“The murder of George Floyd and the events of the last week are absolutely heartbreaking, and have once again exposed the results of generations of injustice and systemic racism in our country. No community is immune to the perils and far-reaching effects of institutional racism and it falls on all of us—no matter your race, gender, or creed—to not just speak up, but to actively self-reflect and fight against these types of injustices. 

Today, I joined Ulster County Human Rights Commissioner Tyrone Wilson and several dozen leaders from our black and brown communities to hear their concerns and urge the group to continue pressing forward with our collective efforts to ensure justice for every resident in Ulster County. Along with Sheriff Figueroa, I also assured the group that we have zero tolerance for any form of police brutality in our county. I am confident that together our community can and will channel the grief, anger, and frustration we are all feeling to push for needed reforms that will ensure accountability and justice for all.”

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