Dear Friends,
We collectively mourn the loss of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and countless other Black people murdered for no other reason than the color of their skin. Today, we stand in solidarity with Black and Brown communities in Southern California, in Minneapolis, and across the country, and join their call for immediate accountability, justice, and action to dismantle systemic racism in America.
Racism is foundational to our country’s history. It taints the country’s application of its laws, values, and ideals of justice. It is used to decide who will be heard, who will be free, and who will be deserving – of justice, of education, of health care, of mercy, and most tragically, of life itself. We have seen its taint historically and we see its taint today in the very institutions we turn to for justice and safety: our courts, our police, and our government institutions at every level. Recently, we have seen this inequity at play in the disproportionate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on communities of color.
And we as individuals, and as a country, are obligated to push back against that harm. In a statement issued by our CEO and National Director Jonathan Greenblatt, ADL has called for all of the former police officers involved in the killing of Mr. Floyd to be held responsible for their actions. It is imperative that the Hennepin County Attorney’s office act immediately, without further delay, to bring the perpetrators to justice.
ADL was founded 107 years ago with a commitment to fight hate directed toward the Jewish people, as well as to secure justice and fair treatment to all. This is the very moment that ADL was created for: to fight for all communities striving for inclusivity, equity, and justice. Here in Los Angeles, we continue to work through our LA For Good initiative to advance alliances and partnerships among our diverse communities through constructive dialogue, exploration of common ground, joint community projects, and coalition building. As a part of this initiative, we are holding an emergency meeting of our Steering Committee this week to listen to our partners and mobilize our respective organizations and communities in a productive way.
We are also concerned about reports of antisemitic vandalism in the neighborhoods where the protests have taken place. While we are aware of one synagogue that experienced anti-Israel graffiti, we are unaware of any other Jewish sites that were targeted with specifically antisemitic messages. Members of the community can always report antisemitic incidents to ADL on our website.
We are also sharing this Table Talk, George Floyd, Racism and Law Enforcement,and this tool for educators and families, How Should I Talk about Race in My Mostly White Classroom?, that provides some ways of navigating the difficult conversations related to the George Floyd murder and issues of systemic racism. Here are additional resources for those of you interested in taking political action.
Lastly, we are tracking how a number of extremists – including anti-government agitators, anarchists, and a handful of white supremacists – have been taking an active role in the demonstrations. At this point these protests should not be categorized as extremist events.
There is much more work to be done. We are committed to taking a stand in our communities, on social media platforms, and in supporting organizations engaged in efforts to dismantle the systems that have institutionalized racism. However, calls to violent action and wanton destruction are not the answer and must be condemned. We hope that you will join us in the days ahead to find solutions to help support our friends and allies.
In Solidarity,
Amanda Susskind
ADL Los Angeles Regional Director