From Greenville Mayor Errick Simmons:
Today, let’s move back to love not hate, unity not division, restoration not destruction, and life not death. We can do this together. We can start in our local communities. Let’s look forward with a unified purpose knowing that “We Are One”.
Over the past four years, we have seen our America described by the world as a presidency, a country, and quite frankly an era of division, destruction, and death.
A presidency, a country, an era, where division, hateful rhetoric was a norm embraced by enabling people, elected and appointed officials, and policies.
A presidency, a country, an era where destruction of relationships, institutions, and the fabric of America became commonplace. Media was called “the enemy of the people”. Some small businesses have indefinitely closed. This year is the worst year for jobs since the second world war. Climate agreements were withdrawn. Our allies demonized while rogue, axis global leaders and white nationalists were praised. Our country’s respect around the world has been destroyed.
A presidency, a country, an era where we have seen a historic number of deaths. Over 400,000 Americans have died from the coronavirus. The killing of George Floyd and deaths of other blacks by police have created an international response and indictment on racism in America. Peaceful protesters were greeted with tear gas while domestic terrorists were encouraged to storm our nation’s capital, leading to destruction and death.
But that is yesterday. Today is a great day.
We must change the course and soul of America with the same declaration, that was first stated in Greenville and now embraced by the nation, “We Are One”.
We can heal this nation as we are one.
We can agree to be disagreeable without personal attacks, because we are one.
We can love each other while laughing about our different ideologies, because we are one.
Today, we must decide the things that unite us outweigh the things that divide us, because we are one.
Let’s move forward together as “We Are One”.
