ARLINGTON (WBAP/KLIF News) – The Major Cities Chiefs Association penned an open letter in the wake of the death of George Floyd, the African American man whose death while in Minneapolis Police custody sparked nationwide outrage.
Video shows an officer pinning Floyd’s neck to the ground with his knee as Floyd pleaded, “I can’t breathe.”
The situation sparked both peaceful protests and violent rioting across Minneapolis and other major cities, including here in North Texas.
Arlington Police Department Interim Chief Jaime Ayala was among five other major city chiefs who signed the letter.
The MCCA started the letter addressing the “disparaging impact and outcomes policing has had on African Americans, people of color and the disenfranchised” with this statement.
“The death of George Floyd was, by any nature of professional policing unnecessary, avoidable and criminal.”
The chiefs also acknowledged the dark history the country has when it comes to policing certain communities.
“As leaders of the largest local law enforcement organizations in the U.S. and Canada, we must be honest about our history and ask ourselves tough questions before we can provide the right answers. A history dating back over two centuries that has included institutional racism and more recently, a history that during the civil rights movement over 50 years ago, included injustices against African Americans who were fighting for equal rights and protections.”
The letter urges those in positions of leadership from both law enforcement and the community to work together to create some type of change.
“It will take strong leadership from all of us as well as collaborative partnerships from leaders of all walks of life and levels,” said the statement.
Read the full statement below.
MCCA members pen open letter acknowledging the disparate impact & outcomes policing has had on African Americans, ppl of color & the disenfranchised #JusticeForGeorge pic.twitter.com/cg9oU9lI4H
— Major Cities Chiefs Association (@MjrCitiesChiefs) June 1, 2020
Officer David Chauvin, the officer seen in the video with his knee on Floyd’s neck, has been arrested and charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter.
Protesters across the country and the world are calling for the other three officers in the video to be charged and for wide spread, systematic change.
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