June 1st, 2020
Dear CISV USA,
The past week has been heartbreaking for our nation. We watched while officer Derek Chauvin knelt with his knee on the neck of George Floyd for almost nine minutes. Officers J. Alexander Kueng and Thomas K. Lane helped hold Floyd down, while officer Tou Thao stood nearby, looking on. We watched as George Floyd pleaded for his life and then died.
Since then, all four officers have been fired and Officer Chauvin arrested and charged with murder. There have been both peaceful protests and rioting throughout the United States. As a dear friend of mine said, “George Floyd was the straw that broke the camel’s back.”
Watching the pain, frustration, anger, and sheer exhaustion of the people in America right now is heart wrenching. We hear you; we see you, and we need to fix this system of racial inequality! The problems we have are not small and will not be fixed overnight, but we can fix them together.
As CISVers, I know you have a passion for changing the world when you see a need. Sometimes it can seem overwhelming. Where to begin? As for me, I had a long talk with my son about why people are protesting and plan to continue that conversation. I will be reading, How To Be an Antiracist, by Ibram X. Kendi, and will join an online discussion group. I will participate in a training seminar on Racial Equality this week. These are some ways I am educating myself so that I may continue to be an advocate.
I am sure many of you have already found ways to help, but if not, here are some ideas from Joel A. Davis Brown:
If we all come together to do our part, we can make a difference. Now is the time to really bring our mission statement to life! CISV educates and inspires action for a more just and peaceful world!
Best,
Laura Ripberger
Executive Director
CISV USA