June 12, 2020
Washington, DC
Conservatives are confronting a country at unrest. Peaceful demonstrations over the unjustified murder of George Floyd have turned violent, exploited by individuals and organizations using Floyd’s death to pursue their own agenda of social conflict and destruction.
Some of the videos of the unrest all over America during the last ten days clearly show some protesters breaking the law by looting, for their own gain and, apparently, their own great amusement. Are we to condemn all protesters because of the relatively few arsonists and looters?
One thing remains perfectly clear: The killing of George Floyd was undeserved, unwarranted, and horrific. The officer who perpetrated it, and those who stood aside and did nothing, are charged and under arrest. They should be held to account.
The treatment of George Floyd has raised deeper, more fundamental issues about the character of America and our institutions. America is not a racist country. But we are also not a perfect one.
In America’s story, black Americans and communities of color have dealt with pain and abuse, pain that makes it harder for some to trust the police. And, indeed, like all walks of life, there are bad actors who commit criminal acts.
But we reject the sweeping claim that all of law enforcement is racist. Rather, the majority of police officers – many of whom are black – are noble individuals protecting all the people in their communities.
The unalienable, equal rights of all Americans to life and liberty cannot be secured without the rule of law – and that requires a police force. Defunding the police, an outcome that many now seek, puts at risk those who need this protection most: low-income neighborhoods and those who live there.
The relationship between police and these communities can be strained and distrustful. But it is more vital now than ever that the police – and the communities they protect – engage in the dialogue and communication that builds trust.
Part of securing that trust comes from holding people accountable. President Trump should direct the Attorney General to use the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division to vigorously investigate the actions of police and the ongoing riots and take action against anyone who violates federal law or rights protected by the U.S. Constitution.
America is not racist, and it is not evil. Rather, America, and the American character, are fundamentally good, founded on the radical idea that all men and women are created equal.
Americans continue to strive relentlessly to honor that principle, bettering themselves and their country in the face of obstacles and imperfections. It is this fierce belief in the dignity and equality of all that has made America the greatest barrier to racism and tyranny that the world has ever known.
As conservatives, we remain unceasing in our commitment to these principles, and in our striving to help America live up to these ideals.
| The Honorable Edwin Meese III Attorney General President Ronald Reagan (1985-1988) |
Alfred S. Regnery Chairman, Conservative Action Project President, Republic Book Publishers |
| The Honorable J. Kenneth Blackwell Chairman Constitutional Congress, Inc. |
Jenny Beth Martin Chairman Tea Party Patriots Citizen Fund |
| The Honorable Kay Coles James President The Heritage Foundation |
Bridgett G. Wagner Vice President, Policy Promotion The Heritage Foundation |
| Kelly J. Shackelford, Esq. Chairman, CNP Action, Inc. President and CEO, First Liberty Institute |
Ginni Thomas President Liberty Consulting, Inc. |
| The Honorable Jim DeMint Chairman, Conservative Partnership Institute Member, US Senate (SC 2005-2013) |
Ed Corrigan Vice Chairman, Conservative Action Project President, Conservative Partnership Institute |
| Herman Pirchner, Jr. Founding President American Foreign Policy Council (AFPC) |
The Honorable Morton C. Blackwell President The Leadership Institute |
| Cleta Mitchell, Esq. Partner Foley & Lardner LLP |
The Honorable Becky Norton Dunlop White House Advisor President Ronald Reagan (1981-1985) |
| L. Brent Bozell, III Founder and President Media Research Center |
The Honorable Tony Perkins President Family Research Council |
| The Honorable Donald Paul Hodel U.S. Secretary of Energy (1982-1985) U.S. Secretary of Interior (1985-1989) |
Marjorie Dannenfelser President Susan B. Anthony List |
| The Honorable Bob McEwen U.S. House of Representatives Former Member, Ohio |
The Honorable Colin A. Hanna President Let Freedom Ring, Inc. |
| William L. Walton President Council for National Policy |
Penny Y. Nance President & CEO Concerned Women for America |
| Michael Farris President & CEO Alliance Defending Freedom |
Lt. Gen. William G. Boykin (Ret.) Executive Vice President Family Research Council |
| David N. Bossie President Citizens United |
James C. Dobson, Ph.D. Founder & President Dr. James Dobson Family Institute |
| The Honorable Scott Walker President-Elect Young America’s Foundation |
Marc Little Chair Center for Urban Renewal and Education |
| The Honorable James C. Miller III Budget Director for President Reagan, 1985-1989 |
Matthew Tyrmand Principal Matthew Tyrmand LLC |
| Steve Berger Pastor Grace Chapel |
Lee Beaman CEO Beaman Automotive Group |
| Father Frank Pavone National Director Priests for Life |
Richard Norman Founder and President The Richard Norman Company |
| Art Ally President Timothy plan |
Eric Georgatos Executive Producer America Can We Talk? |
| Mario Navarro da Costa Director, Washington Bureau Tradition, Family, Property |
Bob Carlstrom President AMAC Action |
| Gerard Kassar State Chairman NYS Conservative Party |
Floyd Brown Publisher The Western Journal |
| Charlie Copeland President Intercollegiate Studies Institute |
Joseph A. Morris Partner, Morris & De La Rosa Assistant U.S. Attorney General (Reagan / Meese) |
| Kevin Freeman Founder NSIC Institute |
Jason Jones President HERO Inc. |
| Seton Motley President Less Government |
The Honorable Gary L. Bauer President American Values |
| Allen Hebert Chairman American-Chinese Fellowship of Houston |
Dr. Jerome R. Corsi, Ph.D. Founder and CEO CorsiNation.com |
| Ron Pearson Executive Director Conservative Victory Fund |
Kathleen Patten President & CEO American Target Advertising |
| C. Preston Noell III President Tradition, Family, Property, Inc. |
William Haywood Shaker Chief Executive Officer Washington Marketing Group |
| Tom DeWeese President American Policy Center |
Susan A. Carleson Chairman/CEO Carleson Center for Welfare Reform |
| Richard D. Hayes Partner Hayes Berry White & Vanzant LLP |
Marlin Sharp Field Director STAND Foundation, Inc. |
| James L. Martin Founder/Chairman 60 Plus Association |
Dr. Seymour Fein Managing Partner CNF Pharma, LLC |
| Randy M. Long Founder Long Business Advisors, LLC |
J. Christian Adams President Public Interest Legal Foundation |
| Lori Roman President American Constitutional Rights Union |
Saulius “Saul” Anuzis President 60 Plus Association |
| Gary Marx President Madison Strategies LLC |
Susan Federer VP Amerisearch |
| Robert Keith Fischer Meeting Coordinator Conservatives of Faith |
Peter Thomas Chairman The Conservative Caucus |
| Kent Glesener President Paradigm Construction & Engineering Inc |
Lewis K. Uhler Founder and President National Tax Limitation Committee |
| The Honorable George K. Rasley Jr. Managing Editor ConservativeHQ.com |
Gregory Quinlan Founder & President Center for Garden State Families |
| Ron Robinson President Young America’s Foundation |
Elaine Donnelly President Center for Military Readiness |
| William W. Pascoe, III Board Member Tea Party Patriots Action |
Dr. Richard Rounsavelle Trustee Media Research Center |
| Kielle C. Horton President The Lindsey Foundation |
Ambassador Henry F. Cooper President Reagan’s Defense and Space Negotiator Former SDI Director |
| Joan Holt Lindsey President Lindsey Communications |
Michael J. Horowitz CEO 21st Century Initiatives |
| Kay R. Daly President Coalition for a Fair Judiciary |
Roxanne Phillips Member, Executive Committee Council for National Policy |
| Ralph Benko Chairman The Capitalist League |
Craig Shirley Reagan Biographer Presidential Historian |
| Austin Ruse President C-Fam |
Colonel Jack Jackson Jackie Jackson Enterprise LLC |
| Rebecca Hagelin CEO United in Purpose |
Dr. Paige Patterson President Sandy Creek Foundation |
| Jon Schweppe Director of Policy American Principles Project |
Robert D. Thompson Former Administrator The Weyrich Lunch (1999-2016) |
| Terry Schilling Executive Director American Principles Project |
Dr. Rick Scarborough President Recover America Now |
| Melissa Kaye Ortiz Blogger/Administrator DC Belleon wheels |
Paavo Ensio Chairman Universal Minerals Group |
| Steven Ertelt Editor LifeNews.com |
Tim LeFever Chairman Capitol Resource Institute |
| Richard Manning President Americans for Limited Government |
Rob Gluskin Managing Director Gluskin Investment Partners |
| Amapola Hansberger President Legal Immigrants for America |
Charles H. “Chuck” Cunningham Lifelong Conservative Leader and Activist |
| Glenn P. Story CoFounder & President Patriot Mobile |
Grace-Marie Turner President Galen Institute |
| Jay Mount President MDS Communications Corporation |
The Honorable Penny Pullen President Life Advocacy Resource Project |
| Jim Backlin Vice President of Legislative Affairs Christian Coalition of America |
Andresen Blom President Hawaiian Values |
All organizations listed for IDENTIFICATION purposes only.
