'Looting isn't liberation': Former US Prez Bush on protests following George Floyd's death

In view of ongoing protests over death of an African American named George Floyd which have taken a turn violent turn, former US President George W Bush who has largely avoided media attention after his tenure as US president ended, has called for 'peace means' in march towards justice, as protests have resulted in vandalism, looting, loss of life and property. He lamented on racism prevailing in society, however, in doing so, he also condemned looting and rioting that has followed protests.

“Many doubt justice of our country, and with good reason. Black people see repeated violation of ir rights without an urgent and adequate response from American institutions,” Bush said in a statement.

But “we kw that lasting justice will only come by peaceful means,” Bush said. “Looting is t liberation, and destruction is t progress,” he added.

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Statement by President George W. Bush

"Laura and I are anguished by brutal suffocation of George Floyd and disturbed by injustice and fear that suffocate our country. Yet we have resisted urge to speak out, because this is t time for us to lecture. It is time for us to listen. It is time for America to examine our tragic failures – and as we do, we will also see some of our redeeming strengths.

It remains a shocking failure that many African Americans, especially young African American men, are harassed and threatened in ir own country. It is a strength when protesters, protected by responsible law enforcement, march for a better future. This trdy — in a long series of similar trdies — raises a long-overdue question: How do we end systemic racism in our society? only way to see ourselves in a true light is to listen to voices of so many who are hurting and grieving. Those who set out to silence those voices do t understand meaning of America — or how it becomes a better place.

America’s greatest challenge has long been to unite people of very different backgrounds into a single nation of justice and opportunity. doctrine and habits of racial superiority, which once nearly split our country, still threaten our Union. answers to American problems are found by living up to American ideals — to fundamental truth that all human beings are created equal and endowed by God with certain rights. We have often underestimated how radical that quest really is, and how our cherished principles challenge systems of intended or assumed injustice. heroes of America — from Frederick Douglass to Harriet Tubman, to Abraham Lincoln, to Martin Lur King, Jr. — are heroes of unity. ir calling has never been for fainarted. y often revealed nation’s disturbing bigotry and exploitation — stains on our character sometimes difficult for American majority to examine. We can only see reality of America’s need by seeing it through eyes of threatened, oppressed, and disenfranchised.

That is exactly where we w stand. Many doubt justice of our country, and with good reason. Black people see repeated violation of ir rights without an urgent and adequate response from American institutions. We kw that lasting justice will only come by peaceful means. Looting is t liberation, and destruction is t progress. But we also kw that lasting peace in our communities requires truly equal justice. rule of law ultimately depends on fairness and legitimacy of legal system. And achieving justice for all is duty of all.

This will require a consistent, courous, and creative effort. We serve our neighbours best when we try to understand ir experience. We love our neighbours as ourselves when we treat m as equals, in both protection and compassion. re is a better way — way of empathy, and shared commitment, and bold action, and a peace rooted in justice. I am confident that toger, Americans will choose better way."

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