The Medical Library Group of Southern California and Arizona (MLGSCA) condemns racism.
MLGSCA stands in solidarity with and voices support for our Black members, our members of color, and members of the MLA African American Medical Librarians Alliance (AAMLA) Caucus (Statement June 1, 2020) with regard to protests as a result of killings by police in the United States.
MLGSCA condemns the actions by the Minneapolis Police Department and killings of Black people by police. We also acknowledge the problem of White supremacy, systems of oppression, and institutionalized forms of racism that discriminate against Blacks and African Americans and create disparities in health care and medicine.
Racism is a public health crisis. We recognize the communities of color in Arizona and Southern California are disproportionately affected by inequities based in racism. Learning about racism in medicine and understanding our own privileges and biases are initial steps we can take as we advocate for change in MLGSCA, medical librarianship, and health care. The anti-racism and critical librarianship resource suggestions compiled by AAMLA and listed in the MLA Hospital Library Caucus Statement are a useful starting point.
The MLGSCA Advisory Council encourages MLGSCA members to speak up and unite to enact change in our profession, our communities, and our nation. We must all learn about anti-racism, engage in constructive conversations about racism in medicine and libraries, and act to create positive change.
We will continue this conversation with our membership about how we can address racism in our profession and in our communities.
Your MLGSCA Advisory Council