Dear BayCC Friends,
Like many of you, we unequivocally condemn the senseless killing of George Floyd, a black man, by a law enforcement officer on May 25, 2020. We grieve with the family of George Floyd and stand firm with the African American community. There is no place for this kind of brutality, hatred, and racism in America.
We also join in the collective call for peace and reflection during this civil unrest. We do not condone in any way the subsequent vandalism and violence that will have a long-lasting impact on our communities.
At BayCC, we remain committed to hosting conversations and providing opportunities that promote understanding, peace, and mutual coexistence. It is only by listening to one another, and learning that we will be able to truly build the ideal community, in which “You are all from Adam, and Adam is from dust. There is no virtue for an Arab over a non-Arab, nor for a non-Arab over an Arab, nor for a white person over a black person, nor for a black person over a white person, except by righteousness.” (Prophet Muhammad)
We endorse the below statement issued by Alliance for Shared Values which serves as a voice for cultural organizations affiliated with Hizmet, a civil society movement inspired by prominent preacher and peace advocate Fethullah Gülen. The Alliance strives to promote peace and social harmony by helping reduce misinformation and false stereotypes about any or all ethnic, cultural, and religious communities.
Board of Directors, BayCC
AfSV Statement on Minneapolis and the death of George Floyd.
The tragic death of George Floyd during a police intervention in Minneapolis has saddened the nation and triggered a wave of protests in numerous cities. Unfortunately, this is the latest in a long line of appalling deaths across the United States. As a nation, we grieve for this loss of precious life. Each and every life is equally valuable, and every person should be treated with dignity. Seeing anyone as lesser or less worthy of humane treatment is wrong.
Now, we must learn from this tragedy by examining the realities of our society and working together to overcome the prejudice and history that has led us to this point. Every effort must be taken to prevent future tragedies by raising our collective consciousness and developing empathy. Dialogue among diverse segments of our society is a critical component of the effort to heal the wounds that have re-opened.
It is imperative for all individuals and groups who express their anger over this tragedy to act with heightened restraint. Vandalism and arson undermine the civilized debate that our society needs to have on long-standing legitimate concerns.
We pray that these difficult days will lead to heightened awareness and collaborative efforts for healing our social wounds and strengthening our bonds”
May 30, 2020