BLM

​It is difficult to express the anger, heartache and frustration that we are experiencing during this difficult time for our Metro Detroit community and our country. Not only the needless killing of George Floyd, but also Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and so many other African-Americans, have shocked us, at the Piast Institute, to our core. These killings represent the worst of our country: needles violence and injustice driven by racism and hatred of our fellow American brothers and sisters.
 
As members of the Polish-American community, it pains us deeply to see such injustice in the United States. As an immigrant community, many of our people came to this country because, at its best, it represents the best of humanity: a beacon of freedom, justice, and opportunity. It is a place where anyone can become an American, as long as they are committed to these shared set of values. Unfortunately, the killing of George Floyd demonstrates that we are falling well short of living up to these values. For too many African-Americans, the color of their skin is a major obstacle to the freedom, justice and opportunity that is the right of every American.
 
Because of this, we cannot remain silent or indifferent to recent developments. A famous Polish creed says “for our freedom and yours.” This commitment to freedom and fighting oppression is a key Polish-American value, and has been a part of our community from the days of the Polish heroes of the American Revolution, Thaddeus Kosciuszko and Casimir Pulaski. Living up to their example must mean supporting the peaceful, and just, protests around the country, opposing police violence against protesters, allowing everyone to exercise their Constitutional and moral rights, and doing all that we can to end racism and bigotry that has ruined so many Black and Brown lives in the communities across our country.
 
Black Lives Matter