YWCA goers and Jamestown Mayor Eddie Sundquist are pictured showing their support for the annual YWCA Stand Against Racism event Friday. P-J photo by Nikk Holland

The Jamestown YWCA’s Stand Against Racism event could not have taken place at a more fitting time.

On Tuesday, former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was found guilty of second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter in the slaying of George Floyd, and the YWCA’s SAR event on Friday is one way the organization stands against the forces underlying the tragic event that took place last year.

“We still have a lot more work to do as a nation,” director Amanda Gesing said. “The verdict means that people are now to be held accountable. The YWCA works towards the goal that ‘justice, just is.'”

Part of the YWCA’s mission is to eliminate racism, and the events they put on show it. Last month, the 21 Days for Racial Equity and Social Justice Challenge was hosted by the YWCA, where 56 Jamestown participants received daily articles, podcasts and videos that informed them of social justice and race equality topics.

Gesing also said that the YWCA will have a new Social Justice and Race Equity program within, and a director for that program will eventually be announced.

The theme of the SAR event this year was “addressing racism as a public health crisis.” Gesing explained the systemic impediments of health and educational outcomes for people of color that prevent them from thriving in their communities.

Whether it’s Black mothers dying at higher rates during childbirth, a pipeline running through Native American lands or a clean water crisis in Flint, Mich., systemic injustice for people of color is shown to be a public health crisis, which is why it was a fitting theme for the SAR event.

Jamestown Mayor Eddie Sundquist was present Friday, showing his support for the YWCA’s stance against systemic injustice.

“As mayor, I’m honored to take part in this with the YWCA, whose mission is really big on supporting any type of racial and social justice in the city,” Sundquist said.

Sundquist was proud of Jamestown’s continued stand against racism, sparked last year by the tragic death of Floyd.

“Over the past year we have seen overt racism happen across communities in the United States,” Sundquist said while St. Luke’s church tolled their bells in support of the event. “It’s important for Jamestown to show, and continue to show that we’re taking a stand against racism…and show no matter what color you are, you’re welcome here.”

Sundquist said the theme of the event was “on point” due to the fact that amid a public health crisis, social and racial injustice have become very apparent.

“We are in such a unique time in this country where the pandemic has shown the racial and social injustices that have popped up in this country and community,” Sundquist said. “Nothing is going to get done until we as a government, we as a community decide to take action. These crises, these pandemics really expose the cracks in our society, and we need to fill them.”