WASHINGTON, D. C. – The National Bankers Association strongly condemns the recent violence that occurred in our Nation’s capital and applauds the 117th Congress of the United States for carrying out its duty under the Constitution, standing against mob rule, and certifying the results of the 2020 presidential election. We believe that in the United States of America, all citizens must stand against violent attacks and attempts to undermine a government of, by and for the people.
Our association represents minority banks, which work in long underserved communities. Our members help their customers own homes, build businesses, grow nonprofits, and achieve American dreams. NBA members are African-, Latinx-, Native-, and Asian- American owned banks. We are located in 22 states across our great country. We are Democrats, Republicans, and Independents.
First and foremost, we are Americans. We realize that for our banks to grow and our communities to thrive, we all depend on fundamental American principles like equal treatment under law, respecting our democratic institutions, protecting the right to vote, standing up for the truth, and treating each other as we want to be treated. We depend on the ideals of America, even as we strive to become a more perfect union.
According to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., “But the end is reconciliation; the end is redemption; the end is the creation of the beloved community. It is this type of spirit and this type of love that can transform opposers into friends. It is this type of understanding goodwill that will transform the deep gloom of the old age into the exuberant gladness of the new age. It is this love which will bring about miracles in the hearts of men.”
The NBA looks forward to working with President-Elect Biden, Vice President-Elect Harris and the 117th Congress to advance the interests of the communities our banks serve, and we stand ready to help build a more perfect union. We celebrate our democratic republic, the peaceful transition of power, and will continue to strive for the creation of Dr. King’s “beloved community.”
