3 Newark Leaders Reflect On George Floyd, Murder Trial Verdict – Patch.com

NEWARK, NJ — When the verdict came in the murder trial against former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin – “guilty on all counts” – it caused a swell of emotions in Newark. After all, the city was the site of a massive protest in the name of George Floyd last year.

NEWARK MAYOR: ‘BLACK LIVES MATTERED’

Mayor Ras Baraka has this to say about the verdict:

“On behalf of all of Newark and our residents, we applaud the jury for its decision in the Derek Chauvin case and congratulate Minnesota’s prosecutors for their work in bringing it about. It sends a clear message that people who use the cover of the law to commit murder and violate people’s fundamental rights will be met with justice. Today, Black Lives Mattered, which means all of our humanity matters.”

NEWARK CCRB CHAIR: ‘A MONUMENTAL STEP’

Richard Robinson, the chair of Newark’s Civilian Complaint Review Board (CCRB), released the following statement on Thursday evening:

“The verdict handed down in Minnesota recently, regarding the Derrick Chauvin Murder Trial, is a monumental step in the right direction of restoring hope and undoing injustices that have been pervasive in Black and Brown communities. Although the criminal justice system has failed us so many before, we now having an opportunity to look for true accountability. The murder of George Floyd was the result of inhumane police brutality that is perpetuated by a culture of white supremacy that has been lingering in our society for centuries. As a result, Black and Brown communities have been victimized and treated unfairly by members of law enforcement and by the inequities in the judicial system resulting in little or no recourse for Black and Brown people. Following this unprecedented verdict, I, as a Black Man, am now optimistic of our nation’s future as it pertains to the pursuit of justice for all, and the resolve of absolute transparency and true accountability. The conviction of Derek Chauvin, on all three counts, bestows upon the Black and Brown communities in America a feeling of sheer optimism, a sense of finally belonging and the expectation of being treated as first-class citizens in America.”

Robinson continued:

“Now that the world has witnessed this historic and profound verdict, let us move forward in establishing a meaningful and effective Newark, NJ Civilian Complaint Review Board (CCRB). The need for an independent entity that functions to provide the aforementioned accountability and absolute transparency has never been more apparent than it is today. Our esteemed board of commissioners, if equipped with the requisite powers outlined in Assembly Bill 4656, will lead the City of Newark to a role of inspiring and igniting the nation to utilize those principles to fight all instances of police brutality.”

“No one else in the world should ever again have to experience the dehumanization and traumatic humiliation that was depicted in Minnesota and witnessed before the world,” Robinson said.

ESSEX COUNTY COMMISSONER: ‘MUCH TO BE DONE’

Essex County Commissioner President Wayne Richardson, a Newark native, offered a statement after the verdict was announced.

Richardson wrote:

“[Tuesday’s] verdict that found Derek Chauvin guilty on all counts for the murder of George P. Floyd Jr. is applauded by all justice loving people. Chauvin’s conviction is an indication that when the evidence of murder is overwhelming, beyond a shadow of a doubt, a true jury of one’s peers can and will do the right thing.”

He continued:

“A potentially catastrophic political reaction in the streets has been averted, but there is much to be done to eliminate systemic racism and foster new and improved definitions of policing and community relations. The fear of unnecessary force for even minor interaction with police is many times traumatizing for people of color, and our children grow up amidst this trauma. The fear factor must be eliminated by redefining the purpose of policing and the role of police in our communities. As we figure out how to keep our communities peaceful, we must support legislation, programs and initiatives that prove that our lives matter. In order to move forward, the killings at the hands of police must cease.”

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