Dear friends,
The past several weeks have been filled with tragedy.
This truth became especially apparent to me when earlier in the week my 12-year-old daughter showed me YouTube videos of the recent shootings and asked me, “Mommy why does this keep happening?” While we still have more to learn about the killings of Philando Castile and Alton Sterling as well as the murder of six police officers in Dallas, I urged Morgan to think about how we can be a part of the solution.
It’s the same call-to-action that I urge each and every one of you to take up as well.
How can we as “One San Antonio” let the tragedies of recent weeks strengthen our resolve to do what is right rather than turn away? How can we, in the wake of such distrust, reach out to our neighbors in order to tear down walls of anger and resentment and create a more unified society? And how can we stand with our fellow residents against the horrific violence that is shaking our country?
As you go about your upcoming week, please pause and consider how we as individuals, San Antonians, and Americans can be promoters of peace; reflect on how we can more deeply care for our neighbors; and continue to keep everyone who has been affected by these recent tragedies in your thoughts and prayers.
We may have a long way to go to heal the wounds of last week but I know that change can only start when we begin to work together.
Grace and peace,
Mayor Ivy R. Taylor
photo: Courtesy of the City of San Antonio: Mayor Ivy Taylor with the SA Police, SA Fire & City Council stood together in light of recent violence across the country.
