Our country is suffering. There is a stain on the history of our nation that is being brought to the forefront of the public’s attention with the protests that have swept cities across America and the world. In the midst of the global pandemic, people are taking to the streets to denounce the killing of an unarmed Black man in police custody. Racism, discrimination and intolerance remain a problem in our society, in the face of which silence is not an option.
It is clear that there remains work that needs to be done to eliminate racism and inequality. As members of the Lancaster community we, at Blakinger Thomas, stand together with Black Americans, peoples of color and all those who may be marginalized.
We are committed to continuing the work to end inequality. We understand that we have a responsibility to listen to those in our community who are hurting, however difficult the conversation may be. We also understand we have a responsibility to do better and to do more. Moving forward, we are renewing our commitment to review our own internal policies and procedures, our thought processes and inherent biases. Externally we will continue to support organizations and nonprofits that promote diversity, inclusion and the value of each person and community.
In the words of Justice Thurgood Marshall, “I wish I could say that racism and prejudice were only distant memories. We must dissent from the indifference. We must dissent from the apathy. We must dissent from the fear, the hatred and the mistrust…We must dissent because America can do better, because America has no choice but to do better.”