Washburn Center is in mourning and is outraged at the tragic killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis on May 25. Our deepest sympathy is with Mr. Floyd’s family and all of our community members who are impacted by this traumatic event – another unarmed African-American person killed by a white police officer.
We may be feeling excruciating grief, immobilizing sadness or intense rage. This horrific event re-ignites the historical trauma of generations of systemic racism, brutality and discrimination. As Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said, “Being black in America should not be a death sentence.”
This week’s tragedy falls closely on the heels of the killing of Ahmaud Arbery, who was violently attacked while jogging in Georgia – and in the shadows of the recent deaths of three Minneapolis citizens, all African Americans – one man, one woman, and one child. The traumatic reality of systemic racism is fundamental to our country and state’s history and present in our daily lives.
We acknowledge and hold:
- There are family members left hurting at the loss of their loved one.
- This incident conjures up historical trauma that’s been experienced and felt by communities of color for decades.
- Many families who are served by Washburn Center live in fear and uncertainty for their safety.
We cannot erase the pain; we can offer these resources and we are here for families struggling with anxiety, depression and trauma: