The Mercury Store believes Black Lives Matter. The Mercury Store believes Black Trans Lives Matter. The Mercury Store believes we must work harder to Stop Asian Hate.
The Mercury Store is a space for artists.To the Artists of Color we hoped to be working with at this time and to those we hope to work with in future, we say loudly, in these impossible times, we love you and we are on your side.
The disproportionate effect of Covid-19 on Communities of Color. The ongoing killings of Black Americans. The recent murders and continual harassment of Asian Americans. The anti-immigrant rhetoric that fuels hatred. The ongoing police and political response to legitimate and necessary social protest. These all demonstrate the systemic racial injustice in America.
We protest against injustice and oppression everywhere. All -isms and -phobias – racism, sexism, ableism, ageism, queerphobia – are abhorrent. We work to allow oppressed artists to tell their story as they wish to tell it.
We are committed to playing our part in the present and future struggle against systemic and institutional racism, and white supremacy.
We work to educate ourselves and our artists on the issues of the neighborhood including climate justice, affordable housing, and equal access to schools and culture.
The Mercury Store sits on the unceded land of the Lenape and Canarsie Nations. This land was built and developed on the uncompensated labor of enslaved black people.
We are committed to an overarching program of reading and education to more fully understand the historical and ongoing effects of racial oppression.
We believe People of Color do not need to explain themselves to a white audience.
We believe in compensation for all artists and activists we ask to work on our behalf.
The Mercury Store is an all-white organization. This must change.
We know this statement is a work-in-progress and a living document.
We make these promises. We ask our community and our collaborators to hold us accountable to it.
The Mercury Store believes space is community.