City of Auburn Councilmember Chris Stearns has issued the following statement regarding the killing of George Floyd.
Floyd was an unarmed African-American man who died while in the custody of Minneapolis Police officers. His death has sparked protests around the nation.
Stearns’ Full Statement:
“George Floyd did not deserve to die mercilessly at the hands of the Minneapolis police. Like so many of you, I am filled with outrage and pain over his death as well as the decades and centuries of injustice that stain our nation’s history. The heartbreak we feel is real, and it hurts. I stand with you in your demands for institutional change and support your First Amendment right to march, rally, and exercise free speech. Your message is what matters most, and we will not forget that.”
“There are criminal elements who have resorted to violence and looting, but they most certainly are not part of the lawful protests, nor do they care about bringing any change to our community. I am grateful for the swift and decisive actions of law enforcement to safeguard our businesses last night. But let’s not lose sight of what really matters – the need for systemic change.”
“As a community and as a united people, we are at our best when we offer compassion, hope, and healing. That is what I believe in, and that is what I stand for. Let’s pray for the families who have suffered. Let’s help out the businesses that have suffered. Let’s use our collective outrage for positive action and put our minds together. Let’s change the system, but let’s also change ourselves.”
– Chris Stearns, Councilmember
Clearly it is sad with the loss of life in any situation. It is, however, the violent acts that followed are reprehensible. Even so, this is to include the dispatch of the National Guard, of which the Governor announced to all, they would be unarmed. I would like to see him in a similar situation, unarmed. You, Governor should be ashamed.
For followers and lovers of the game of baseball, we know that the manager gets out of the dugout and expresses the rage for the team. When he does, the team sits tight. When he doesn’t, or the offense is particularly greivous the team empties onto the field.