In service to our mission and our community, the Coalition shares the following message:
Black lives matter.
Inclusion matters.
Equality matters.
To the community members and protestors amplifying their voices following the recent horrific acts by law enforcement that led to the deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and all who came before them: we hear you, we believe you, and we value you.
Systemic racism in America isn’t just a civil rights issue, it’s also a public health issue.
Here at the Amputee Coalition, we know that black men and women are disproportionately affected by diseases, disorders, and traumas that lead to amputation. We are committed to the black community and to supporting the health and well-being of black men and women.
Those of us who come from a place of privilege have a responsibility to call out racism when we see and hear it, and take appropriate actions to dismantle structural bias and injustice. We must do so as we work for greater access to care, supports, and equality in health care, as we seek to educate health-care practitioners and families about the leading causes of limb loss, and as we support preventive measures especially when it comes to vascular disease and diabetes.
Limb loss or limb difference does not define a person’s future. It is, for the Amputee Coalition, the commonality that brings our community together to work as one. And we are proud of our community.
But what defines our future will be our actions and how we treat one another.
The Coalition stands with those who are affected as well as those in our community who are listening more, learning more, growing in knowledge, taking action, and working toward a more just future.