Aaron Haynes

Don, that's absolutely right.

I mean, listen, we know that part of these attacks on diversity, equity and inclusion include attacks on journalists of color who we know have been disproportionately impacted in this anti DEI climate.

Right.

And so we must push back against that, because if we do not have a truly representative press, how can we have a truly free press and how can we have a truly healthy democracy?

We know that these issues are tied together.

Right.

that democracy and a free press and diversity, those things are not mutually exclusive.

They rise and fall together as do the rest of us, right?

These are issues that should frankly concern and alarm all Americans, right?

time, we do know, right?

We know that for black journalists, the stakes can be even higher, right?

Because we are often the ones that are on the front lines, right?

Covering policing, covering immigration enforcement, covering civil rights, covering systemic inequality, the very places where accountability is most needed, right?

So when institutions avoid moral clarity in these moments, it is black journalists and the communities that we serve who feel the consequences of that.

And that is part of the reason why we stood up for you.

But we know

that this is a broader issue of press freedom.

We know that this is about press integrity.

You were at that church because that is where the news was happening.

And this is what's happening.