Leaders Observe the Anniversary of George Floyd’s Death

Mayor Bill de Blasio joined Rev. Al Sharpton, Rep. Hakim Jeffries and other leaders at the National Action Network to deliver remarks onr the one-year anniversary of George Floyd’s death. Credit: Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office

Mayor Bill de Blasio joined Rev. Al Sharpton at the National Action Network in Harlem to deliver remarks for the one-year anniversary of George Floyd’s death on Tuesday, May 25, 2021. The Mayor and Rev. Sharpton, along with other elected officials, knelt for 9 minutes and 29 seconds in recognition of the amount of time Former Minneapolis Police officer Derek Chauvin knelt on George Floyd.

“We saw a murder – let’s be clear why there is so much anger, why it will not stop. We saw a murder before our eyes committed by someone who was supposed to exemplify law, was supposed to protect. He took an innocent life and everything that we had been told was backwards. And I understand anyone who felt betrayed in that moment because Rev’s right, how could you forget someone’s humanity? Well, because for 400 years in this country, the persistent obsessive training was to tell white people not to value Black lives. It was everywhere you turned. And it poisoned [inaudible] that officer, what he did disgusts me to this hour of this day, and it tells us that so much more needs to change. We cannot let our country be a lie, we cannot let our ideals be a lie. We can’t show the generations coming up that everything we told them wasn’t real. We, in fact, have to make it real. And we have the power to do it.”

“For anyone who at this moment feels pain or cynicism or doubt, I understand you, but I also appeal to you to look at what this movement has done in the last year. All over this nation, laws are changing. All over this nation police are being held accountable in ways before not imaginable because of a movement of people. But that movement cannot end. That to me is the message that a man who should be standing with us should be with his family, should be alive, he’s gone, but we are here, and it’s our job to now finish this mission.”

 NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio

“George Floyd’s murder a year ago today was a personal tragedy for his family and friends who continue to grieve his loss. The protests that were held across the country and the world in the weeks and months following his death spurred action. We saw legislation taken up to reform policing and his death forever changed our country. Here in New York, we passed several historic police reforms in the wake of this terrible tragedy, and as speaker of the New York State Assembly I will continue to work on solutions to help heal our communities. Today, we remember George Floyd and pray for his daughter and family and friends as they mourn, and we recommit to bring desperately needed change and reform to our criminal justice system.”

Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie (D-Bronx)

“Passing the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act isn’t true justice for George Floyd, because true justice would be Mr. Floyd alive and with his loved ones today. 

“But the bill is an important step to bring accountability to our police forces and towards reimagining public safety — which is why the legislation has provisions like ending qualified immunity for police officers and no-knock warrants.”

Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-NY 17)

“One year ago today, George Floyd‘s life was taken from his family and friends far too early. The video of his death is one that we have seen far too often, and brought national attention to police violence in communities of color.
“It also brought reforms, that we continue to fight for, to our criminal justice system in cities and states across the country to put an end to the institutional racism that is experienced by Black and brown Americans everyday. Our federal government must also step up, and pass the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act that will bring real change to police tactics like no-knock warrants and chokeholds that we have seen the deadly results of. While we have seen the beginnings of justice with the guilty verdict in the Derek Chauvin trial, there is still so much more that we have to do to ensure that we never see another video like the one we all watched one year ago. There remains a great deal of work to do to ensure that Black Lives Matter.”

CM Vanessa Gibson (16 CO)

“Tuesday, May 25th marks the unfortunate 1 year anniversary of the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police in a horrific act of brutality, a stain within our law enforcement system. His passing is a constant reminder of the larger roles that we must fulfill in the greater community, and the need for each of us to use our platforms to enact a better change.”

Assemblywoman Nathalia Fernandez (AD 80)

“It has been one year since George Floyd was murdered at the hands of the police. George Floyd‘s murder sparked a national reckoning about the long history of misconduct and brutality by law enforcement against the very people they are sworn to protect – primarily members of the black and brown communities, whose lives have been unjustly taken at the hands of police brutality.
“In the past year, there has been a growing consensus to change a system that brought us this horrific day. There is still much work to be done and we cannot lose focus on making continued progress as we move forward. My heart and prayers are with the family of George Floyd today.”

Michelle Caruso-Cabrera

Candidate for NYC Comptroller

“This is a movement not a moment. The Jewish Council for Public Affairs knows our work is not done and our country has a long way to go to end racism and hate, and achieve equity. We are committed to working in partnership and standing with the diverse communities that make up America to shape our country and achieve civil rights. It is only through this work that we can ensure the safety and security for all of us, including the Jewish community.

“Today we remember George Floyd, again offer our condolences to his family, and commit to continue the  struggle for an end to systemic racism.”

Jewish Council for Public Affairs

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