Attn: National Association of Social Workers

Angelo McClain, CEO

Kathryn Conley Wehrmann, President

We are disappointed in the National Association of Social Workers public support of the Executive Order on Safe Policing for Safe Communities. The social work profession is anchored in the values of service, social justice, dignity and worth, human relationships, competence, and integrity. All of which call on us to aid in the fight to dismantle systems of oppression and racism. Our Code of Ethic demands us to act, not to join forces with systems that uphold structural racism.

“Social workers should act to prevent and eliminate domination of, exploitation of, and discrimination against any person, group, or class on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, marital status, political belief, religion, immigration status, or mental or physical ability.” Social Work Code of Ethics, Section 6..04(d)

We have an obligation to end white supremacy, and supporting this Executive Order counters the core of who we are as social workers. We demand that the NASW rescind public support of the Executive Order, acknowledge the role social work plays in upholding systems of oppression and publicly commit to deconstructing racist systems.

In solidarity with the movement for Black Lives,