Brooklyn Borough President Issues Statement On Ongoing Citywide Unrest

Press release from the Office of the Brooklyn Borough President:

June 4, 2020

“Our borough is in the middle of a perfect storm for continued chaos.

“News of Jamel Floyd’s tragic death at the Metropolitan Detention Center, a federal facility with a more-than-troubling recent history towards its inmates, has inflamed the rage of protesters committed to end abusive law enforcement practices.

“What appears to be a terror attack last night on NYPD officers near Flatbush and Church avenues was intended to strike real fear into the heart of our communities, at a time when tensions are peaking.

“This is a critical moment for all of us — police officers, righteous protestors, and everyday New Yorkers — to de-escalate our valid anger over the situation facing this city and our country. That anger must be channeled into dialogue over solutions to deliver justice, not into further death and destruction. I’m asking our clergy, civic leaders, and violence interrupters to be that positive channeling force in this hour of our collective need.

“It’s time to tangibly address the unrest in our streets, including the disturbing scenes I witnessed last night outside Brooklyn Borough Hall. It’s time to enact a meaningful reform agenda, starting with repealing Civil Rights Law Section 50-A, significantly boosting de-escalation and implicit bias trainings for police officers, and robustly cutting unnecessary NYPD spending in the upcoming budget in order to reinvest in Black and Brown communities and close historical racial inequities. That is the start — not the end — of a real reform agenda.

“I pray for the memory of Jamel Floyd. I pray for the officers recovering from this senseless knife assault. I pray for the families of those victimized by police brutality. I pray for our city, and I stand ready to be part of the solution as a civil rights activist, retired police captain, and concerned father.”

This press release was produced by the Office of the Brooklyn Borough President. The views expressed here are the author’s own.