Healthcare providers are a crucial line of defense in protecting the welfare of the people we serve. Meeting our obligation to those we care for means behaving ethically and honorably to ensure the physical, emotional, and psychological well-being of our patients and our communities at large.

The incessant violence being inflicted upon communities of color is a call to action - both to protect our collective public health and to remind us that we must stand together in this fight for justice.

Professional organizations, including the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, which represents over 100K credentialed dietitians, have a moral and ethical responsibility to issue a public position statement in support of Black Lives Matter and racial equality.

Registered Dietitians demand the Academy take a firm stance against racism and condemn acts of violence against people of color. Furthermore, we insist the Academy take steps to address issues of diversity and inclusion within the organization itself, and call for public policy solutions that improve the lives of black Americans.

Please add your name to the petition to show your support and insist the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics not remain silent on this issue. To be silent is to be complicit.

To take further action, call the Academy's Chicago headquarters #800-877-1600 - you can ask to be transferred to the DC office where you can talk to or leave a voicemail for your representative. You can also send an email to: govaffairs@eatright.org and/or leave a comment on the AND FB page https://www.facebook.com/EatRightNutrition 

The time is always right to do what is right.