Over the past two weeks, we have been hit with feelings of sadness, outrage, and disgust stemming from the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota on May 25th. We are thinking of and send our condolences to the family of George Floyd, and all the others who have died as a result of police violence.
We stand united with those who have peacefully protested throughout our nation and the world against systemic racism and police violence. Hatred, bigotry, and bias must not be tolerated anywhere, including Bethany. We stand united with those who are working toward a world where all are treated equally.
But we are dismayed and outraged at the Government’s use of force and the military to suppress lawful and peaceful protests in Washington D.C. and elsewhere. Indeed, the right to free expression guaranteed by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution is one of Americans’ most basic freedoms. This sort of oppressive action has no place in our democracy and should strike fear in all Americans.
We support law enforcement who have shown the respect, compassion and understanding that the citizens of our communities rightfully expect, and we commend the many officers who have stood in solidarity with peaceful protestors. But at the same time, we must recognize and be prepared to confront the fact that systemic racism and police violence are very real problems in our society. We must do better. And we can do better.
The movement toward a more fair, just and equal world begins with leadership. Silence really is acquiescence. To that end, we stand united with leaders who speak up in the face of injustice. We stand united with leaders who will work toward equality in our communities. And we reject those who sow division among us. In a town like Bethany, where diversity is lacking, we must acknowledge that fact, and work even harder toward a more inclusive community.
We urge the residents of our small town to stand united for equality, justice, and the preservation of our democracy, whether it be by protesting, volunteering, donating, making an effort to learn and educate others, or through other means. We believe we can all make a positive difference, and we all believe in Bethany.
In solidarity,
Bethany Democratic Town Committee
Bethany Democratic Town Committee 