Statement on the Death of George Floyd
STATEMENT ON THE DEATH OF GEORGE FLOYD
The Cardinal Hayes High School community joins its voice in grief and outrage at the recent brutal homicide of George Floyd. How many people have to die before we are able to fully respect one another and treat each other as God’s children?
We, as a community of believers, educators, students and alumni join in solidarity in condemning the senseless death of George Floyd and all acts of racism and violence. We stand in prayer and support of all the members of our Black community who need our support more than ever. Let us speak out for justice, equality and respect for all of our citizens.
As a Catholic high school, we pledge to continue to respect all people by working tirelessly to help our school community to provide the moral standards that will help eradicate all forms of racism, bigotry, hate and violence in our society.
We commit ourselves to working with and listening to all members of our community to heal, work toward greater understanding, and eliminate racial injustice and violence from our world. We can accomplish this by listening to and working to amplify Black voices among us to learn how best to continue to serve a community that forms such a large and essential part of our school.
We strongly support the statement from the Commission of Religious Leaders found below and the statement released by the National Council of Catholic Bishops.
May 31, 2020
On behalf of the Commission of Religious Leaders (CORL)
CORL Statement on the Death of George Floyd
The Book of Ecclesiastes teaches us, “There is a time to be silent and a time to speak out.” We of different faiths cannot remain silent after we watched the shattering video of a police officer keeping his knee on the neck of George Floyd who was crying out “I can’t breathe.” Such inhumane treatment of another human being requires a collective response from all people of conscience. The pursuit of justice is a fundamental tenet of our respective religious traditions, and thus we stand together to declare that all life is sacred, and all people are equal before the law in a democratic society.
We respect those who want to honor George Floyd’s memory with peaceful protest against the horror, evil, and sin that is racism. We also support the members of Floyd’s family who said, in part, “We cannot endanger each other as we respond to the necessary urge to raise our voices in unison and in outrage. Looting and violence distract from the strength of our collective voice.”
We often speak of “thoughts and prayers.” We will offer our many prayers of healing, but we need not only serious thoughts but also firm action as we work together with all members of our community to find that critical cure for human hatred.
Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Chair
Rev. Dr. A.R. Bernard, Sr., President
Rabbi Joseph Potasnik, Vice President
Members:
Imam Talib ‘Abdur-Rashid
Bishop Victor Brown
Rabbi Angela Warnick Buchdal
Elder David Buckner
Rev. Gregory Chisholm
Rev. Herbert Daughtry
Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio
Rev. Que English
Imam Dr. Tahir Kukiqi
Rabbi Michael Miller
Bishop John O’Hara
Rev. Al Sharpton
Msgr. Kevin Sullivan
Cardinal Hayes High School
650 Grand Concourse
Bronx, NY 10451
Phone: 718-292-6100
For all media inquiries please contact: media@cardinalhayes.org
Bronx, NY 10451
Phone: 718-292-6100
For all media inquiries please contact: media@cardinalhayes.org
The Mission of Cardinal Hayes High School, a community based in Roman Catholic values, is to inspire diverse young men of the New York City metropolitan area to become lifelong learners and responsible citizens. We will accomplish this goal by encouraging students' spiritual and intellectual growth through a rigorous college preparatory program of academics, extra-curricular activities, and personal discipline.