Americans for the Arts Action Fund fully supports the statement and call to action for justice and equality of African American historian and national treasure Lonnie G. Bunch III, the Secretary of the Smithsonian and 2018 Americans for the Arts Nancy Hanks Lecturer on Arts and Public Policy In a June 7, 2020 article in The New York Times entitled "Floyd Case Forces Arts Groups to Enter the Fray," Secretary Bunch challenges cultural arts leaders nationwide “Will we join the struggle to seek justice and equality?” Americans for the Arts Action Fund says YES! Black Lives Matter.
Secretary Bunch goes on to ask “Will we heed the call of courageous figures throughout history who spoke out against slavery, marched on for voting rights, and sat in for basic equality? Will we challenge the nation to live up to its founding ideals? In the memory of those taken from us and for the good of the country, I hope that we do.”
Read the full New York Times article here.
Read Lonnie Bunch’s full statement of support here.
Read Americans for the Arts’ full statement of support here.