Statement of Metropolitan Methodios of Boston on the Death of George Floyd
It is indeed tragic to witness in Boston and in cities throughout America the consequences of injustice, inequality, and hopelessness which have been exacerbated by the horrific killing of George Floyd.
For several months we have been battling the dangerous pandemic of the Covid-19 virus and are now confronted with an even more dangerous pandemic — that of racism. Many brethren feel dehumanized, humiliated, frustrated and angry. Since the killing of George Floyd, we have watched crowds expressing their outrage through protests which they hope will bring attention and meaningful change to a broken and unjust society. Respecting his memory, they expressed their condolences and their pain in a manner consistent with our nation’s history of peaceful protest inspired by the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. He believed that we should never return hate with hate, nor repay violence with violence. They recall his words, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that. Hate multiplies hate, violence multiplies in a descending spiral of destruction.” Surely he would abhor the criminal acts of arson, the violent acts of rage, the senseless ransacking and destruction of property — crimes committed by those who have allowed their anger to turn to vandalism and violence.
Let us pray for the courage and strength necessary to become instruments of love. Let us work together harmoniously to bring about justice in the face of inequality and discrimination. Let us become “peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God.” (Matthew 5:9) Let us recognize that every human being is created in the image and likeness of God. Let us love our neighbors regardless of their color, their creed or their race. Let us recognize that they are our brothers and sisters — they “are members of the household of God” (Eph. 2:19).
I pray that we emerge from this difficult period in our nation’s history as one united family, “one nation under God, indivisible, with Liberty, and Justice for all.”
