A Statement From Mayor Victoria Woodards on Day of Mourning and Lament

Mayor Victoria Woodards' statement marks June 1, 2020, as a Day of Mourning and Lament, honoring over 100,000 lives lost to COVID-19 while also addressing the recent death of George Floyd. Living as an African-American woman, she articulates her profound pain and the need for community action against systemic racism, identifying it as a virus that claims lives alongside COVID-19. Woodards encourages Tacoma residents to rise against police brutality and engage in the long-standing fight for social justice, highlighting the moment as a critical tipping point in history. She acknowledges the city's increasing empathy and collective strength, witnessed during the COVID-19 response and recent demonstrations. The mayor calls for more allies and peaceful expressions of justice, urging citizens to take action against injustice.

Emphasizing that the work to confront 400 years of systemic racism is heavy, she invites everyone to share the burden of change. Woodards reinforces Tacoma's identity as a compassionate community, capable of powerful transformations. Her message serves as a hopeful call to action, urging unity and collective responsibility.