Integral Yoga stands in solidarity with the voices of BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) that systematic racism and injustice due to police violence must end. We will not stand by and watch the murder of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and the many others who have suffered from our country’s failure to address the racial inequality that has plagued our society for centuries.
A recent message from the Interfaith Council of San Francisco (see quote below) articulates our intention to join with many others in supporting changes that value all peoples, regardless of race, eradicate all forms of oppression and recognize the unity behind all diversity.
“The overwhelming national response to George Floyd’s death, manifested in peaceful protests, not only honors his life, but powerfully expresses the threshold of tolerance we as Americans have reached for injustice, systematic racism and discrimination against people of color. This powerful resurgence of a long overdue civil rights movement will not be silenced until structural change is realized. We lift our voices and stand in unity and solidarity with our sisters and brothers of color in proclaiming that BLACK LIVES MATTER.” ~Interfaith Council of San Francisco
Join Integral Yoga for: Responding to Racism – A Spiritual Perspective on Sunday, June 14 from 7:30–9:00pm ET/4:30–6:00 pm PT: a free panel and community discussion hosted by the Integral Yoga Institute of San Francisco.
Integral Yoga Minister Kamala Itzel Hayward will speak on the essential role that acknowledging racism and other forms of oppression plays in the spiritual journey. Mazin Jamal Mahgoub will follow with a talk on effective activism grounded in spiritual principles. Swami Ramananda will moderate the discussion.
For the last 2 months, we have been gathering to send out prayers for all those who are suffering from the pandemic. We will continue to do so and keep equally in our prayers all those suffering from racial injustice. We commit ourselves to searching our own hearts for prejudice of any kind.
Om Shanti. Peace to all,
Swami Ramananda
President, Integral Yoga Institute of San Francisco
