The fact this has to be said over and over reveals the relentless racism and inequality that is an agonizing but inseparable part of what it means to be American.
The killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Tony McDade, Ahmaud Arbery, Eric Garner, Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown, Tamir Rice and far too many others is the predictable outcome of the bigotry that infects our society, our institutions and our economy.
It’s intolerable and we must do better. We must change.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said “Nonviolence is a powerful and just weapon. Indeed, it is a weapon unique in history, which cuts without wounding and ennobles the man who wields it.”
Because Black Lives Matter, we stand with protestors in demanding an end to police brutality against people of color.
Because Black Lives Matter, we stand with them in demanding a just economy where black entrepreneurs, black workers and their families are given equal opportunity to reach the American Dream through ingenuity, determination, and hard work.
Because Black Lives Matter, we stand with them in asking for a nation that strives to live up to its highest ideals.