SAVMA Statement Release

To all veterinary students, veterinarians and veterinary staff and Black communities:

We see you. We hear you. We support you.  We stand in unity and solidarity with our Black communities and all communities of color in the fight for social justice. As an organization focused on creating lasting change and a better environment for our veterinary students through social impact, we stand for inclusion and against racism.

The Student American Veterinary Medical Association is a national organization whose mission is to guide, represent, and support veterinary students across the globe as they grow into veterinarians of the future. As the world is overcome with feelings of fear, worry, anger, and sadness, we will not sit in silence.  We will continue to promote inclusivity, equality, anti-discrimination, empathy, compassion, and unity for our students and our veterinary profession.  

As national protests are fighting the injustices of George Floyd, Charleston 9, Breonna Taylor, Ahmand Arbery, Michael Brown, Treyvon Martin, Aiyana Jones, Jordan Davis, Oscar Grant, and more, we hope and encourage our students to also prioritize their emotional, mental and physical health. 

Below are some available resources for further education, support, and wellbeing during this time of change.  Please comment below with any resources you have found valuable as well so that we can share with one another.

Resources for Students

*Our sharing of links, images or videos provided/maintained by others does not constitute endorsement: SAVMA does not endorse products or companies. The content is being shared on this page because SAVMA feels this topic would be relevant or appealing to this community.

Resources on Mental Wellbeing: 

• American Veterinary Medical Association Wellbeing Program: https://www.avma.org/resources-tools/wellbeing
• National Alliance on Mental Illness - https://nami.org/home

Rights and Safety during Protest -

• “Safety During Protests” by Amnesty International - https://www.amnestyusa.org/pdfs/SafeyDuringProtest_F.pdf

Resources for Legislative Steps

• AVMA Advocate - https://www.avma.org/advocacy/get-involved
• US House of Representatives - https://www.house.gov/representatives
• US Senate - https://www.senate.gov/general/contacting.htm
• Find your State Legislator - https://openstates.org/find_your_legislator/

Article Resources: 

• National Association for the Advancement of Colored People - https://naacp.org/about-us/
• @Blackdvmnetwork

• “Black Therapists Rock” - https://www.blacktherapistsrock.com/Home#Welcome 
• “How to Cope with Race-based Trauma” - https://www.teenvogue.com/story/how-to-cope-with-race-based-trauma 
• “Race & Healing” - https://onbeing.org/libraries/race-healing/ 

• “Why U.S. Needs Black Lives Matter Movement Today” - https://www.npr.org/2020/05/29/865685777/why-u-s-needs-black-lives-matter-movement-today 
• “Black Lives Matter: A Reading List” - https://www.vogue.co.uk/arts-and-lifestyle/article/black-lives-matter-reading-list 
• “Stand Up for Human Rights” - https://www.standup4humanrights.org/en/take-action.html