A message to the communities we serve about peace, equality and human rights

A message to the communities we serve about peace, equality and human rights

For more than two decades, CSMI has worked in minority communities that have been underserved by society and government alike.  We have seen the incredible determination, perseverance, faith, and love that exist in these communities despite the fact that they are too often ignored by the greater world.  We have had the joy and honor of watching students battle the odds to come out on top: going on to college, careers, and in many cases, coming back to the communities that raised them so that they can give back.

Today there is a national call to action.  The action we need is to see equal rights and fair justice applied to all Americans and to all people.  Next month, we will celebrate the 56th anniversary of Lyndon Johnson signing the Civil Rights Act.  Yet across our nation we see the rights of our fellow citizens of color being abused at the hands of authority time and time again. We see basic liberties denied and we see minorities victimized by a lack of pay parity.  We see far too often that the ugliness and cowardice of racism is still institutionalized throughout our society.

We believe it is time for progress.

We believe it is time to stamp out racism, once and for all.

We believe it is time to see equal and fair justice for all people of all backgrounds, no matter the color of their skin.

We believe it is time to listen to — and speak up for — people of color.

And we believe that it is incumbent on each one of us to be part of the solution, to stand up to violence against minorities, and to stand firm until we have made our nation a fair and safe place, where every child can grow up without living in fear of those whose mission is to protect and serve.