On Aug. 9, 17 Orcas residents and one Seattle-based visitor gathered on the Eastsound Village Green in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter event in Seattle.

When I moved to Orcas from Brooklyn, N.Y., I had friends here and felt comfortable in my new community. I also felt discomfort over the lack of “diversity.” I felt a Black Lives Matter rally here was appropriate because there’s still a real lack of equal treatment in our country based on the color of our skin, and it seems to me that all our voices are important in fostering respect, equal treatment and equality across the board. A rally here would honor and acknowledge the Black Lives Matter movement and provide an outlet for those not traveling to Seattle. I’m confident that the 18 of us at the rally represented many more in our community.

As white abolitionists of the 1800s were crucial in ending slavery, so are white people crucial now in demanding equal rights for black communities, Indigenous communities, and for all people in our country who still suffer from unequal treatment, economic poverty and lack of representation.

I’m well aware that women in the U.S. still don’t receive the same income as men doing the same work. Being of Jewish heritage, I’m aware of the oppression and suffering of my family only a century ago. Emigrating to the U.S. from Eastern Europe, it wasn’t easy but it was easier for them, having white skin.

So I found myself moved to stand in solidarity with my brothers and sisters in black communities nationwide. Our small group included people of Puerto Rican, Chinese, Japanese, Philippino, and Ojibwe heritage. We spoke from our hearts and talked about what we can do to support this effort going forward, speaking up, showing up, writing letters – whatever we can do.

If we were all together right now, and I had a glass in my hand, I would be lifting it to greater communication, understanding, respect and equality for all our neighbors, at home, across the U.S. and beyond our borders.

Sharon Abreu

Orcas Island