Dear MWSRA referees,
I wanted to reach out to everyone during this time of high anxiety, uncertainty, and suffering in our community. I know that much of our community is hurting right now, not just from the violence and injustice that we have witnessed in the past two weeks, but from the drastic and far-reaching ways that a global pandemic has impacted our very way of life – financially, socially, and psychologically. Virtually all of us have been either living through an extended stay-at-home order, a military-enforced curfew in Washington, D.C., or in some cases both. I want each of you to know that you are not alone and that our referee community will get through this together.
The violence we witnessed at the end of May in Minneapolis against George Floyd by sworn police officers was an appalling degradation of law enforcement, despite their mission to promote safety in our communities and fairly enforce our laws. It was not just the one officer who killed George Floyd, but the three other officers who were assisting, stood by, and, most importantly, did not stop their colleague from vastly abusing his authority – all of whom have been fired and charged with murder or aiding and abetting murder. Their complicit behavior – and their silence in the face of such violence – was also exposed to the world.
The protests that continue to occur across America are not just a reaction to the killings of George Floyd in Minneapolis, MN; Breonna Taylor in Louisville, KY; and Ahmaud Arbery in Glynn County, GA. These protests build on the documented and investigated systemic abuses and injustices disproportionately impacting Black Americans and other minorities that have not only continued to happen, but also too often been held unaccountable when they do happen – even when caught on camera. For far too many people, a safe and fair society is far from the reality.
To be able to effectively promote safety, fairness, and sportsmanship in our matches and throughout the regional soccer community, we must not tolerate racism, racially-motivated language, and racial violence of any kind – on and off the field. That is why MWSRA explicitly affirmed its commitment against offensive, insulting, and abusive language in October 2016 when incidents were again on the rise in youth sports across the country.
Recognizing racism off the field is essential for recognizing racism on the field. This will make us not only stronger referees, but, more importantly, a stronger, more inclusive, and more united community of referees.
To those who are not feeling direct pain or despair right now, I hope that you understand that many other referees in our community are struggling. To those who are facing challenges each day, I hope that you continue to persevere.
With empathy and anguish,
Matthew Popkin
MWSRA President
