy.