[Gun Violence\Fourth July]
Williams: “We hear unhelpful and unconfirmed accusations and reasonings for this violence…To blame budget reallocations, bail reforms, or banning chokeholds is a false narrative.”
Photo: YouTube
NYC Public Advocate spoke out against the excuses being made for recent gun violence spike.
Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams issued the following statement in response to the increased incidents of gun violence over the holiday weekend and in recent weeks.
He held a press conference on the issue with community members this week.
“This past weekend New York City saw a devastating increase in gun violence, lives lost and lives forever changed, and this phenomena repeats across the nation. My heart hurts, and I know that pain is shared around our city. While it’s not enough, I offer my prayers for peace and comfort to the victims, to their families, to the communities impacted.
“But now, we hear unhelpful and unconfirmed accusations and reasonings for this violence – whether civilian to officer, civilian to civilian, officer to civilian. To blame budget reallocations, bail reforms, or banning chokeholds is a false narrative excluding the many factors leading to this moment, including a pandemic and economic crisis which have disproportionately affected these same communities.
“We cannot accept any of these as excuses. If we are going to make meaningful change, if we are going to take steps to stop violence and save lives, it needs to come from an honest conversation toward real solutions, with everyone playing their part. What I have seen and heard is not honest or helpful.
“Protecting public safety means redefining it, reimagining what we can do when police are not the entirety of our public safety strategy. It also means acknowledging that all of these issues are inextricably interconnected. What brings violence interrupters into the streets is connected to what leads protesters to occupy City Hall. And what unites all of these calls for change is that only when united, when working together, will we achieve that transformational change.”
