The death of George Floyd in Minneapolis should serve as a wake-up call for our nation and for all of us.

His life matters and his family deserves justice. Underlying and systemic racism cannot go on unaddressed any longer. Silence is not an option.

George Floyd’s death has also sparked violence and destruction in cities from one end of this country to the other including in Milwaukee, WI, and Washington, DC, where AB Data has offices and many of us live and work.

History teaches us that from some of our darkest times and moments of great despair can come inspiration and real movement for change.

Let this be such a moment. As thousands take to the streets and raise their voice, let us implore and encourage them to channel their most justifiable of anger into peaceful but sustained action—action that serves as a turning point in the long-unfinished fight for racial and economic justice.

Let us also remind those who would loot or destroy property or burn churches and destroy businesses that such actions often harm only their neighbors and many—including many people of color—who have invested their lives in serving their community. There is no place for such violence or such destruction in our society.

Dr. Martin Luther King was fond of saying that “justice runs down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.” He also always reminded us that the “arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.”

Today and in the days ahead, it is up to all of us to reach up, reach out and do our small part to bend that arc just a little toward justice. We need to commit to work every day to eradicate racial disparities and to affirm the inherent dignity of every human being.

Let that work begin today. For in so doing, we will honor the memory of George Floyd and others before him and we will be doing the very hard work that is required to move us all to a better collective future.