On May 25, 2020, people around the world witnessed the horrific murder of George Floyd. In the days that followed, we continued to watch in horror at violent police responses in some of our nation's cities to the protests that followed, cries for military occupation of those cities by certain politicians, and yet more Black Americans being murdered.

The Groton Democrats over the past month have joined our community in protests and marches throughout our region to show our support. We must hope that this historical moment will embolden a newly energized majority in this country to seek meaningful racial justice for all. These events have demonstrated to people in this nation and around the world something people of color have lived with every day of their lives: that racism is woven into the tapestry of our nation. It is so embedded, and so subtly maintained, that those of us unaffected by it have been largely unaware of its pervasive nature. It is an irony of history that it took the invention of the camera-equipped smartphone to shatter the illusions under which so many have lived.

The Groton Democrats forcefully condemn the ongoing abuses by police on people of color and peaceful protestors. We likewise condemn politicians throughout this nation giving those police aid and comfort and call on political leaders of all stripes to make rooting out systemic racism a top priority. That our collective racism finds expression in some places with a militarized police culture cannot be tolerated. In the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere., Groton Democrats adamantly declare, Black Lives Matter! 

While these scenes are discouraging, the national response gives us hope. The majority of people in this country realize right now that we all need to address the racism woven into our society. Here in Groton, as in the rest of the country, each of us must seize this opportunity to do the right thing to make our town, state and nation live up to the principles embedded in our founding documents, and ensure that all of us are free to enjoy life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

There is no doubt that the systemic racism that underpins the more brutal expressions of racism elsewhere, exists here as well. Groton Democrats pledge to continue our efforts to diversify our party and to support local, state and national candidates who will demand respect, justice and equality for all, pursuing the proposition that all people are created equal.

John Wirzbicki is a member of the Groton Democratic Town Committee.