On the 55th anniversary of the Theatre Boycott, the US Consulate General and Americans everywhere would like to join the people of Bermuda in recognising and honouring those who acted courageously to further the cause of civil rights in Bermuda.

As President Barack Obama has said, “freedom, justice, and peace in the world begin with freedom, justice, and peace in the lives of individual human beings”.

Those brave individuals who stood up so long ago and demanded freedom and justice — like many in my own country during the same period — remain an example to us all. Our world is better off because of them, and for that we will forever owe them our gratitude and respect. They are heroes whose efforts resound to this day and remind us that all human beings deserve the freedoms of expression, religion, assembly, and association, regardless of borders, race, creed, sexual orientation, gender identity, or income level.

Let us follow their example. Let us never forget.

• Bob Settje is the US Consul General to Bermuda