A Call for Unity

I spent today visiting branches and meeting with our teams and clients, but between the smiles and hellos, I reflected on George Floyd’s death a year ago and the civil unrest that followed.

In the weeks following this senseless tragedy, protests erupted both here in the United States and around the world, and it became clear that we’d reached a pivotal moment in our society on the issue of race.

My fervent hope is that we continue to use the momentum from this unfortunate event to create systemic change and finally address the structural inequities in our society once and for all. Looking back at how George Floyd’s life was taken from him triggers a wave of emotion for many of us, and it brings to mind a difficult conversation I had with my teenaged son on race in America a year ago.

Yet, in spite of the challenges we continue to face, I see reasons for hope and optimism. My optimism stems from the global outpouring of support and solidarity that we saw from people of all backgrounds following the events of May 25, 2020. We witnessed corporate leaders — both within our firm and others — step up and demand that we confront racism and the systemic issues that arise from it head on.

I remain thankful to see people of good conscience from all backgrounds demanding change. And while we’ve undoubtedly seen some progress in the quest to end racism, we cannot declare victory or become complacent. In 2021, we have witnessed vicious attacks on and discrimination against several communities (e.g., Asian, Jewish, Muslim, and others). Martin Luther King captured it best when he said, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.”

Here at JPMorgan Chase, we play a key role in helping communities to grow and thrive. We have a unique opportunity to help create a more inclusive world. But we can’t just talk about it. We’ve got to be about it. The arc of the moral universe will only bend towards justice when we step up and take the right actions. 

Let us stand united in our commitment to end discrimination in all forms, wherever it exists.