Statement from Mayor Barbarann Keffer

Published on June 05, 2020

Statement from Mayor Barbarann Keffer
June 5, 2020

Dear Residents,

Over the past few days we’ve seen tremendously impactful peaceful protests to seek justice for Geroge Floyd and countless others. Over the past week, we’ve affirmed that the lives of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery mattered. The lives of those that we have lost and do not know their names mattered; they were mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, wives, husbands, and friends. They were loved. They were valued. And ultimately, they were failed by our institutions and our inaction. We will not fail them any longer with our silence. From here, we must do the work.

I want to be unequivocally clear: racism and bigotry will not be tolerated within our Township. To those that think things will remain how they are; how they’ve always been, that the racist policies and practices that we have failed to address and behavior we have failed to recognize will resume; you could not be more wrong. You do not define Upper Darby, and you will not hold us back.

Over the past week we have seen that the majority of Upper Darby residents want to see meaningful change, to address the most pressing issue of our time. They want to build a future that we can be proud of, they want to build a future that is accepting, and inclusive, and most of all, safe and just and promising; regardless of the color of your skin.

As your Mayor, as a mother, and as a human being, the events that are being brought out of the darkness and into public view are horrifying and devastating. I can not know, and will not ever know, the depth of pain and frustration that many members of our community have endured, but I can promise you that we will do better. We will actively call out injustice and bigotry when we see it. We will not skirt around the uncomfortable truths and ugly realities that exist both out in the open and under the surface of our community; we will have the difficult conversations to make meaningful, lasting change.

We have the opportunity to shape a future that addresses the long-standing systemic inequities that plague our nation. Let’s not squander it. Let’s focus on the hard work we must undertake and focus on creating a community based on compassion, mutual respect and equity for all people.

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