“The images we’ve seen out of Minneapolis are heartbreaking.

The unjustifiable killing of George Floyd has ignited the long-smoldering tinderbox of institutional racism across our great nation.

From coast to coast, Americans are rightfully outraged at the pervasiveness of violence and inhumanity that exists towards our marginalized minority communities by those who have sworn an oath to protect them.

This past Sunday, I stood in solidarity with approximately 1,000 members of our community who organized a peaceful demonstration in Yonkers mourning the death of George Floyd.

Intolerance, hatred, and institutional racism have no place in our community or our nation.

We must do our best to cultivate a diverse, inclusive community grounded in respect for each other’s humanity. I thank other community leaders and elected officials who demonstrated their commitment to our city’s residents by attending this unifying event.
In New York State presently; residents are prohibited from seeing pertinent information, including disciplinary records and the outcomes of administrative trials involving taxpayer-funded employees.

If we are serious about beginning a constructive dialogue to heal the pain and distrust that exists in our marginalized communities, we must be transparent in coming together with open hearts and open minds.

The actions of a few in law enforcement do not reflect the majority in the profession who display professionalism, equality, and compassion to the communities they serve.
I encourage all New Yorkers to take this time to be introspective and to condemn all injustice and violence in the same paradigm.

We must be as vocal in our opposition to vandalism, social upheaval, and rioting as we are to the plight of injustice against those in our marginalized communities, who have historically lacked the social and political capital to express themselves through conventional avenues.

I pray for our nation’s healing and hope that we can live up to our ideals established by our forebears in our Constitution, to form a more perfect union.”