MCCJ stands ready to help build bridges between us in Miami
The unfolding story of George Floyd, who died at the hands of a police officer in Minneapolis, sends chills down our spines. We find ourselves asking the same question Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. asked in a speech on March 25, 1965, in Alabama: “How long?” And in the context of meaning and hope, his answer was: “Not long, because no lie can live forever.”
While it is true that, “No lie can live forever,” people across the country were glued to their screens watching in horror how Floyd lost his life. The tragedy of continued police violence and brutality toward people of color is incomprehensible and completely unacceptable.
It’s hard to imagine children growing up in fear, seeing the adults in their lives deprived of their dignity and human rights at the hands of law enforcement, a failed justice system, and the divisive, cowardly rhetoric and lack of leadership from elected officials.
Fear, anger and frustration led to protests in several cities. Miami’s mostly peaceful protest on June 6 sadly took a turn for the worse at dusk. Violence, looting and destructive behavior are not the answer, and not in the spirit of King’s, and our, vision for America.
The mission of MCCJ is embracing diversity and building an inclusive community. Peaceful protests, candid dialogue and building bridges of deeper understanding are keys to ending inequality and keeping open the doors to “liberty and justice for all.”
We condemn the actions of the officers involved in the death of George Floyd and encourage peaceful demonstrations in support of a just and inclusive Miami. As we have many times in the past eight decades, we stand ready to help establish the kinds of interactions that lead to lasting peace and equality. It will take real commitment to action and efforts by people of goodwill to dismantle the current barriers to justice.
Matt Anderson, chair,
Alex Fraser, vice chair,
on behalf of the
board of directors,
MCCJ, Miami
This story was originally published June 14, 2020 at 7:45 PM with the headline "MCCJ stands ready to help build bridges between us in Miami."