On Wednesday, the AC Pandemonium President posted an image on her personal social media with a hashtag that compared and equated Black lives to black coffee - an inanimate object. 1/15

Though she was circulating a hashtag used by a Black-owned company, when concerns were raised over the post and her position to use such a phrase as a white woman, she failed to listen, understand how her actions could impact the Black community, and apologize. 2/15

As Pandemonium members, we deeply apologize for the harm she caused and her responses to concerns about posts made on her personal social media. She has stepped down and is no longer the President of Pandemonium. 3/15

We are committed to actively listening to, supporting, and fighting alongside Black supporters and players of the beautiful game and the broader Black community. We acknowledge that the actions of our leadership didn't reflect that. 4/15

We understand that words matter, and that the impact of those words outweigh intent. 5/15

We appreciate everyone who has shared their concerns and brought this situation to our attention. We are taking appropriate steps to ensure that our leadership properly represents us as a group. 6/15

Additionally, we recommit ourselves to ensuring that everyone who is a part of this supporters group understands that we are actively anti-racist and what that means. Part of this is continuing to educate ourselves and holding each other accountable and to high standards. 7/15

We are determined to do the work it takes not just to be allies or accomplices, but co-conspirators in the fight for the protection of BIPOC peoples’ lives and the respect for their humanity. 8/15

We commit to proactively challenging racism and white supremacy in the stands and in women's soccer generally, as well as creating not just a safe space for Black active supporters, but a powerful community. 9/15

Resources we are collectively reading, discussing, and using in the near term are:
How to Be an Antiracist, by Ibram X. Kendi
Black as Resistance, by Zoé Samudzi and William C. Anderson
Fumbling Towards Repair, by Mariame Kaba and Shira Hassan
10/15

https://www.ted.com/talks/jodi_ann_burey_the_myth_of_bringing_your_full_authentic_self_to_work?utm_source=tedcomshare&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=tedspread
https://www.womenofcolorforprogress.org/allyguide 
https://guidetoallyship.com/ 
https://www.suu.edu/equity/pdf/practice-effective-allyship.pdf
Moving from Ally to Accomplice https://diverseeducation.com/article/138623/ 
https://hbr.org/2021/02/stop-telling-women-they-have-imposter-syndrome
11/15

Action steps for our learning and sustained awareness:
1. Building a library of resources, monthly workshops and book club to support us through our journey to authentic anti-racism 12/15

2. Regularly checking-in with our members via surveys and comment boxes to ensure we are doing enough to create a safe space for everyone 13/15

3. Committing to hold each other accountable by calling out microaggressions that we witness or feel and directing immediate change of that behavior
4. Recruiting new members that align with our mission and values of inclusivity, diversity and anti-racism 14/15

5. Holding each other, our club, fellow supporters groups, and soccer community to the same high standards and expectations of striving to protect, fight for, and honor BIPOC and marginalized groups through anti-racist work 15/15