I am sorry

This tall Iris, richly coloured and intricately designed, reminded me of George Perry Floyd

Mr George Perry Floyd had moved from Houston to Minneapolis in search of greener pastures in an attempt to turn his life around.

In an affront to humankind, Mr Floyd’s quest ended at the knee of a police officer on 25 May 2020.

George Floyd, I am so sorry.

Breonna Taylor, I am so sorry.

Ahmaud Arbery, I am so sorry.

Victims of racism, police brutality, and all forms of injustice the world over, I am so sorry.

So so sorry.

To every soul devalued, exploited, oppressed, suppressed, brutalised, and murdered by those who hold power of any kind in their hands, at whatever level, amongst whichever peoples or grouping of people, on every continent, because of who they were born to be - ‘less than’ in the eyes of the perpetrators, I am so sorry.

To all treated inequitably and unjustly because we are egregiously deemed to be ‘less than’, I am so sorry.

The loved ones and friends of every soul so devalued, exploited, oppressed, suppressed, brutalised, and murdered by those who hold power of any kind in their hands, at whatever level, amongst whichever peoples or grouping of people, on every continent are left behind to carry a heavy and traumatic burden of pain. I am so sorry.

I know that sorrow is but a start. I do not believe in a Utopia in this world, but I stand in solidarity with those of every race, creed and gender who have been and are peacefully pooling our collective sorrow, trauma, outrage and energy for positive change that will, at the very least, significantly curtail the evil of those with power of all kinds in their hands, at every level, amongst all peoples, and on every continent, who systematically devalue, exploit, oppress, suppress, brutalise and murder those they deem to be 'less than' ... so we can BREATHE.