PLATFORM : Move Past the Anger

The anger of the African-American community is real and justified. (But) the greatest challenge facing that community is to resist seeking vengeance in the name of “justice.” Few will find the strength, courage and vision to move past the anger and demand that all cases in the criminal justice system be treated with the consideration and compassion seen in the Du case.

The fear of Korean-American immigrants is also real and justified. Within the past six years, more than a dozen merchants have been killed in their own shops. Many more have been subjected to non-lethal attacks. A growing anti-immigrant sentiment exacerbates that fear.

We have seen heated exchanges of words, destruction of property and the taking of lives. Token political gestures, such as finding 100 jobs in Korean-owned shops for African-Americans, miss the point. The void in genuine leadership signals danger and self-destruction for both communities.