The Princeton Pro-Life Club released the following statement to The Tory following the the murder of George Floyd:
As an organization committed to upholding the value and dignity of every human life—from conception to natural death—it was with great sorrow that Princeton Pro-Life witnessed the stripping away of the dignity and life of George Floyd, a sorrow further multiplied by the loss of Breona Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and countless others.
As such, this statement comes at a time when the pro-life community as a whole must more actively and consciously fight for the dignity of every human person, especially in cases of gross injustice. The entire nation watched in horror for eight minutes and forty six seconds as Officer Chauvin’s leg pressed down upon George Floyd’s neck, only for him to pass away shortly after. The deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and many others are undeniably tragic and condemnable, and we share in the pain this has brought across the nation. In the past week, we have seen this pain turn to anger, and anger turn to violence. Such violence has hospitalized protestors and police officers alike, and in some cases has tragically resulted in more death. We mourn the loss of a retired black police captain named David Dorn, age 77, who was shot and left to die on the sidewalk by looters in St. Louis. Suffering need not beget suffering, and death need not beget death. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once wrote, “Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” This great champion of civil rights has shown us the power of love in the fight against racism in our nation, and it is with this lesson in mind that we can unite to forge a better tomorrow.
Moreover, we are disturbed and disappointed by the silence from pro-life leaders and organizations on this issue. Many of us have felt paralyzed by how to properly respond to this situation in a manner that fully reflects all of our values. In recent years, we have seen access to abortion prominently dragged into the conversation as part of a path to racial equality and struggled to feel that we could be part of that conversation without compromising our commitment to the dignity of life from conception to natural death. At times our objections to this were addressed in a manner that was insensitive, and for that we apologize. We acknowledge that in the past, pro-life leaders have disappeared from holistic conversation during instances of police brutality and are saddened by the hurt that has caused, especially to our Princeton community and the pro-life community.
We believe this fight to be more than just about “standing in solidarity” with our fellow Americans during a time of high tensions. We must actively seek to promote the dignity of the black community by first recognizing and then acting against the many systemic injustices and the oppression that they face—whether that be educational and healthcare disparities or the many cases of police brutality that this community has faced for many years. It also requires a personal effort from each and every individual within and outside of the pro-life community. In whatever path we choose to take, it is essential that as a community devoted to the consistent life ethic, we seek, as individuals, to bring freedom to all people, a fundamental condition for respecting the dignity of every human person. This requires a willingness to have difficult conversations with others about the realities that many suffer, in an effort to change the hearts and the minds of those who deny the realities of racism, its prevalence in American society and beyond, and its destruction of human dignity. Only then will we make significant progress towards peace and a recognition of the dignity of all.
Princeton Pro-Life will be a part of this change by supporting organizations that reflect our beliefs on the sanctity of life while furthering the equal dignity of all human beings.
Sincerely,
The Princeton Pro-Life Executive Board
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