June 1, 2020 - The horrific killing of George Floyd by the police in Minneapolis was not only unfortunate but undignified. As a community, we grieve for the loss of life. His death has left the nation shocked, saddened, and has triggered protests throughout the country, including Atlanta, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Washington D.C., Baltimore, Los Angeles, Philadelphia and New York City.
We welcome the arrest and prosecution of Derek Chauvin, the former police officer, whose knee was seen pressing against Floyd's neck for nine minutes in full view of cameras, but also demand the arrest and prosecution of the three other officers in the video for their role in the incident.
We must learn from this tragedy and racially motivated murders of Ahmaud Aubrey, Breonna Taylor, and countless others by examining the realities of prejudice in the 21
st
century in America. It is not enough to condemn this killing; we must make every effort to prevent future tragedies. As a society, this needs to be a moment of self-reflection and healing in the country.
At the same time, we respect the rights of every individual to peacefully protest and to demand justice.
Our elected leaders at the local, state and federal levels can help in starting a conversation to bring us together rather than divide us as a nation.
More than ever, we are clamoring for leadership that can help heal the country.
At this difficult moment our country needs dialogue and discourse within our communities to heal the wounds of racism that have never fully healed.
