June 15, 2020

As a country, we are currently experiencing a double pandemic of a deadly virus and a disease of racism on Black communities across our nation. Most recently, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, and Rayshard Brooks have died by the hands of law enforcement or other falsely empowered Americans. As an organization, the Montgomery Housing Authority extends prayers and condolences to the families and friends of these victims.

The negative impact of Black citizens seeing other Black Americans murdered by the police or others can be traumatic. The prevalence of social media and technology has exposed the frequency, consistency and overall brutality of this violence on Black lives to the global stage.

The past few months have been nothing short of difficult. We are still experiencing a contagious and deadly global pandemic, which has disproportionately affected Black Americans. We hear the voices of the protesters and the demands for justice reform, including the immediate need to dismantle systematic racism. We support their call to action to overhaul the justice system to ensure that every citizen, regardless of race, is treated fairly.

MHA stands in solidarity and ready for action with Black communities everywhere – especially in Montgomery, where Black residents exceed 60% of the population. We are working to support neighborhoods, residents, community leaders and small businesses that have been negatively impacted by Covid-19 or structural racism. We will join residents, colleagues, elected officials and PHA stakeholders to prioritze, endorse and enact policies that promote racial equality. MHA will continue to support affordable housing and look for innovative ways to administer our programs. We will continue to serve our residents, as always, in the spirit of dismantling inequalities and stand fearlessly against systematic racism.

Black Lives Matter, Black Lives have always mattered, Black Lives will always matter. Our work will not be done until the Black communities across our nation feel safe, respected, supported, prosperous and whole.

-Damon E. Duncan, Chief Executive Officer