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)

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)

Michelle Caruso-Cabrera

Candidate for NYC Comptroller