I woke to horrific news from Kenosha as I am sure you did. I have no words. This is why we march. This is why we must say #BlackLivesMatter. I am moving forward with the day, but thinknig of this family and community as I do, and thinking about how to be more an agent of change as well.
Racial Justice is not a zero-sum game. When justice rises for any citizen - we all benefit. When justice fails any citizen - we all lose.
Mr. President, we are not anarchists. We are peaceful patriots who love and support our brothers and sisters in the Black Community. We recognize where systemic racism exists. And we recognize we all need to stand together for what is right. We need policy changes not ‘domination’. These changes should include police policy reform, mass incarceration addressed, education policy, and more.
I condemn the after-hour violence the media highlights. But this is not the movement, and this violence will NOT be quelled by more violence – especially state-sanctioned violence.
We are reaching a dangerous point. We need leadership.
Governors, Mayors – this is your time to stand up. Lead.
Sheriffs, Police Chiefs, and Commissioners -- this is your time. Please show protect & serve – ALL citizens. Show compassion and love, not power, and might.
Business Leaders – leverage your access and privilege.
Military Leaders – remember you exist to fight FOR us, you ARE us.
Let’s all act now to strive to contain state violence and advance dialogue for meaningful change.
I commit to working for change. I recognize that ‘all lives matter’ can't be true until BLACK LIVES MATTER. And so I march with the Black Community. I march for the Black Community. I march for our nation – one nation, under God, indivisible with liberty and justice FOR ALL! #BlackLivesMatter #StrongerTogether
Historian Jon Meacham has said "In this convulsive moment, let's not say: 'This isn't who we are.' Rather let's use this as a moment to ask who do we want to be?"
Some companies are taking the right steps by taking the following actions:
- SoftBank COO Marcelo Claure will create a $100 million fund that "will only invest in companies led by founders and entrepreneurs of color". Softbank has backed companies including
DoorDash - click here to see if they are hiring: https://www.doordash.com/dasher/signup/ge/5761dc?
TikTok - click here to see if they are hiring: https://careers.tiktok.com/
-Bank of America announced a $1 billion four-year program to "address economic and racial inequality," including funding for virus testing, support for minority-owned small businesses and investment in affordable housing
Click here to see if they are hiring new you! https://careers.bankofamerica.com/en-us
In the words of Maya Angelou, the famous American author, actress, screenwriter, dancer, poet, and civil rights activist best known for her 1969 memoir, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, which made literary history as the first nonfiction bestseller by an African American woman...
"Hate - It has caused a lot of problems in this world, but it has not solved one yet"