June 3, 2020

At this moment when the world is watching and many Americans are hurting, angry, and full of despair, we stand with all those working to honor the memories of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, Sean Reed, Tony McDade, other Black people and others who have been killed at the hands of the police or who have been victimized by racist violence. We are committed to doing the difficult and necessary work to show that Black Lives Matter and to address systemic racism and inequality.

The O’Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law at Georgetown University exists to respond to the need for innovative solutions to the most pressing national and international health concerns. We believe that the law has been, and will remain, a fundamental tool for solving critical health problems. Today, we see the impact of anti-Black racism around the world and we are bolstered by the global solidarity demonstrated by people standing in support of Americans fighting to end it. Advancing health in the United States calls for structural changes that move away from over-reliance on policing and prisons to investments in communities and changes that increase equity in economic opportunity, housing, and health. We are reflecting on how we can do more to elevate racial justice and address structural inequities within our work and organization. We are committed to advancing solutions that highlight and address racial disparities in health care access and outcomes, that highlight the essential role of communities themselves in effecting change, and that meaningfully contribute to an America where all people without regard to race or ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, immigration status, criminal justice history, or economic status can feel safe, participate freely and equally in our society, and pursue their dreams.