Đây là nội dung thư của những người lãnh đạo một county gửi cho toàn bộ cư dân. Mời các cụ mợ đọc nó để thấy rõ sự việc. Người ta khuyến khích biểu tình, khẳng dịnh là có sự phân biệt, nhưng đồng thời chỉ ra những kẻ lợi dụng để đập phá. Đọc là thấy được cái nhìn từ những người trong cuộc và chính sách của Mỹ ở góc khác.
Dear Prince Georgians:
We are truly exhausted and heartbroken over the murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer, but unfortunately, we are not surprised. As we have seen with the recent killings of Ahmaud Arbery in Georgia and Breonna Taylor in Kentucky, and William Green right here in George’s County, this is not just an isolated incident, but part of a broader system of racism that seeks to dehumanize and devalue African American life, African American males in particular.
In the case of the terrible murder that we saw here in Prince George’s, the former officer who killed Mr. Green was charged with murder less than 24 hours after that incident, which was exactly what needed to occur. The charges brought against the officer who murdered George Floyd are a start. In both of these cases, we hope and pray that justice will be served swiftly.
However, we also know that without addressing the underlying inequalities and injustices within our healthcare, education, criminal justice system and our society, these tragedies will continue to occur. No one should have to worry about dying in police custody due to the color of their skin. No one should have to worry about dying while going about routine activities like jogging and bird watching due to the color of their skin. And no one should have to worry about dying from a search warrant due to the color of their skin.
I understand the deep sadness, frustration and anger of protestors in cities all across our country, and I am grief-stricken by all of these preventable and senseless deaths as well. We have continued to call for major reform in our health, education and criminal justice system at the national level to prevent these tragedies, and nothing has been done. While local leaders can do our part to enact change, this is a nationwide problem that requires a nationwide solution. I called for Prince George’s County Police officers to be retrained from the top to the bottom, and steps have been taken to implement that training. And I vow that we will take steps forward, because in 2020, no one, White, Black, Latino or otherwise, should be concerned to simply live their lives.
We’ve also seen that, while many peacefully protest and demand justice for George Floyd and others, some have taken advantage of the situation to sow chaos. In fact, in many instances these actions have been taken by those who are not protesting George Floyd’s death, but in fact trying to sow further division in our already divided nation. Please know that these acts of division, chaos and violence are not welcome in Prince George’s County. Instead, I encourage those who want to voice their grief, sadness and frustration to do so peacefully.
Black Americans are simultaneously dealing with a pandemic that has hit our communities particularly hard and systemic injustices that have been around for centuries, tragically losing our loved ones, friends and neighbors. While it is easy to feel dismayed, frustrated and angry, we must not feel hopeless. The peaceful protests we see are reflective of the deep diversity of our nation, proving that, while some may seek to divide us, there are many more who want to see our nation united with justice and equality for all.
Dr. King once said that “the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice.” We must continue to raise our collective voices, exercise our right to vote, and carry on the torch of the civil rights leaders who came before us to achieve the bright and just future our ancestors dreamed of.
While I encourage individuals to protest peacefully, please do so safely. Remember that in the midst of all of this grief, we are still in the midst of a pandemic. Please wear a mask, please social distance and please remember that we must take care of ourselves so that our community doesn’t fall back into the escalating rate of infection we are now seeing declining.
Yours in service,
Angela Alsobrooks
Prince George's County Executive