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During the same time an
estimated 750 events took place across the nation.
“Institutional racism is detrimental to our country and to
our community,” said McDuffie prior to the local event.
“Sitting in silence does not quiet injustice.”
“We stand committed as a
Board of Commissioners in coming together as a community to
combat racism,” said Lucas County Commissioner Tina Skeldon
Wozniak after the group pledge. She pointed to two examples
of racism that are so pervasive – criminal justice system
and lead poisoning – and in which the African-American
community is disproportionately disadvantaged.
“You can find racism in
education, in the criminal justice system and in the
environmental system,” she said. “We can identify racism in
two ways – the blatant hate crimes and in the subtleties
where we all work.”
Lucas County Commissioner
Pete Gerken spoke of what he termed the “new dynamics” of
racism. “We are exporting our racism onto brown people as
the problem has gotten more complex,” said Gerken,
referencing recent calls to deport a large portion of the
population.
Also taking the pledge
were Toledo City Council Members Cecelia Adams, PhD, and
Larry Sykes. “What we are fighting is discrimination,
stereotyping and the like,” said Adams. Sykes added: “It’s
unfortunate that we have to be here in 2016 talking about
this – no one should be denied any of their rights because
of their race, religion or sexual preference.”
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