As recently reported in The Charlotte Observer and many other news sources, several local black leaders in Charlotte received letters containing threatening, racist and violent language in mid-August.

In response, a group of community leaders drafted the CLT 2019 Unity Letter, which was released on August 29. In the authors’ words, the letter was created “for people to voice their support of our diverse community and reject racism, bigotry and hate in Charlotte-Mecklenburg. ”

The letter is open until noon on Sept. 4. for anyone who agrees with its message to sign online. The letter and all signers who give permission will be printed and shared in local media. The target date for publication is Sunday, Sept. 8.

While we were not among those who drafted the Unity Letter, we at Charlotte Is Creative wholly support its message and are proud to give it our support. We are sharing the letter in its entirety below. We encourage you to read it, think on it and, if you agree with its message, to sign it with us and put it into action in your life and work.

Matt Olin & Tim Miner, Co-Founders, Charlotte Is Creative

The CLT 2019 Unity Letter

“If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor.”

—Desmond Tutu

The recent racist and hate-filled communications to and about elected and appointed leaders of color in Charlotte-Mecklenburg are driven by attitudes and beliefs that must be rejected and resisted in the strongest of terms by people of goodwill throughout our community.

They pose a threat not just to the individuals to whom they were sent, but also to the overall fiber of who we are as a community. Their racial hostility, ignorance and insecurity is reflective of a time to which we must refuse to return. This refusal must be both individual and collective.

Therefore, as individuals and institutions who love Charlotte and who believe that our strength resides not simply in the diversity of our citizenry, but also in the diversity of our leadership, we the undersigned:

Reject any and all racist and hate-filled language and acts that seek to instill fear, perpetuate division, instigate hatred, and inflict harm.

Renew our commitment to the ongoing work of building and being a community of justice, equity, fairness, and opportunity for all.

Respect our racial and ethnic diversity and value as sources of community pride and progress.

Embrace with pride the increasingly diverse leadership of our community.

We call upon all people of goodwill to join us in doing the same.

To join us, sign up below and then share with your neighbors, colleagues, family, friends and others.

To see the current list of signers or to sign the petition yourself, click here.