On Saturday, Ohio Wesleyan University issued a statement on the death of George Floyd and its aftermath.
It reads:
“Everyone deserves to be safe and protected, to be valued as an individual, to be respected, and not to be persecuted because of the color of their skin, the language they speak, the religion they practice, or the person they love. Now is the time for our nation to unite to support diversity, equity, and inclusion for all and to reject hatred and prejudice in their many insidious forms.
Ohio Wesleyan University extends its deepest condolences to the family of George Floyd and to the families of everyone who has been persecuted and killed without cause, without justice, and without mercy. We must be better than this. These thoughts are not a condemnation of law enforcement; we are fortunate and grateful to be protected by so many selfless public servants, but we must not allow the current climate of suspicion and fear to continue.
Let us come together to learn each other’s cultures, understand each other’s fundamental needs and motivations, and evolve as a society into a community that recognizes the value of our differences and the potential for good that abides in our common humanity. We must not be silent when we see suffering, oppression, and exclusion. We must be a strong voice for those who are not heard, not respected, and unable to breathe, literally or figuratively, as they try to live their lives and contribute to their communities.
In the words of Martin Luther King Jr., “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.””
