Selectboard members, school administrators and public safety officials from Deerfield, Whately, Conway and Sunderland recently issued a joint statement to residents on racial inequality and police brutality.
The statement was prompted by the death of George Floyd, a black man who was killed at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer. Floyd’s death has sparked protests across the country.
“We write to you today from a place of shared grief and pain over the tragic death of Mr. George Floyd,” the letter begins. “Pain over the tragic events that have transpired in Minneapolis and the many cities and towns across our nation. Pain over this senseless tragedy as we turn our collective attention to the perpetual problem of racial inequalities being amplified by incidences of senseless police brutality in America. We recognize many members of our community are grieving and we offer solace to you all.”
In the letter, officials write that the four towns will continue to commit to the idea that diversity is a strength, and that every individual has equal value.
“We feel a deep sense of responsibility and recognize that we must be allies,” the letter continues. “We stand alongside you.”
Floyd’s death has made public officials in all four communities reflect on their own practices, behaviors and attitudes, according to the letter.
“We ask ourselves whether we are doing enough, are vigilant enough, and whether we have fostered a true culture of respect and honesty,” they write. “We try to do this through training, listening and learning, and by maintaining an attitude of humility and service. We also feel deeply that to see injustices and say nothing is to condone them.”