“We’ve been through a lot together, as a city, this past year. Some of us are grieving those lost to COVID-19; others are mourning loved ones lost to gun violence, and all of us are missing the loss of human connection and sense of personal safety.
We are dealing with trauma on many different levels, so tensions are bound to flare up and run high. Still, leaders must hold themselves to the highest standards of conduct. We need the city’s leaders to set an example for the children. We are asking our youth to put down the guns and resolve their differences peacefully. We are asking the police to put aside weapons and instead focus on building trust and ensuring public safety.
We must all walk our talk. It is time for business officials in Philly to stop holding conferences about diversity and start addressing the biases that have denied minority youth educational and employment opportunities for so long.
It is time for city leaders to stop arguing with each other and instead seek out common ground. Our youth model the behavior of the adults around them.
The NAACP Philadelphia branch is asking that this City join with us in putting children and young people ahead of everything else. In the coming weeks, the NAACP Philadelphia Branch will unveil an effort to reach deep into the communities experiencing the most significant trauma and violence and partner with grassroots leaders, religious institutions, and others in addressing this pain. Trauma affects who we are, how we respond to setbacks and slights, and our mental and physical health. It is time to begin the healing process”.