I am Sister in Law to Vernon Paul Cherry..Firefighter killed in The World Trade Center on 9/11. Vernon was one of the many heroic firefighters who died while shepherding building occupants to safety on that fateful day, risking their own lives to save others. …Vernon was brother to my late husband Kenneth who has since joined him in Heaven..…
I am also a retired Mom and housewife who has been active for many years in the struggles for social justice of all kinds. I firmly believe in peaceful solutions to conflict as opposed to the negative energy war and vengeance brings to our society.
My late husband and I lived and raised our family in multicultural communities peacefully and certainly do not hold the Muslim Community accountable for the acts of terrorism that happened on 9/11. Our wish was that when the persons who committed this horrendous act were caught, that the rule of law prevail to determine their guilt and ultimately punishment.
My husband and I were horrified at the intolerance leveled at the Muslim community. We committed ourselves to fight this intolerance that to us was the same type of hatred we faced many years ago as African Americans. To us racial and religious intolerance has no place in this great country of ours. Today’s news headlines are a sad testimony to the cultural hatred that is so pervasive in our land, we must fight it and continue to reach for our goal of “Peaceful Tomorrows.”
“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere…” Dr. Martin L. King Jr., April 16, 1963.
