In solidarity with our Black community

These are dark days, made darker still by the events of this week. Our hearts have been left broken by the senseless murder of George Floyd. And by the deaths of Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and so many other Black lives.

At Atlantic, we are committed to uncovering and celebrating the stories of our varied human existence. This is a commitment we have made across our organization, and it is something we work at every day. We recognize that we can only accomplish this work by embracing diversity, equity, inclusion and justice. Doing so allows us to tell stories that better reflect the diverse perspectives in our vibrant New York City community – letting audiences see themselves in our work while encouraging them to gain new understanding of others. It also allows us to cultivate a diverse range of students, theatergoers and theater-makers that will continue to champion great, inclusive theater long after their time at Atlantic.

But to do that work, and to do that work well, we must acknowledge that we stand on the heels of a long history of systemic racism and trauma. Let us be very clear: there is no place for racism and anti-Blackness of any kind in this world. It is abhorrent and counter to our guiding principles as an organization.

We urge you to take action. There are so many businesses to support, causes to rally behind, rallies to attend. Members of our staff have made donations to the Minnesota Freedom Fund, Reclaim the Block, and Black Visions Collective.

To our Black friends, artists, students, staffers, and colleagues: we see you, and we stand firmly in solidarity with you today and in each day to come.

#BlackLivesMatter
#SayTheirNames
#JusticeForGeorgeFloyd
#JusticeForBre
#IRunWithMaud

Sincerely,
All of us at Atlantic