ReMARCs: Hate Has No Place – Here or Anywhere
By Marc Morial
President & CEO, National Urban League
Earlier this week, our collective consciousness was again shocked by two despicable incidents spanning international borders – the bombing of an NAACP office in Colorado Springs on Tuesday and the massacre at the satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo in Paris that killed 12 people on Wednesday.
First and foremost, our prayers are with the families of the deceased in Paris, and we are grateful that no one was physically harmed in the NAACP office bombing. While authorities continue to investigate both of these incidents, I believe that one thing remains clear. The hatred and intolerance which drove both of these acts are two of the biggest threats facing our nation and our world. They are a terminal cancer threatening any efforts towards equality, peace and prosperity; and worse, they are not confined within any border, race, religion, orientation or ideology.
For those of us committed to what we do – whether working for a newspaper or on the front line of civil rights – our employees, volunteers and others should not be targeted by hate groups or hate-filled individuals. Disagreement is to be expected; destruction, whether of life or property, is to be vehemently condemned – no matter where it occurs.
As we move into this new year, we do so knowing many of the challenges ahead: decreasing criminal justice, income and wealth disparities; working towards police reform and stronger police-community relations; repairing the Voting Rights Act; protecting immigration reform; creating jobs via investment in our public transportation systems (e.g. a transportation bill); and continuing our work to achieve equity in public education. But we also move forward knowing that working together – side-by-side – with our supporters, partners, peer organizations and all of those in the Urban League Movement, we will continue to make great strides. Thank you for all you do and your unwavering commitment to what we do to ensure a better America and a better tomorrow. Onward and upward in 2015…keep pushing!
