Statement on Behalf of the Jesuit Community

The Jesuit Community at Loyola Marymount University is deeply distressed and angered by the murders of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and so many other people of color. We stand in solidarity with people across our nation who call for justice and change.

The Covid-19 pandemic exposes the fissures in our political culture and society, the systemic racism of our nation, the cravenness of too many of our leaders, and the inequality of the global socioeconomic (dis)order. The egregious lack of real political leadership and will at the highest levels of our U.S. government has fanned the flames of anger, disillusionment and frustration that we see unfolding before our very eyes every night. The massive failure of our democratic system to achieve anywhere near an acceptable level of equity among people has brought our country to this sad and tragic moment of chaos.

We Jesuits cannot merely point the finger at others in this matter. Our history and conduct betray racial/ethnic biases in our dealings with African Americans, Latinxs, Native Americans and other people on the margins. The prophetic character of biblical faith, rooted in the Abrahamic tradition of Judaism, Christianity and Islam, impels us to stand with suffering humanity in the struggle to transform a world that cries out for peace based on justice.

We wish to join our many students, friends and colleagues in discovering the way forward as a people of faith, hope and love.

Allan Figueroa Deck, S.J.
Rector
Jesuit Community
Loyola Marymount University

 

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