The Justice for Our Neighbors Network stands with our Black communities and those advocating for real and lasting change
George Floyd. Breonna Taylor. Ahmaud Arbery. Eric Garner. Michael Brown. Botham Jean.
The names change. The locations change. But one thing remains a painful constant: the violence and injustice perpetrated against them because of the color of their skin.
When do we say enough? When do we fully grasp the meaning of #BlackLivesMatter?
Since our founding in 1999, the Justice for Our Neighbors Network has fought for dignity, respect, and equal access to justice for all people. We condemn all forms of racism and hatred. We welcome everyone, regardless of race, religion, ethnicity, ideology, sexual orientation or gender identification. We work to ensure that the persecuted and oppressed can find freedom, opportunity, and safety here in the United States.
Yet we must acknowledge that Black Americans are unfree, unsafe, and are routinely denied opportunity here in their own country.
We grieve as we recite the long list of names of the dead and victimized. We mourn as we witness peaceful protesters met with brutality.
But in the midst of fear and sorrow, there also must be hope and resolve.
Today Justice for Our Neighbors joins our partner organizations, faith leaders, and our Black brothers and sisters to demand the end to police brutality and targeting of people of color. We call on our elected leaders to uphold our Constitution. We ask that all those in positions of power and influence begin, at long last, the hard work of creating and implementing policies that can help end systemic racism and injustice in our nation.
There are difficult days ahead of us. May we hold fast to the values of our shared faith, and may we always seek out the better angels of our nature.
