"There's one thing we stand on getting done right away, preferably Monday, and that would be to repeal section 50-a," said Peoples-Stokes.
"A half-century ago, segregation was repealed, yet disparities in how services are delivered, frankly, throughout government, but more importantly today, throughout law enforcement, has been very disparit," she continued. "We're asking simply for equal justice under the law - it's real simple - equal justice under the law."
"If you are ready for standing together to lead to something that is actually going to make a difference in the lives of the young people that live in your community of your black brothers and sisters of the people of color that have been suffering for far too long at the hands of police officers that are not doing what they swore an oath to do, hold your hands high," said Erie County Legislature Chair April Baskin. "Repeal 50-a Monday and let that trickle down to our councilmembers proactively activating change, to the legislature where I stand activating change - let what the state legislature is doing trickle down to home here in Buffalo."
"The reason that brings us here is the death of George Floyd and everything that happened," said Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz. "We wish that George Floyd was alive today. but because he isn't, we need to ensure he did not die in vain. We need to ensure that there are the proper mechanisms put in place to ensure that police brutality is something that no longer exists."
"I'm afraid because I've got two brown boys that live in my house, 10 years old and 12 years old, that I can't watch every day," said Buffalo Council President Darius Pridgen. "I want those who are sworn to serve and protect to serve and protect them also.
"I'm afraid not to be here today," Pridgen continued. "I have no choice because the one thing I can't change is the color of their skin. I cannot change and make them anything other than what they are. So yeah, I'm afraid - I'm afraid to be silent."