UKS STATEMENT
BLACK LIVES MATTER

In a racist society, it is not enough to be non-racist, we must be anti-racist.
— Angela Davis

UKS stands in solidarity with Americans and people of color in Norway, Europe and around the world against state brutality and racism. We stand in solidarity with Black Lives Matter and all citizens who use their democratic right to demonstrate against such abuse.

This coming Friday, 5 June 2020, Arise and African Student Association UiO organize a demonstration in front of the American Embassy in Oslo, in the wake of the murder of George Floyd, and in solidarity with African Americans and all victims of police brutality worldwide. See more information here.

Please consider taking part in this or any solidarity demonstration near you.

Due to Covid-19 demonstrators are advised to take special care to follow the government guidelines of social distancing and to wear face masks to prevent the spread of the virus. Take extra precautions, like walking or cycling instead of traveling by public transport, and keep a safe 1-meter distance from others.

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Want to help?

Get acquainted with and support your local anti-racist organization or group in their ongoing work against racism. Some national organizations in Norway:
— https://antirasistisk.no/
— https://minotenk.no/

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Want to read up/watch more about anti-racism and find other ways to take action? You can find lists of resources to start with here and here.

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Though the urgent protests currently happening in the US are concerned with the right for people of color to live without state brutality, it is also important to recognize how racism manifests for artists in their daily working life. Please take a moment to read about the experience of POC artists in Nordic countries in this anthology published by Kulturrådet in 2019, titled Actualise Utopia: From Dreams to Reality. “An anthology about racial barriers in the structure of the Nordic arts field.”