In the wake of international protests against racism this summer, a local group formed to spearhead the community’s anti-racism efforts.
The Moscow Anti-Racism Alliance (MARA) hosted its first event, the Moscow Solidarity March, July 12. Over 400 people attended, according to its Facebook event page.
“We were looking at the world in late May, early June, and we asked, ‘what can we do here in Moscow’ with what happened to George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery?” Madison Bonet, MARA leader and co-founder, said.
Bonet and her friends began the group by meeting weekly to educate themselves about current events. The group evolved by reaching out to the Moscow community and promoting awareness on racial topics.
“We wanted to make this about connecting with people and making Moscow a more welcoming space for people of color,” Bonet said. “Being a small college town – with MARA members that have attended (UI) – you have people coming from all around.(We wanted) representation and a group of allies, and that (people of color) know that these people have their back no matter what.”
Although she acknowledged ending racism as an important pursuit, Bonet said MARA is focused on the power of education and unity as tools to stop discrimination.
“MARA’s goal isn’t to end racism, but to counter ignorance. Because at the root of oppression, bigotry, hate, racism, homophobia is fear,” Bonet said. “And the only way to curb that fear is through education to eliminate ignorance and bridge gaps to realize that we’re actually so similar.”
Bonet shared details on plans for a Black Lives Matter mural in Friendship Square and a potential plan to partner with local businesses for transparency on policies involving minorities in the Moscow community.
So far, the Moscow Solidarity March has been MARA’s only event. However, Bonet said MARA is planning to announce details of upcoming projects to the community in the coming weeks.
Bonet said MARA is seeking committed individuals who will be able to keep MARA in the forefront. MARA will also spend any spare time helping other anti-racism efforts, such as writing letters to wrongly imprisoned people of color.
The organization is building a website which will house resources including links, podcasts and books to help people work on their allyship and be involved in MARA. One section will have addresses for wrongly imprisoned people of color to encourage people to write to them, Bonet said.
“Educate yourself,” Bonet said. “Resources are everywhere. We, as MARA, are doing our best, and will continue to publicly share resources.”
MARA’s events and activities will be shared on its Facebook page. Those interested in becoming involved can email [email protected].
Richard Pathomsiri can be reached at [email protected].
Don Kaag
“We are not all equal until we are all free.”—O.K., that appears to be semantically null. “Equall” to what? “Free” from what? We had a Civil War, which ended in 1865 and with the 13th, 14th and 15th Amendments to the Constitution ended slavery in the U.S. and granted American Blacks the same constitutional rights as everyone else. There have been some bumps in the road, as in anything involving humans, but “People of Color” in this country are free to work hard and to succeed just as anyone else is. Dr. Thomas Sowell at the Hoover Institution at Stanford recently opined that Blacks in this country have been given special treatment and quotas for so long that now being treated strictly “equal” is considered descrimination. The Court agrees: A recent successful suit against Yale University found that the U has, for decades, favored admissions of less-qualified Black students over Asians and whites. Define your terms, Ms. Bonet...and get a new MARA slogan.