On Memorial Day, May 25th, 2020, George Floyd was killed by those sworn to protect him. This was a senseless and unconscionable act. While I wish I could say this was an unthinkable act, I cannot. It is yet another instance of injustice and violence members of our Black neighbors and other BIPOC communities face each and every day right here on our own streets.
Past tragedies and injustices have prompted the nation to talk about this issue time and time again. Hopefully, this will be the moment when we, as a community, say enough is enough. As a nation, we have talked about the systemic racism inherent in America for far too long. It is time for us to move beyond this discussion and take action.
Police violence is just one part of the system of oppression that permeates our society and culture. Systemic racism is embedded in every aspect of our lives, and where we live is no exception. Destructive and discriminatory housing policies have contributed to segregated neighborhoods and inequalities in homeownership opportunity and household wealth, forms of structural violence. Minnesota is no exception. In fact, Minnesota is the worst in the nation in the gap in homeownership rates between white and Black households.
NeighborWorks Home Partners stands in solidarity to denounce racism and violence in all its forms. We stand to dismantle the systemic racism that still exists in our nation’s homeownership structure, and to create opportunity for all Minnesotans to have access to peaceful, safe, and equitable homeownership.
Jason Peterson, Chief Executive Officer
Read: 5 Things to Know About Housing Discrimination in the Wake of George Floyd’s Death
