ASM Statement on #BlackBirdersWeek

Members of the American Society of Mammalogists are deeply saddened and angered by continued acts of racism and violence against Black people, particularly in the outdoor spaces where we and our colleagues in other fields of zoology and ecology conduct our field research. We are committed to building a better future in which racism no longer exists, and we are working to ensure that every person is welcome in the field of mammalogy. We are heartened to see the outpouring of support on social media for the #BlackBirdersWeek campaign, and we encourage our members and colleagues to support #BlackBirdersWeek--and the humans highlighted by #BlackBirdersWeek--throughout the week and into the future. Our world, its biodiversity, and our Society will benefit when those who are #BlackInNature can meet their full potential, and that requires work on our part to build a better and fully inclusive Society. We will continue to do that work, and we welcome those who are committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion to join us.

You can follow #BlackBirdersWeek on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram using the hashtags #BlackBirdersWeek and #BlackAFinSTEM, and the handle @BlackAFinSTEM. There are also daily hashtags throughout the week associated with new events (detailed in the graphic below). You do not need to be on Twitter to follow this campaign; simply visit twitter.com and type #BlackBirdersWeek (or your preferred hashtag) into the search box. Check out the "Top" posts (with the most views and likes) or follow the most recent posts by clicking "Latest". You can also explore the profiles of the people using these hashtags, as well as their pictures and videos.  Let’s all work together to make the science of mammalogy representative of society at large.

- President Douglas Kelt, President-Elect Enrique Lessa, the ASM Ombudspersons, and the ASM Human Diversity Committee

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