Your say / Bristol City of Sanctuary
‘We must speak truth to power until every person is valued equally’
The killing of George Floyd at the hands of the police has sent shock waves around the world.
His death highlighted, again, the extent of police brutality against the black community in the USA.
The global response to this terrible act has also forced us all to confront racist structures that exist within our own countries.
is needed now More than ever
In the UK, these include the disproportionate stop and searches of black people, prejudicial assumptions that infiltrate the public and private sphere, the Government’s deliberate creation of a Hostile Environment, the Windrush scandal.
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Read more: This shameful injustice to Windrush has deep roots
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Unfortunately, the list is long. This is not the first time that we have seen such an outpouring of grief and understandable anger.
People are tired of discrimination, tired of police brutality, tired of the injustices, tired of fear, tired of structural inequalities that continue to exist within businesses, faith communities, educational and public institutions and that also exist within our government.
To quote Michelle Obama: “It’s up to all of us – Black, white, everyone – no matter how well-meaning we think we might be, to do the honest, uncomfortable work of rooting it [racism] out.
“It starts with self-examination and listening to those whose lives are different from our own. It ends with justice, compassion, and empathy that manifests in our lives and on our streets.”
There are no quick fixes for racism so ingrained in our communities in Britain. However, by continuing to work together locally we can make Bristol a real City of Sanctuary which provides welcome, safety and hope for all.
There is so much work to be done but there is also a tangible feeling of hope that things can change for the better. Black Lives Matter.
We stand in solidarity with this movement, and all those who stand for justice and peace in our city, nationally and around the world.
We must listen to the voices that speak their pain and then act decisively on what we hear. Our humanity must speak truth to power until every person is valued equally.
This open letter is from Bristol City of Sanctuary co-chairs Reverend Richard McKay and Caroline Beatty, and Forward Maisokwadzo, manager of Bristol City of Sanctuary
Bristol City of Sanctuary is part of a nationwide network that holds the vision that the UK will be a welcoming place of safety for all and proud to offer sanctuary to all who need it.
Main photo by Martin Booth
Read more: ‘None of us can afford to do nothing in the face of racism and inequality’
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