RILA Statement on Anti-racism

The Rhode Island Library Association (RILA) condemns the actions of police brutality in Minneapolis that led to the horrific death of George Floyd, and stands with the Black Caucus of the American Library Association (BCALA) and the American Library Association (ALA) in condemning violence and racism towards black people and all people of color. For far too long, we have witnessed the destruction of lives and communities at the hands of those who feel that people's skin color determines their worth.  

We condemn the persistent threats and systemic oppression that people of color face daily in this country and around the world.   

We affirm libraries as champions of democracy and a free society and will continue to stand up, with, and for people of color in our profession and in our community. 

RILA believes in advocacy, collaboration, diversity, equity, inclusion, equal access for all, and intellectual freedom. 

RILA commits to work towards anti-racist education and will use our collective voice to speak against biased behaviors that limit the rights of people of color to equitable treatment in local, state, and national policies. In the darkness, we will bring the light.  

The RILA Executive Board

The Rhode Island Library Association is a member organization and includes the following sections: Cornucopia of Rhode Island (CORI), a library community of color, the Coalition of Library Advocates (COLA), and the School Librarians of Rhode Island (SLRI).