This country is tattered and torn. Ther’es the pandemic that the world is gripped with, and now racial tensions are again at a boiling point because of the senseless and tragic death of George Floyd.
Both peaceful protests and violent riots have broken out across this country, and the only way we’re going to heal if there is real change that comes out of all of this. We have to band together and collectively move in the right direction.
Many famous personalities and figures have come out and called for change and expressed their condolences for yet another case of needless and overreaching misuse of violence towards minorities in this country by the police.
Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith is one of those people that put his thoughts in writing. He shared them via his Twitter profile on Saturday.
“My beautiful mother was born in the rural South in 1926,” said Smith. “Among the many indignities she suffered, she often had to step into the gutter instead of walking on the sidewalk. She lived to see her son become Athletic Director at Ohio State, something she never dreamed possible.”
“Now, as I cherish my children and grandchildren, I call on all of us to make their world a place where what happened in New York and Minnesota this week is not tolerated. A world where equal justice for all is a reality.”
“My life’s work is dedicated to talented young men and women of all races, ethnicities, religions, sexual preferences and socioeconomic statuses. I love and support each and every one of them. I dream of a world that does the same.”
Below is the Tweet Smith shared.
Some thoughts about the events that transpired this week: pic.twitter.com/axE3rwsfPz
— gene smith (@OSU_AD) May 29, 2020
Say what you will about Smith on some of the criticism he has received in the past, but it’s hard not to get behind this message. Hopefully, this and many other messages shared along the same lines bring about some significant and much-needed change.