In recent days, we have been shaken to the core by news of the deliberate killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis law enforcement officers. This event was so brutal, it has made us wonder how such an act can take place in a civilized society. Though we are far from the scene, we feel compelled to speak out in protest.
We live in a nation where violent discriminatory acts have been all too common. As a group of professionals who strive every day to make our cities places of openness and prosperity for all, we cannot stand by in silence. KPF is donating to legal aid societies and groups such as the NAACP focused on defending the rights of the African American community and other communities of color.
Especially now, as the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic threaten our societies worldwide, the crisis sparked by the murders of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and too many others is especially damaging, and threatens to leave us without hope. It is all the more important that we look for constructive ways to sow seeds of peace and understanding and strive to achieve social equality through the progressive design of the built environment.