The Rye Human Rights Commission has released a statement on George Floyd calling for action. “Our hope is that this statement will open up a dialogue for further discussion on this issue,” said commission chairperson Danielle Tagger-Epstein.
The statement was released and shared with the Rye Mayor and Council on Monday. “We look forward to a public conversation,” said Tagger-Epstein.
In fact, Rye City Council has an agenda item scheduled on George Floyd for its meeting Wednesday.
Our statement on the state of our country.
The Human Rights Commission of the City of Rye is heartbroken and angry as our country mourns the murders of George Floyd, Breanna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and countless others who have died needlessly. We stand with those who seek justice through protests across our country and firmly denounce what is a small minority who seek to incite violence or to abuse these peaceful protests for their own personal or political gain.
We must speak out and denounce all acts of murder, violence, marginalization and repression because of one’s skin color. It is time to address Black people’s long standing, catastrophic interactions with law enforcement officers and the justice system and the persistent racism that has plagued our nation.
We are at a pivotal point in our nation’s history and words are just not enough.
We are calling upon Mayor Josh Cohn and the Rye City Council to:
- sign into the Anti-Discrimination Human Rights Resolution passed on May 3, 2017.
- sign the pledge from the organization My Brother’s Keeper that commits to redefine public safety so that it recognizes the humanity and dignity of every person.
You can support our efforts by sending an email to the Human Rights Commission at [email protected] and/or the Rye City Council
● Councilmember Carolina Johnson
There are different ways that each one of us can choose to be a part of action towards a more just society.
Advocate Educate Donate
- Use available resources to educate yourselves
- Start a dialogue with your children. Addressing this topic can lead to important conversations about systemic racism.
- Donate to Anti-white supremacy work such as , the NAACP, Southern Poverty Law Center, the National Council for Incarcerated and Formerly Incarcerated Women and Girls, Color of Change to name but a few. Join some of these list-serves and take action as their emails dictate.
- Commit to joining community discussions.
- Complete the 2020 Census https://2020census.gov/en/ways-to-respond.html
- VOTE in local, state and federal elections.
As Martin Luther King Jr. said, “Let us realize the arc of the moral universe is long but it bends toward justice.”
However, it will take all of us to help pull that bend towards the justice we seek.
Together.
The Human Rights Commission of the City of Rye
