Black Lives Matter

A.C.T. Stands with the Black Community

Friday, May 29, 2020

Dear Bay Area: We want to acknowledge the trauma our country and many of you are experiencing with the continued horrific and unnecessary deaths of Black people.

A.C.T. strives to be a company committed to equity, diversity and inclusion. We recognize that systemic racism exists and that it needs to be intentionally and diligently unwound and fought against. We believe that Black Lives Matter, and that we are responsible for making space that cultivates empathy, gives voice and serves to empower and change.

Black people make the art we share. Black people are on our staff, sit on our board, attend our performances, teach, study, and train at A.C.T. and deserve self-determination, to feel safe and to have vigilant support.

We encourage us all to support and learn from the work in the aftermath of the recent killings of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Breonna Taylor in Louisville, and Ahmaud Arbery in Glynn County, Georgia as well as what Christian Cooper named as “the underlying current of racism” in our country; please also support Black-led organizations in San Francisco and throughout the Bay Area community. Continue to do your own anti-racism work as well. Take care of yourself and each other.

We can make a positive difference through direct action and care.

We are all hurting in different ways, and we just want you to know we are aware and to encourage all of us to support each other and to be in solidarity with our Black colleagues, audiences, stakeholders, neighbors, friends and family.