Dear Zambian friends,
I want to share some thoughts about the news that has been broadcast around the world and that I know is on the minds of many of you. Today, the United States is struggling with difficult and persistent challenges of racial discrimination and violence.
All of us at the U.S. Embassy grieve at the deplorable killing of George Floyd in Minnesota. The horrific scenes of his death have justifiably shocked Americans and people around the world. The police officer involved has been charged with murder and manslaughter. Furthermore, the U.S. Department of Justice is conducting a criminal investigation into the death of Mr. Floyd.
Our prayers and thoughts are with Mr. Floyd’s family, his loved ones, and indeed with African Americans and others who continue to face acts of racist violence and discrimination. That is absolutely contrary to what the United States stands for and why I choose to represent my country as a diplomat.
For all of us who serve at the U.S. embassy here in Zambia, I vow to you that we are committed to represent our country’s highest ideals of racial equality, justice, and human dignity for all persons. Most Americans share this commitment, as I know most of you have experienced who have visited our country. That is the spirit that motivates us as diplomats and aid workers to serve in partnership with friends and citizens in Zambia and in countries around the world.
Sincerely,
David Young
Charge d’Affaires
Well in the country where you are now…… Chinese are doing the exact thing while a clueless president sleeps in statehouse.
Thanks Bwana diplomat, personally I’ve failed to understand what really was going around in the head of that police officer. If it’s hatred for the sake of colour he could have just shot him instead of killing him in that painful way
Charge d’Affaires David Young has acted pre-emptively here because he expects the Zambian press to be asking for explanations soon. Unfortunately for the USA it has in office a president least suited to dealing with this issue. Closet Klansmen are being recruited into police services in various cities so that they can do under the guise of law enforcement wht they cannot do outside the police. I can imagine this possible recruitment message on white supremacists web pages “Feel like shooting some n…rs just like it was in the 1930s? Join the police. You can shoot them lawfully”.
look who is talking…..
Racial equality??? Your boss Trump has failed to condemn racism.
Trump is the enabler…..racists are just following Trumps orders
We sympathize with you. What the US and its citizens must realize is that most of the world, especially we in the Developing Nations look to the US for everything. The US is the mother of democracy, she’s the champion of freedom. Most oppressed people in the world look to the US to liberate them, people facing injustice look to the US. A few misguided individuals shouldn’t lower the higher barometer that the US has set for itself. It’s therefore distressing to see such things. However, we trust in the US justice system and we are confident that justice shall be delivered. Those US citizens of goodwill shouldn’t allow their country to be smeared by a few individuals. Our appeal is for self-restraint. To the protesters, please don’t let your anger consume you. Your message has been…
@5 Ayatollah, thanks for exposing your ignorance about this racially divided country called “United” States of America!! The history of Black people there is replete with suffering under slavery and racial segregation!! “However, we trust in the US justice system and we are confident that justice shall be delivered”- PLEASE SPARE US YOUR IGNORANCE, THE REASON THERE ARE RIOTS IS BCOZ THE POLICING AND JUSTICE SYSYEMS ARE BIASED AGAINST BLACKS TO A POINT WHERE THE COP WHO KILLED FLOYD HAD NOT BEEN CHARGED TILL RIOTS ERUPTED, HE WAS THEN GIVEN LESSER CHARGES TILL THE SAME RIOTS SPREAD TO MORE CITIES THAT THE PROSECUTOR AMENDED CHARGES TO POINT TOWARDS MURDER!! USA IS A WHITE MAN’S COUNTRY, SYSTEMS FAVOR THAT AND THEY WORK AGAINST PURPOSEFUL BLACKS,WISHING TO ALWAYS KEEP THEM DOWN!…
USA is not what it preaches. Trump himself is racist and in most institutions of governance there is racism.
I’m glad some white folks have noticed the inequality joined the black communities to show the ruling class that things must change for USA will be torn apart.
Coupled the economic melt down due to high unemployment, some joined to spike the protest further.
Lessons to those who feel they’re untouchable because they have a long stick to whip people.
Meanwhile PF must go!
USA is not what it preaches. Trump himself is racist and in most institutions of governance there is racism
I’m glad some white folks have noticed the inequality joined the black communities to show the ruling class that things must change for USA will be torn apart.
Coupled the economic melt down due to high unemployment, some joined to spike the protest further.
Lessons to those who feel they’re untouchable because they have a long stick to whip people.
Meanwhile PF must go!
Really laughable..Mr Charge d’Affaires does your twitter loving halfwit of a President support your view?
why is it that white police officers feel intimidated by the presence of a black man to the extent that they feel they have to exert 100times more force than when they dealing with a white individual? but how come black police men don’t make the same mistakes like their white counterparts when making arrests?
#we also bleed
#we also have families to look after
#we also feel pain
#we also have emotions
@The Engineer
***** you know the truth? It seems that every bad thing happen in this country, you people scapegoat China. Why don’t you ask for your self? What did you contribute to your country? What did you do for your country development? Just blaming others? Complaining about the government? If you think the governmen is not doing well, try to take the place of it, be the president ok? Staying at home and playing with your cheap keyboard won’t do anything good to your country. *****, everybody behaves like so that the country cannot develope.
Zambian government sends apologies.
Please shut up Sir . We have no interest in dealing with Racist Countries.
America has no moral high ground to lecture Africans or anyone else on human rights.
The agony of representing a country and President who apears blind to the very ideals America loves to pontificate to the rest of the world but themselves. We feel your pain Mr. Diplomat, but does your President feel the pain of all his own people? This is the question Americans, especially White Americans who sadly seem to so often give a pass to racist cops/incidents/killings, have to ask yourselves.
The rise of Trump and his fraternization with racist attitudes in the American politics is no accident. This we all know. So it is about time America looked herself in the mirror and be willing to have a tough, uncomfortable, and honest conversation with herself. Until then, the senseless loss of black lives will sadly continue.
American spring!
How many Ambassadors from Africa have commented on the situation in USA? One African Ambassador should try talking… he will be trashed and probably sent packing by the Orange Man of USA Himself!!!!!!!!!!!lol
If it was possible, we Africans would have offered sanctuary to our black brothers and sisters who are being abused in the USA due to their colour. At present we can not as we are still underdeveloped in the brains. If a cadre can declare Muchinga/Northern region as a no-go area for HH who is a bona fide citizen of this country by all standards and measurements, what more for a person from another country who obtains citizenship by application!
Up to now no appointed ambassador.
Trump called black people “Thugs” saying if they protest then “shoot them.” So why is this man telling lies.
@R a good question. Their envoys in our country feel so qualified to comment on our internal affairs and even question our court rulings. Meanwhile, all other envoys, including the United Nations just watch as they fail to put an end to institutional racism and serial killing of Black people through pure police brutality.
Sorry, but will not buy your story sir. Unfortunately, as long as you have that narcissist racist Trump for president, blacks anywhere in the world cannot agree with your sentiments. Address your letter to your president and tell him that Black Lives Matter.
@5 Ayatollah, thanks for exposing your ignorance about this racially divided country called “United” States of America!! The history of Black people there is replete with suffering under slavery and racial segregation!! “However, we trust in the US justice system and we are confident that justice shall be delivered”- PLEASE SPARE US YOUR IGNORANCE, THE REASON THERE ARE RIOTS IS BCOZ THE POLICING AND JUSTICE SYSYEMS ARE BIASED AGAINST BLACKS TO A POINT WHERE THE COP WHO KILLED FLOYD HAD NOT BEEN CHARGED TILL RIOTS ERUPTED, HE WAS THEN GIVEN LESSER CHARGES TILL THE SAME RIOTS SPREAD TO MORE CITIES THAT THE PROSECUTOR AMENDED CHARGES TO POINT TOWARDS MURDER!! USA IS A WHITE MAN’S COUNTRY, SYSTEMS FAVOR THAT AND THEY WORK AGAINST PURPOSEFUL BLACKS,WISHING TO ALWAYS KEEP THEM DOWN! THE USA…
I saw some trying to escape to space on Saturday. Mr Trump please call back the war ships from South China Sea for reinforcement.
Mr. David Young
Charge d’Affaires,
Well, even your words used on your letter are not fake. George Flyody is not the first, neither will he be the last to be brutally murdered in cold blood by white police officers in the US. Many African Americans have been murdered by white police officers and have gotten away with it. Sometimes I go to the grave, and ask, the spirits of all those who have been murdered in the USA assuring them that one day, their cries will be heard, and our tears shall dry up, with a strong word “enough”. One day, black people’s spirits shall rise, and fight racial prejudices in one word “enough”. The whole world shall join in chorus,”enough” and those still clinging to the system will perish. Mr. Young! hold on am petitioning you to explain, why and if you…
Agolf Twittler aka Donald Trump has been an enabler of this racism and xenophobia .Bwana US Diplomat let’s stop the hypocrisy coz the USA has been at the table of racial injustice for 400yrs.
“Zedian” says “Trump called black people “thugs” saying if they protest then “shoot them.” So why is this man telling lies'” YEA – IF THAT WERE TRUE THEN WHY ARE MOST PEOPLE WHO ARE PROTESTING AND LOOTING AND BURNING BUILDINGS DOWN W-H-I-T-E-