BUFFALO (WBEN) - Tuesday evening marked yet another demonstration in Niagara Square stemming from the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, as video surfaced of a police officer kneeling on the back of his neck for nearly nine minutes.
Lots of educators speaking looking to end racism in schools and promoting equity. Several hundred people in the crowd. pic.twitter.com/VlbuPuvirF
— Mike Baggerman (@MikeBaggerman)
June 9, 2020 "We're hoping to gather some support based off of the tragedy - the killing of George Floyd, which was highly unacceptable - and we are trying to leverage that situation, unfortunate situation, to wake people up so they are actually equipped with tools that can help our schools gain from this experience," said organizer and Buffalo educator Demario Strickland.
On Sunday, nine members of the Minneapolis City Council promised to dismantle the police department, as protesters around the country are calling for a significant defunding of police to instead divert those funds toward community-based support programs.
Reverend Mark Blue, who serves as the president of the Buffalo branch of the NAACP, said these protests could provide major historical significance.
"We can go all the way as far back as Emmett Till, with George Floyd being the modern day Emmett Till, which caused a lot of changes that need to be continued in our city," said Blue. "History is repeating itself because we really haven't done enough to ensure that the rights of African Americans have been continued, and sometimes, it takes a great reaction to precipitate the change that is needed."
On a local level, Mayor Byron Brown announced last week the banishment of choke holds in the Use of Force Manual for the Buffalo Police Department. Statewide, the New York State Assembly and Senate passed legislation to repeal 50-a, a law that was used by police departments to keep disciplinary records hidden. While the repeal hasn't been signed into law by Governor Cuomo just yet, Cuomo made his intentions quite clear on social media.
The Legislature just voted to repeal 50-A and I will sign it into law this week.The countless voices for reform united and were heard.NOW is the moment for real change.
— Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo)
June 10, 2020 "What we're seeing is a rise in a lot of our young people who are sick and tired of being sick and tired," said Blue. "We're seeing the rise now of a lot of African Americans and Latinos becoming a part of the legislative body to where we can now put in some of the changes in policy that need to be.
"We have never been, as African American people, treated equally and fairly, especially when it comes in the eyes of justice," Blue continued. "It's a shame that legislation has to be passed for people to treat people right, but since that is the case, we have to take those necessary steps to make sure that we are all treated fairly."
