The Secular Humanists of Western Lake Erie were disÂmayed over the news of the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis on May 25th at the hands of sevÂerÂal city police offiÂcers.
Floyd was comÂpliÂant and in handÂcuffs when he was takÂen to the ground and one offiÂcer ground his knee into Floyd’s neck which led to his death. That action is unconÂscionable and the offiÂcer should be prosÂeÂcutÂed to the full extent of the law. The othÂer offiÂcers who stood around and let it hapÂpen should also be prosÂeÂcutÂed.
The crime that Floyd was takÂen into cusÂtody for doesÂn’t have a death senÂtence and even if it did the police offiÂcers actÂed way outÂside their manÂdate of proÂtectÂing and servÂing. They vioÂlatÂed departÂment polÂiÂcy and Floyd’s due process.
This is hapÂpenÂing far too often in this counÂtry where white police offiÂcers with some kind of powÂer trip fetish, over police peoÂple of colÂor and SHoWLE demands it stop now.
There is no more time for disÂcusÂsions, task forces, or promisÂes to stop the murÂders — it MUST STOP NOW.
Police departÂments, includÂing Toledo’s, must come under citÂiÂzen led review comÂmitÂtees.
Training proÂgrams need to be changed to focus on de-escalation and teachÂing not to use tacÂtics that unnecÂesÂsarÂiÂly harm or furÂther marÂginÂalÂize peoÂple of colÂor.
There must be a stronger effort to recruit peoÂple of colÂor for the police force and there must a strong effort to weed out the offiÂcers who can’t treat all memÂbers of the pubÂlic equalÂly and withÂout bias.
We must all work togethÂer to end the murÂder of peoÂple in cusÂtody by police.
Douglas Berger — President SHoWLE