June 5, 2020
Hello fellow athletes,
It is my time to speak out about the tragic event that occurred on May 25, 2020: the murder of George Floyd. I find it so difficult to find words that can properly describe how horribly upset I am for George and his family. In addition to George Floyd’s life being taken, I also recognize the stories of Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery, along with so many others in the Black community. As a White woman, I know that I will never truly understand the pain, but I will always stand with my brothers and sisters of color. In addition, I also recognize that posting a black square on Instagram is not enough, so I have also been signing every petition I can find to fight racial injustice, and donating to the families that have lost their loved ones and organizations that work to fight for equal rights. I believe that making your voice heard by voting is critical as well, so I will do my part to elect officials that will fight for justice and equality for all.
Despite all of this, I know that I cannot personally change the tragic events that have transpired. However, I will do everything in my power to create a safe space for all in the Calloso Powerlifting community. If you need a friend to talk to about your pain and struggles, please contact me, personally through email or message. Furthermore, any discrimination of race, ethnicity, native language, sexual orientation, gender, or age at any Calloso event or on any social media platform under Calloso Powerlifting, USA Powerlifting Michigan, or my personal pages will not be tolerated and will cause in removal from Calloso Powerlifting events. Together we are one, and we come together for our love of powerlifting. We are all family, and should treat each other as such.
Estamos Unidos. (We are united).
-Gina Hensley