Dear friends;
The past few weeks have been a tragic reminder that we cannot turn a blind eye to the racial inequity and human rights abuse that continues to plague our country. Iran Americans in the diaspora left Iran because of its human rights violations, inequality, and injustice.
The senseless killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and countless others, as well as the ongoing protests, have only placed a spotlight on the ways in which segments of our justice system in our new country have fallen short as well. We cannot stay silent against injustice. Iranian Americas in the diaspora denounces all acts of racism and violence, and we stand in solidarity with those who are treated differently because of the color of their skin, place of their origin, or their religious preferences.
Iranian Americans take pride in the diverse group of people with whom we share this great country with, but our job doesn’t end there. Our responsibility continues with our commitment to developing and maintaining genuine relationships within our communities at large, both professionally and personally, as well as to the success of each one of our fellow country person including Black Americas. We are committed to continuing to develop an in-depth understanding of the communities of color where we live and work, and we are dedicated to exploring how we can make our engagement and transparency better with our communities. Above all, Iranian American Community is committed to help building environments that are equitable, and the notion that Black Lives Matter is evidence of a truly equitable construct.
Iranian American community wants to be a part of the solution, and we look forward to sharing this great country with everyone and to combat racism, racial inequity and violence.
Michael Chegini, Chairman
Iranian American Community of Orange County