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George Floyd - For the purpose of memorializing this tragedy as a point in time when the City Council urges the citizens of Annapolis to join hands with their City officials and civic leaders in committing to each other that violent and disrespectful treatment that degrades dignity or disregards human life will not be tolerated.
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CITY COUNCIL OF THE
City of Annapolis
Resolution 32-20
Introduced by: Alderwoman Tierney
Co-sponsored by: Alderman Gay, Mayor Buckley,
Alderwoman Pindell Charles, Alderman Savidge, Alderwoman Finlayson,
Alderman Arnett, and Alderman Paone
A RESOLUTION concerning
George Floyd
FOR the purpose of memorializing this tragedy as a point in time when the City Council urges the citizens of Annapolis to join hands with their City officials and civic leaders in committing to each other that violent and disrespectful treatment that degrades dignity or disregards human life will not be tolerated.
WHEREAS, on June 18, 2018, the City Council unanimously adopted Resolution R-28-18 to express its support for the Equal Justice Initiative, to move toward a more complete history of race relations and to affirm the City’s commitment to truth, freedom and equity.
WHEREAS, on May 25, 2020, George Floyd, an African American man died at the hands of four Minneapolis, Minnesota, police officers; and
WHEREAS, according to reports, one of these officers held his knee on Mr. Floyd’s neck for 8 minutes and 46 seconds; 2 minutes and 53 seconds of which occurred after Mr. Floyd became unresponsive, and according to the criminal complaint filed against the officer, Mr. Floyd was handcuffed and lying prone on the road throughout that time. Three other officers participated in this death, with one holding Mr. Floyd’s back, one holding his legs, and the fourth looking on as he stood nearby. According to the Minneapolis Fire Department, paramedics moved Mr. Floyd from the location and were doing chest compressions and other lifesaving measures on an "unresponsive, pulseless male", after which time Mr. Floyd was taken to Hennepin County Medical Center where he was pronounced dead. The family autopsy stated “asphyxiation from sustained pressure was the cause” of Mr. Floyd's death.
WHEREAS, the officer who held his knee on Mr. Floyd’s neck, was arrested on May 29, 2020, and faces charges of second-degree murder and manslaughter, according to the Hennepin County Attorney. As of this writing, the other three officers will be criminally charged but actual charges are not known, according to Senator Amy Klobuchar.
WHEREAS, our local public leaders have spoken out as follows:
Annapolis City Mayor Gavin Buckley,
"No one should suffer such brutality. Our hearts go out to the family of Mr. Floyd and to the people of Minneapolis. Annapolis shares your struggle for justice." ‘
Anne Arundel County Health Officer Nilesh Kalyanaraman,
“Silence is the space in which injustice grows.
We must all speak up when we see injustice, particularly when we are not the target of that injustice.”
Anne Arundel County Police Chief Timothy Altomare,
"We're here united today to condemn the trash we saw on that video and to urge people in Anne Arundel County to keep talking, to keep caring and to do things the right way in a healthy manner. Human life matters. We exist to protect it."
Annapolis Police Chief Edward Jackson,
“Let us all work together in the City of Annapolis and become the model agency that the nation can emulate.”
Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman,
"I encourage every white adult of privilege to watch that video. And when you do, imagine that Mr. George Floyd, the victim trapped under the knee of that officer, was your brother. And when you're done, I encourage you to take a deep breath, set your jaw and pledge to push back for the rest of the waking hours of your life against every wedge driven by hate, fear, and racism between the people of this country."
Anne Arundel County School Superintendent George Arlotto,
“The frustration and pain felt by so many is fully justified. However, we must channel those emotions toward the kindness, acceptance, and inclusion we all desire to see in each other and which we as a school system seek to impart to our students every day. Only by doing that can we build our communities up and not tear them down.”
Anne Arundel County Branch of the NAACP President Jacqueline Boone Allsup,
“This moment calls for us to unite around the outrage we feel and fight for the justice we demand. Now is the time to stand up and speak out as we guide our communities and our nation to the right side of justice.”
Carl Snowden, Caucus of African American Leaders,
"People reach a point where enough is enough. I'm telling people as clearly as I can that we're at that point."
NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE ANNAPOLIS CITY COUNCIL that the City Council first and foremost extends its condolences to the family of George Floyd.
AND, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED BY THE ANNAPOLIS CITY COUNCIL that the City Council recognizes that we all come from a common thread as a single human race and call on our country to recognize the value of human life.
AND, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED BY THE ANNAPOLIS CITY COUNCIL that the City Council fully supports and strongly endorses peaceful unification throughout this country opposing this and similar deplorable acts of violence against persons of color and those of different ethnicity, religions, beliefs, or expressions, both now and in perpetuity.
AND, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED BY THE ANNAPOLIS CITY COUNCIL that the City Council supports that all steps should be taken including an independent investigation to bring those involved in Mr. Floyd’s death to justice.
AND, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED BY THE ANNAPOLIS CITY COUNCIL that the City Council encourages all Annapolis residents to take this time to employ our human capacity for compassion, in continuance of furthering racial equity in our community.
AND, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED BY THE ANNAPOLIS CITY COUNCIL that the City Council calls upon our community to join with us in committing to introspective evaluation of ourselves as public servants, citizens, and as brothers and sisters regarding this event.
AND, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED BY THE ANNAPOLIS CITY COUNCIL that the City Council commits to our community that our organization does not and will not tolerate, or accept in any way, the violent or disrespectful treatment of others that degrades dignity or disregards human life FOR WE ARE “ONE ANNAPOLIS!”
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