How does anyone make a post in times like these? How do we responsibly and appropriately approach the current state of affairs? Yet, our silence is our complicity. We recently received an anon asking us whether they’d be able to post any of the social media activism that their celebrities have posted, and we’re sure this is on the mind of many of our players right now, not just those who live in the United States, but everyone else where communities are taking up arms to fight against inequality and fight for justice.
We know that so many of you personally feel drawn to show support and speak out, be it through your own OOC causes or by making a post IC. We don’t want to ask you to not post anything or restrict you from voicing your support, because then we’d be silencing your voice, and we don’t want to do that. We want to amplify and uplift the voices that need to be heard, against a grave injustice that has affected many for centuries. Which is why, we at Audere, and we encourage you to do so too if you wish, are changing our icon to a blacked out one in solidarity with the black communities — in the fight against racism and the racist institutions that plague the world, because #blacklivesmatter.
We understand the importance and significance of #blackouttuesday and why many have chosen to join its cause, but please do not mistake its purpose! Black Out Tuesday is not about being silent for 24 hours: You are NOT supposed to be silent for 24 hours. The purpose of the observation is to silence music, art, sales, business, etc. posts for 24 hours so that the community that needs to, can spread the links for resources, aid, bail funds, and that relevant to movement. Which is why we ask you to not be silent or disappear for 24 hours! But we do ask that anything you post about the political climate right now; that it is being done for the right reasons and with the right intention: that you do not use to trivialize and conflate the cause for roleplay purposes, when it is a very real, very significant and very important issue right now.
If you have yet to: we encourage you to visit this link for more information on ways you can help: sign a petition, text or call (if in the United States), donate, and find more resources to educate yourself in this fight against racism and injustice.
Understand that our desire and decision to speak out is a reflection of the values we as admins, and people, hold. If you are uncomfortable with it, or do not agree… then maybe this isn’t the right group for you. We refuse to house racists and any of the sort, against the equality and justice.
We want justice. All lives can’t matter until black lives do.
“If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor.” — Desmond Tutu