Jacksonville, FL – In response to the St. Louis County grand jury’s failure to indict Ferguson Police Officer Darren Wilson for the killing of Michael Brown, We Are Straight Allies issued the following statement:

We Are Straight Allies express our deep disappointment and stand in solidarity with the family of Michael Brown and those who seek accountability and justice for this senseless killing. America’s long history of racism and police profiling has again influenced a decision that denies a grieving family the right to have this case tried in public.

Fifty years after the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, we are still far from realizing the dream of equality. We as Americans must continue to challenge unjust polices, call for reform of the criminal justice system and hold our local elected officials accountable for better screening and training of police officers hired to “protect and serve” not mete out injustice through racial profiling, illegal stop-and-frisks and the senseless and too frequent killing of unarmed citizens.

We send our deep condolences to the family of Michael Brown and will honor their wish to continue to engage in thoughtful, intentional, peaceful protest. As allies, we know it is critical that the voices of those groups in power stand steadfast with those groups that are oppressed. As straight allies, we work to create a culture of awareness and understanding of the challenges that face those in the LGBT community.

We encourage white people across our nation to use their influence, voices and action to create an America free of bias and discrimination towards Black people and other people of color.

Our histories are inextricably bound. We are not free until all of us are free.