George Floyd's death a crisis within a crisis

Published on June 02, 2020

We are in the midst of a crisis within a crisis — the COVID-19 pandemic and the moral outrage unleashed by the horrendous, senseless death of George Floyd. Former President Barack Obama eloquently described this moment in time:

“It’s natural to wish for life ‘to just get back to normal’ as a pandemic and economic crisis upend everything around us. But we have to remember that for millions of Americans, being treated differently on account of race is tragically, painfully, maddeningly ‘normal’ — whether it’s while dealing with the health care system, or interacting with the criminal justice system, or jogging down the street, or just watching birds in a park.

“This shouldn’t be ‘normal’ in 2020 America. It can’t be ‘normal.’ If we want our children to grow up in a nation that lives up to its highest ideals, we can and must be better. It will fall mainly on the officials of Minnesota to ensure that the circumstances surrounding George Floyd’s death are investigated thoroughly and that justice is ultimately done. But it falls on all of us, regardless of our race or station — including the majority of men and women in law enforcement who take pride in doing their tough job the right way every day — to work together to create a ‘new normal’ in which the legacy of bigotry and unequal treatment no longer infects our institutions or our hearts.”

Here in Alameda, I believe we all have a role to play to help create a more just society. And I am grateful to the brave men and women of the Alameda Police Department (APD), led by Police Chief Paul Rolleri, who take pride in doing their tough job the right way every day. Last week Chief Rolleri joined my Mayor’s COVID-19 Town Hall for a candid discussion, and to answer questions, about APD policies governing use of force and body-worn cameras and the crisis-intervention and implicit-bias-recognition training all officers receive. To view this and other previous Town Halls, visit alamedaca.gov/covidvideos.

As your mayor, the safety of our community is my highest priority and the highest priority of the entire City Council. We are devastated by the circumstances of George Floyd’s death, we absolutely support people’s right to protest, and we will do everything we can to facilitate that effort. However, we will not tolerate opportunistic looting or violence.

In response to incidents of rioting and looting, the Alameda County Sheriff on Monday ordered a countywide curfew from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. that requires all nonexempted persons to remain indoors during these hours. Exempted from the order are first responders, health care providers, people going to and from work, members of the news media and unsheltered individuals. The curfew was to remain in effect until at 5 a.m. Friday unless rescinded earlier. Please watch for and heed advisory messages from the city or county. We will update you by text, phone, e-mail and on social media as often as we can.

And please remember: We are still in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic and under the shelter-in-place order issued by our county public health officer to slow the spread of COVID-19. We still have not “flattened the curve” of new COVID-19 cases. So if you join a peaceful demonstration, or whenever you leave your home, be sure to take all necessary precautions — wear a face mask or face covering, stay 6 feet away from anyone who doesn’t live in your household and wash or sanitize your hands frequently.

Take care of yourselves. Be respectful of others. Be smart. Be safe. Be Alameda Strong!

Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft

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