The Boy Scouts of America said that it fully supports the Black Lives Matter movement in a letter to scouting families. The organization introduced a new merit badge for diversity and inclusion that will be required to earn the rank of Eagle Scout.
"The Boy Scouts of America stands with Black families and the Black community because we believe that Black Lives Matter," they wrote. "This not a political issue; it is a human rights issue and one we all have a duty to address."
The Boy Scouts did not provide specifics about the new merit badge, but said that it will "build on components within existing merit badges" and "require Scouts to learn about and engage with other groups and cultures to increase understanding and spur positive action."
The scouting organization said that it will review all of its programs to "ensure diversity and inclusion are engrained at every level." They will also hold diversity training for staff members and work to remove any property names, events, and insignias that may contain symbols of oppression.
"As our country reckons with racial injustice, we all must consider our role and our failures and commit to meaningful action," the Boy Scouts wrote. "There is no place for racism – not in Scouting and not in our communities. Racism will not be tolerated."
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