| FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: Lyndon Pryor Louisville Urban League (502) 585-4622 [email protected] |
N E W S R E L E A S E |
Statement on Charlottesville & Monuments
Louisville, KY, August 16, 2017— “There is no place for you here. There is no place for you in America.” This was Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe’s message to the white supremacists and terrorists who descended on Charlottesville, Virginia this past weekend.
The brutal assaults, which ultimately resulted in the murder of Heather Heyer and the death of two law enforcement officers, are a burden that we all carry. We have been, and remain, in a fight for the soul of our country. I am grateful for the National Urban League, our Urban League affiliates around the country, and partner organizations who are in the trenches daily combating inequity and injustice from every angle. We cannot afford for good people to sit on the sidelines and do nothing. Neutrality is not an option. It is time for us all to use our platforms, our resources, our spheres of influence, and our privilege to root out the very foundations of hatred and division on which we stand.
To honor members of the Confederacy is to honor the fight for the continuation of slavery and oppression at all costs. Their vision for our country was corrupt. It was defeated in war, and it is our duty to dismantle any public honor associated with it. Memorials that showcase individuals who espoused ideals and values of hate, discrimination, ignorance, injustice, and racism serve no defensible purpose.
Simply put, there is no place for them in Louisville, in the state of Kentucky, or in America.
We all have a responsibility to tell the truth about this segment of American history. Furthermore, this history should be taught in classrooms and museums across the country where the people and events can be put into proper context.
At the Louisville Urban League, we use a platform of jobs, justice, education, health, and housing to move marginalized people into more equitable situations, promoting generational wealth and wellness for families and communities. Our work is not partisan; it is about people. It is not divisive; rather, it is collaborative. It is not prejudiced; instead, it is tolerant. For most of us, the work extends beyond the workday because it is deeply personal. This moment in our country is critical to those we love and to those we serve. If it is not already, we hope that moving forward from this day, the work will become critical to you too.
At some point, you will be asked what action you took while hate assaulted and terrorized your neighbors. You will be asked where you stood when apathy and collusion reigned down from the highest offices in government. Did you object? Did you turn a blind eye?
When it is all said and done, how will history record your effort?
Sadiqa N. Reynolds, Esq.
President and CEO
Louisville Urban League
1535 W Broadway, Louisville, KY
(502) 585-4622
[email protected]
Attached:
[Transcript] Remarks by Sadiqa N. Reynolds, Esq. at Unity Rally held in the Kentucky State Capitol (August 16, 2017)[Video] Remarks by Sadiqa N. Reynolds, Esq. at Unity Rally held in the Kentucky State Capitol (August 16, 2017)
About the Louisville Urban League
As an active partner, leader, and catalyst, the Louisville Urban League assists African Americans, other marginalized populations, and the disadvantaged attain social and economic equality and stability through direct services and advocacy. The Louisville Urban League is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. For more information, go to www.lul.org.
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