06/02/2020
We are deeply saddened by the horrendous, inhumane, and gruesome acts of hate and violence against the black community. We‘re also touched by the incredible acts of heroism by police officers who reduced friction and joined peaceful protesters. We mourn George Floyd’s family for the tragic loss of George, the many families that have been ravaged by the loss of family members, and the countless others experiencing racial anguish and injustice.
We take a moment to remember the great American leaders—Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Abraham Lincoln, among others—who devoted their lives to this very cause and worked tirelessly to abolish slavery and inequality. We also take a moment to remember the words that shaped the American values and ideals:
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.” —The Declaration of Independence, Congress, July 4, 1776.”
We stand in solidarity with the black community, and we support the global community in stopping all forms of racism, discrimination, and extremism. We cannot continue expanding frontiers before changing this flawed mindset, and we cannot live out there among the stars if we don’t embrace our differences and live and work together in peace and harmony.
