"Until we take the human dignity of each and every person—regardless of the circumstances of their lives—serious(ly), there will continue to be a loss of life due to racism," Bishop Shelton T. Fabre said.

Black and brown Americans continue to speak out against police misconduct and pervasive racism across the United States, writes Olga Segura. The church has an opportunity to show that it is listening.

The Catholic peace organization said it stands "in solidarity with our siblings in Minneapolis who are protesting white supremacy with their voices and their bodies, and we recommit ourselves to working to dismantle systemic racism in all its forms."

The video of a Minneapolis police office pressing his knee on the neck of a handcuffed African American man has elicited expressions of shock, outrage, and pain throughout the country, including from the religious community.

The bishops said they find these actions unacceptable and called on Catholics, fellow Christians and all people of goodwill to help them combat such acts of racism and xenophobia.

In mid-April, the Iowa Department of Health pointed out that Latinos made up almost 20% of New York State residents with confirmed COVID-19, even though they're 6.2% of the population.