Statement from Beyond Memory | Photography on Recent Events

June 2, 2020

For almost a decade, Beyond Memory | Photography has provided photographic services documenting love amongst families and communities regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, education, or social background.

With grieving hearts, we find ourselves called to speak to issues that affect our members, their families, and the communities we love. The events that have unfolded in recent weeks have brought nations across the world to a deep mourning over the state of the human condition and acts of injustice.

We believe every person has a right to be seen and heard as a valuable and vital citizen of the world and to be treated with dignity and respect. We believe every person has a right to be protected from injustice, from harm, and from hatred. No one should ever have the right to make you feel unsafe to live your life or for being alive. We long for a world that fosters peace and we encourage all to empathetic dialogues with respect and understanding.

Communities across America, and even the world, face unjust discrimination every day. The soul-agonizing pain that nations everywhere are justly feeling is a daily reality felt by many families and peoples. We encourage you to educate yourselves on responding to injustice and safe bystander interventions. Know what you can do and create a plan for action. Practice until it is second nature, so when you witness oppressive interpersonal violence or harassment you are ready.

The Southern Poverty Law Center has a great Guide to Bystander Intervention here.

"By looking beyond the lens and working together, we can do more than record change - we can help create a fair, safe, and prosperous society for all" (PPA).

Sincerely,

Beyond Memory | Photography