Senator Anthony J. Portantino Statement on George Floyd's Death

As we mourn the horrific death of George Floyd, we should remember these words from Dr. Martin Luther King: “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.”  

Silence is no longer an alternative. We must all join in condemning the racism that underlies this crime -- the racism that continues to make deaths like George Floyd’s a shockingly common occurrence.

It is also important that we recognize the frustration and pain this moment has caused.  I attended the peaceful vigil at Pasadena City Hall Sunday night with my daughter.  We felt the anger in the air; but we also felt the peace and the love exhibited by a diverse and multi-generational crowd that was grieving and healing together.

Sadly, all across America inspirational moments of protest like these have been hi-jacked by a few people bent on violence and opportunist looting.  No one condones or should condone these actions.  We must unite in protecting innocent people and communities from harm just as we unite in condemning this unjust death.

For me, Laker great Kareem Abdul-Jabbar articulated the situation perfectly:

‘Yes, protests often are used as an excuse for some to take advantage, just as when fans celebrating a hometown sports team championship burn cars and destroy storefronts. I don’t want to see stores looted or even buildings burn. But African Americans have been living in a burning building for many years, choking on the smoke as the flames burn closer and closer. Racism in America is like dust in the air. It seems invisible — even if you’re choking on it — until you let the sun in. Then you see it’s everywhere. As long as we keep shining that light, we have a chance of cleaning it wherever it lands. But we have to stay vigilant, because it’s always still in the air.”

Collectively, we must demand that every person in power speaks and acts for peace, order and understanding -- not for violence and rage.  The peaceful protesters are making a heartfelt appeal to all of us to break our silence and join in the struggle to end institutional racism.  I believe that if we do so, if we all embrace our responsibility, we can change our society, help our grieving neighbors heal, and drown out the extremists and agitators who undermine the message of love we need, today -- and America will be the better for it.