A message from the KABANC Board in response to national events:
KABANC is outraged and deeply pained by the footage of George Floyd’s arrest. We condemn these acts of police cruelty and violence on our Black community members and stand together in demanding justice.
This past week, Americans viewed yet another harrowing video of a black life taken while in police custody. Former Minneapolis police officer, Derek Chauvin, knelt on Mr. Floyd’s neck for several minutes, ignoring his pleas that he could not breathe. The recording shows three other police officers, Tou Thoa, J. Alexander Kueng, and Thomas K. Lane, either helping to pin down Mr. Floyd or looking on as the situation unfolded. Mr. Floyd became unresponsive and died as a result of the actions of these police officers. We are horrified by the deeply disturbing images and believe that such senseless violence has no place in our country.
We must not tolerate racist acts of police brutality. As an organization of Korean Americans, we know all too well the anguish and destruction that results from the oppression of our fellow communities of color. Our shared history and humanity call us to action, and KABANC joins others in demanding a swift, fair, and transparent criminal investigation into the death of Mr. Floyd.
KABANC recognizes that the police officers in this incident are not representative of law enforcement officers everywhere. We are confident that most police officers, prosecutors, and judges across the country carry out their duties to protect the public with honor, fairness, and integrity. This is all the more reason to root out the racism that hampers the efforts of our protectors and peace keepers.
More than ever, we must come together to call out the systemic racism weaved into the threads of our society. We are committed to raising the collective awareness of our community to take a stance against silence, complacency, and active hate. KABANC calls on our members, allies, and community organizations to have courage, be vigilant in recognizing oppressive practices, and condemn oppression and discrimination. We grieve with our Black brothers and sisters and pledge to fight alongside them so that our criminal justice system serves and protects all communities without the stain of racism.
