Albany – Senator John W. Mannion (D-Geddes) today released the following statement:
The murder of George Floyd released a wave of powerful emotions across the country. I hope that this conviction brings closure to his family and healing to our communities.
For many people from communities of color, it is not difficult to picture what happened to George Floyd happening to someone from their own family. That is terrifying and no citizen should live in fear of the police.
Two things can be true at the same time – police officers are public servants who keep our communities safe while the institution of policing needs to be reimagined and redefined.
Successful police reforms that protect the community and our officers will only come through respectful and ongoing dialogue. I will continue to work as a facilitator and participant in these conversations.