The Downtown Baltimore Family Alliance stands with all the citizens protesting racism in Baltimore and across the country. Black Lives Matter! We kneel with all the officers and citizens who understand that George Floyd should still be alive today. We march with all the people from around the world that condemn structural racism and police brutality in all forms. We acknowledge that racism and over-policing go hand in hand in Baltimore. In far too many cases, citizens who should be protected by the police are killed. Furthermore, those same police officers are not held accountable for these deaths. 
We condemn police brutality in the strongest terms possible, and we are very proud that Baltimore has risen up and condemned it strongly. It is a strange sort of pride however because it is not enough. Not even close! 
The structural racism that permeates the City that we love is deeply entrenched. It permeates everything: certainly policing, but also our schools that are not given enough resources, our recreation facilities and our parks, our under-developed transit system, and even our healthcare, as we’ve seen from the inequities in COVID-19 fatalities. 
Knowing the history of Baltimore, and recognizing that Baltimore was a leader of segregationist policy and land covenants for the nation, helps to understand the position that we are now in. But, this awareness doesn’t fix the problem. It does however, give us the opportunity to be the greatest come-back story of the nation. We have the opportunity to again lead our country in policy. If we can do it, then anyone can. 
Protests bring attention to relevant issues, but, alone, they don’t solve them. Real change requires a coordinated effort over a sustained period. This includes many stakeholders, lots of effort, and strong solutions.
Baltimore’s children deserve a high quality education. Our city deserves transit that serves everyone - not just those who already have cars. And, our citizens deserve to live in safe neighborhoods, free from crime and over-policing, regardless of their skin pigment or financial status. 
We believe that everyone in Baltimore has been born with the same inalienable rights. We believe in the premise that this country was founded on that all men and women are created equal, even though this country has yet to live up to that standard. Perhaps most importantly, we believe that if we all work together, in pursuit of justice and excellence, that we will arrive there, together as one family, One Baltimore!
We are pleased to join you in your effort and welcome you to join us as well.