After Archbishop Elpidophoros of America and the Executive Committee of the Assembly of the Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the USA condemning the police violence in the wake of the death of the African-American George Floyd, Metropolitan Methodios of Boston also issued a statement.
The statement said: “It is indeed tragic to witness in Boston and in cities throughout America the consequences of injustice, inequality, and hopelessness which have been exacerbated by the horrific killing of George Floyd.
For several months we have been battling the dangerous pandemic of the Covid-19 virus and are now confronted with an even more dangerous pandemic —that of racism. Many brethren feel dehumanized, humiliated, frustrated and angry. Since the killing of George Floyd, we have watched crowds expressing their outrage through protests which they hope will bring attention and meaningful change to a broken and unjust society.
Respecting his memory, they expressed their condolences and their pain in a manner consistent with our nation’s history of peaceful protest inspired by the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Surely he would abhor the criminal acts of arson, the violent acts of rage, the senseless ransacking and destruction of property —crimes committed by those who have allowed their anger to turn to vandalism and violence.
Let us pray for the courage and strength necessary to become instruments of love. Let us work together harmoniously to bring about justice in the face of inequality and discrimination.
Let us love our neighbors regardless of their color, their creed or their race. Let us recognize that they are our brothers and sisters.
I pray that we emerge from this difficult period in our nation’s history as one united family, “one nation under God, indivisible, with Liberty, and Justice for all.”