Washington, DC—On this third anniversary of the murder of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police, People For the American Way President Svante Myrick released the following statement and emphasized the need for positive policy solutions as detailed in All Safe: Transforming Public Safety: 

“Today we mourn the senseless murder of George Floyd and countless others who needlessly lost their lives to police violence, brutality and misconduct. Since George Floyd’s death, we have seen far too many incidents, including the murder of Daniel Prude in Rochester, New York, who suffocated under a spit hood while suffering from a mental health crisis; the execution style police murder of Patrick Lyoya in Grand Rapids, Michigan; and the Memphis police unit that terrorized and killed Tyre Nichols. Ensuring justice for all is urgent and essential. Every community is at risk until we address authoritarian policing that tolerates the abuse of power among law enforcement and those who resist accountability. Ending authoritarian policing requires transformative approaches that restructure public safety departments, hold officers accountable for their actions, remove unfit officers, and recruit well-trained public safety personnel. We can succeed in changing the public safety policies responsible for the death of George Floyd and so many others in ways that honor our humanity and protect all of us. We must transform public safety.” 

Read the All Safe: Transforming Public Safety report. 

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About People For the American Way    

People For the American Way, a national progressive advocacy organization, inspires and mobilizes community and cultural leaders to advance Truth, Justice and the American Way. We convene courageous Americans, produce compelling media and organize campaigns to defend our democracy from authoritarian threats and advance America’s promise that everyone will enjoy freedom, safety and a vote that counts. Learn more: http://www.pfaw.org