One year ago today, the killing of George Floyd sparked a broad examination of the injustice present in our society and the real change that needs to happen. The declaration that Black Lives Matter was broadly issued by countless organizations across the country, and Be The Match was among them. We expressed deep sorrow for the community and pledged concrete actions to accelerate the racial justice work that activists have been working toward for so long. We do so again today.
There are vigils being held throughout the world, and particularly in our hometown of Minneapolis where a continuous memorial and community gatherings have been in place at George Floyd Square. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz released a state of Minnesota proclamation stating that “We must continue do everything in our power to come together to deconstruct and undo generations of systemic racism in our state so that every Minnesotan has the opportunity to thrive.” The proclamation also calls for a moment of silence at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, May 25, 2021 for 9 minutes and 29 seconds to “honor George Floyd and every person whose life has been cut short due to systems of racism and discrimination in Minnesota.”
Be The Match will observe this moment of silence today. We invite you to join this observance as well and participate as fits your comfort and ability. Tomorrow, we will resume – not work as usual, but work toward eliminating the racial disparities that exist in our cellular therapy space and advancing equitable outcomes for all. We look forward to sharing our progress with you.
Please be well, be safe and take care of each other.