Rep. Zamarripa Statement on Protests

Milwaukee—Rep. JoCasta Zamarripa (D-Milwaukee) released the following statement on the nationwide protests in reaction to the murder of George Floyd:

“Anger, fear, sadness—it’s been hard not to let these feelings overwhelm us as the nation watched another black man die at the hands of law enforcement. George Floyd should be alive today, but instead, he is a symbol of injustice and the systemic racism that pervades our country.

“When you live your life as a person of color, the suspicion of authority, the otherness you’re made to feel, the message that your safety and well-being is less important than a white person, all of this can chip away at your sense of self. What we want most is to be heard, to have our experience understood rather than dismissed, and for that to translate to real action.

“The protests that have taken place throughout Wisconsin reflect all of that, and while they have remained largely peaceful, businesses have been targeted and vandalized. While I condemn violence of any kind, we must not let the actions of a destructive few obscure the fact that a man is dead who should not be. I thank all those who have passionately and peacefully demonstrated for justice and made their voices heard, the countless volunteers who have cleaned up and shown up for their communities, and to the many leaders who have thoughtfully responded to this movement.

“This anger, fear and sadness will not defeat me, and I know it will not defeat Milwaukee. By and large, what I see on the streets and online is a reckoning with our country and our deeply entrenched views. I see a call to action that will not and cannot be ignored. While this will be an ongoing struggle with uncomfortable truths and hard work, I see hope for a better tomorrow.”

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.

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