Standing Together Against Racist Violence

Black Lives Matter

We stand in solidarity with our Black colleagues, artists, volunteers, and audiences and condemn all acts of racism, discrimination, and senseless violence against the entire Black community.

Our mission statement is not just empty words – we’ve aligned our values with providing safe spaces, including diverse perspectives, and presenting socially relevant theater. Our entire community benefits from the African American performers, designers, and directors who bring our plays to life. Those valued members who make up the Company of Gloucester Stage, mean we have a responsibility to stand up right now and shout alongside them: Black Lives Matter.

Armed white men continue to provoke and project misconduct onto Black men & women who are innocent, and then use self-defense as justification to suffocate or gun them down. This is one part of an entire culture of systemic racism that must be dismantled.

Until the color of a person’s skin does not obstruct their freedom to live without fear in America, let us dedicate ourselves to justice.

“When an individual is protesting society’s refusal to acknowledge his dignity as a human being, his very act of protest confers dignity upon him.” -Bayard Rustin

We’re asking ourselves what we can do to increase the momentum of change?

READ

For those who are unable to be on the front lines, we must educate ourselves. Two books we recommend right now –

Between the World and Me by Ta’Nehisi Coates

White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard For White People To Talk About Racism by Robin DiAngelo

WRITE

Riots erupted in cities across the nation in response to the assisination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on April 4th, 1968. On the sixth day of protests, the Civil Rights Act of 1968 was passed. Write your representative – demand justice today.

Who is my Representative? Click Here for Contact Info

Who is my Senator? Click Here for Contact Info

INVEST

Your support has the power to do wonderful things. The Minnesota Freedom Fund has received over $20million dollars in donations. They are now directing donors to this list of worthy causes: CLICK HERE

Additionally we recommend supporting the NAACP of Boston: CLICK HERE

What Action is Gloucester Stage Company Taking to become an Anti-Racist Organization?

Thank you to the individuals who spoke up and challenged us to act and disrupt business as usual at Gloucester Stage. We value the commitment on the part of our Boston colleagues and artists to encourage our vigilance in eliminating racism and appreciate your support in making real change.

Effective August 1st, 2020, Gloucester Stage is moving forward aggressively with our Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion standards and Anti-Racism road map. We are committed to sharing this plan with the public by November 1st, 2020 and making space for public input thereafter, realizing that this will be a living document that can adapt and grow as our community requires further change.

The steps we’re taking right now and leading up to November, are to engage a consultant to lead this cultural change with us. The first draft of the EDI and Anti-Racism Plan has been written, and it is ready for BIPOC & LGBTQ+ artists, who have both worked with Gloucester Stage and who have been unknowingly disenfranchised by our systems in the past, to review, provide feedback, and guide change. We are grateful to artists who have had dialogue with us on social media and have offered to continue participating in this work with us. All artists will be compensated for their time.

Additionally, the cast of The Way North asked for more representation, now, in the storytellers we present this season. We will be including an additional NeverDark this season in September written by a BIPOC woman. Further, we look forward to our 2021 season when we can engage more BIPOC artists, staff, and vendors to continue presenting stories that are representative of a much greater and more diverse experience. We are prioritizing this work and will be increasing our transparency as we affect change.

– Robert Walsh, AD

We will use this space on our website to continue to update this action plan