A Special Statement from the Community of Assumption

As a Catholic community devoted to the Gospel of Jesus and the vision of the Sisters of Mercy, we at Assumption High School are devastated by the racism and violence that have dominated recent news.  The tragic deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor, among many others, are stark reminders that we live in a world challenged by racism and other forms of injustice and are contradictory to the values of faith, compassion, integrity, and excellence that are pillars of Assumption’s mission.   

A hallmark of an Assumption education steeped in the Mercy charism calls us to help our students develop a strong voice to advocate for positive change to address the  Critical Concerns of the Sisters of Mercy: Earth; Immigration; Nonviolence; Racism; Women. A statement from The Sisters of Mercy reminds us that we must each be committed to acting as advocates, allies, and peacemakers.    

This is why we, the Community of Assumption, are compelled to stand together with our brothers and sisters of all races, creeds, and backgrounds in condemning all acts of racism and praying for peace in our local, national, and global communities. 

But condemnation is not enough.  As a Mercy school committed to educating young women to be strong leaders with the wisdom, compassion, and courage needed to address injustice in all its forms, it can never be enough.  Therefore, our priority this week has been providing our students with guidance and resources to grow both in their understanding and in their ability to respond during this difficult time.   

We shared these resources from the Sisters of Mercy with our students on Monday: 

• Anti-Racism Ideas Booklet – This resource provides specific things you can do to stand up against racism.  They range from the relatively easy, like “read the book White Like Me by Tim Wise,” to the more challenging, like “join a multiracial/multiethnic group that is involved in immigration issues.”   
• Books on Racism and Websites on Racism  
• Prayer Service and Reflection and Prayer on Racism and Non-Violence 

We reminded students of principles that guide our actions as a community: 

• No matter our color, racism is everyone’s business.  It’s a problem for ALL of us.  We are all called by the Gospel to stand against injustice.   
• We are blessed to live in a country in which an individual’s right to protest is protected by the U.S. Constitution.  But protesting even the greatest injustice using violence is never okay.  As Ghandi, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Dorothy Day, and others taught us, change can and does come through non-violent acts of courage and conscience.    

We shared concrete steps they can take to address the issue in their own lives: 

• Language is powerful, and we should use it carefully. We should be aware of our pronouns. If we find ourselves frequently using the words “they” or “them” when discussing these issues, we need to ask ourselves if we could be stereotyping.  “They” are just a collection of unique individuals, each with his or her own God-given dignity and worth.   
• Just as we are a community of women who reject being a bystander who lets sexual violence go unaddressed, we also must reject the kind of silence that gives racism a free pass.   We must speak up when something is not right.  Using the simple phrase, “That’s not okay,” can make it easier for us to speak up even when we are afraid.  For example, if someone we care about uses a racial slur, we can say something like, “It’s not okay with me to use that word/phrase/joke.  I need you to stop using that language or I can’t hang out any more.” 
• We should avoid labels and character judgments.  For instance, saying, “You are being racist” puts people on the defensive.  Instead, saying something like, “Not all black people/white people/police officers….”  By using this language, we counter a sweeping generalization with a statement that is 100% true and can’t be logically countered with facts. 
• We can never be “wrong” when discussing difficult issues when we comment on OUR own experience.  For instance, it can be helpful to say something like, “In my experience, I have found police officers to be kind and helpful whenever I have or my family has encountered them” or “In my experience, my white friends mean well but don’t completely understand what it’s really like to be part of a minority in a Catholic school.”  No one can argue that we didn’t have our own experiences.   
• We need to listen – even to those with whom we disagree.  After truly listening to understand – not just to prepare a come-back – we can bridge the gap by saying something like, “I hear you saying X.  I can see that you feel strongly about this.  However, in my experience . . . which is why I believe . . . .” 

At Assumption, we recognize that COVID-19 is not the only pandemic taking innocent lives in our country today.  Our community holds all those who suffer in prayer during this difficult time. Our Catholic faith and Mercy values call us not only to pray but also to teach our students how to step up and speak out in non-violent resistance to injustice in all its forms.  And we gratefully recognize the parents, students, families, and friends of Assumption who join with us in the important work.  Together as the Community of Assumption, we will make a difference.