We at Swiftly are devastated and angered over the senseless killings of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and countless others who had their lives cut short because of inhumane brutality. As we both mourn and celebrate the lives of these individuals, we are also wholly aware that these killings are not an anomaly, but rather a representation of a long history of systemic racism, inequities within our criminal justice system, pervasive police violence, and injustice in our country. We are reminded of the work that our country needs to do in order to provide a safe, free, and just society for all.

Swiftly stands with the Black community.

We are also reminded of — and know the importance of acknowledging — the work that Swiftly can do. First and foremost, here within our small team, we commit to increasing the representation of Black colleagues. We are laser-focused on this goal and are dedicated to creating change. This year we have taken measurable steps around diversity at Swiftly through company-wide trainings, educational seminars, and recruiting through networks like Techqueria and 100 Black Men of the Bay Area. We also recognize that solving the problem of systemic racism is deeper than our candidate pool. As such, we have partnered with organizations who support access to education for underrepresented youth like Oakland Leaf and Code2040. Moving forward, we commit to continuing these trainings and conversations and to support the organizations listed below. We know there is more we can and should do, and we encourage our peers in the tech and transit industries to hold us accountable and work alongside us.

We in the public transit community acknowledge the representation of the Black community amongst our ridership and employee base. We, at Swiftly, need to do better at bringing diverse perspectives, including Black voices, to the tables in our community engagement efforts. We cannot build equitable and inclusive systems without lifting up and listening to the voices those systems serve.

Earlier this week, our CEO Jonathan Simkin said the following about standing up for equality and justice:

“Let me be clear — the racism and hatred across the country are issues where we can not remain silent. No one in our country, or the world, should feel threatened or unsafe or treated unfairly due to the color of their skin, or who they are, or who they plan to be.

It is our responsibility to stand up for equality and justice. Our actions both individually and collectively can make a difference, and it’s important that we all rally to amplify the voices that have been silenced and support those who are fighting tirelessly against injustice.”

We acknowledge that we have a long way to go, that this is a journey, and actions will speak louder than any words. But let us be clear: Swiftly stands with the Black community.

In Solidarity,
The Swiftly Team

Here are organizations and resources that we are supporting and engaging with:

Black Lives Matter:“#BlackLivesMatter was founded in 2013 in response to the acquittal of Trayvon Martin’s murderer. Black Lives Matter Foundation, Inc is a global organization in the US, UK, and Canada, whose mission is to eradicate white supremacy and build local power to intervene in violence inflicted on Black communities by the state and vigilantes.”

Campaign Zero: “Funds donated to Campaign Zero support the analysis of policing practices across the country, research to identify effective solutions to end police violence, technical assistance to organizers leading police accountability campaigns and the development of model legislation and advocacy to end police violence nationwide.”

Essie Justice Group: “Essie Justice Group is a nonprofit organization of women with incarcerated loved ones taking on the rampant injustices created by mass incarceration. Our award-winning Healing to Advocacy Model brings women together to heal, build collective power, and drive social change.

NAACP: “The mission of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) is to secure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights in order to eliminate race-based discrimination and ensure the health and well-being of all persons.”

The New York Times’ Anti-Racist Reading List: Ibram X. Kendi on books to help America transcend its racist heritage.