By Bill Newlands, President & CEO
The events that transpired yesterday in Washington, D.C. shook our nation to its core and was a sad day for those of us living in the U.S.
I’ve been struggling to find a way to explain the violent protests that occurred at our nation’s Capitol, and this became abundantly apparent when my kids started asking me questions about what was happening and I wasn’t exactly sure what to say.
I join other leaders across the country and around the world in condemning the violence, destruction and fear mongering that was witnessed. These acts are inconsistent with our long history of peaceful transitions of power in America that have upheld our democracy… a democracy that many around the world have admired for so many years.
Yesterday’s violence also stands in contradiction to the examples set by various champions of peace and nonviolence that we’ve admired throughout history including Rosa Parks, Gandhi, Dr. Martin Luther King, John Lewis, Eleanor Roosevelt, Mother Teresa, etc.
As we move forward as a nation, I ask that we all engage in a bit of reflection and consider the role that each of us can play as individuals and within our communities to promote peace and unity and to create a brighter future for our country.