[troutman]

Mayor Jacob Frey

Being Black in America should not be a death sentence.
For five minutes, we watched a white officer press his knee into a Black man’s neck. Five minutes.
When you hear someone calling for help, you’re supposed to help. This officer failed in the most basic, human sense. What happened on Chicago and 38th last night is awful. It was traumatic. It serves as a reminder of how far we have to go.
For the better part of the night, I’ve been trying to find the words to describe what happened.
All I keep coming back to is this: this man should not have died.
What we saw is horrible. Completely and utterly messed up.
The man’s life matters. He matters.
He was someone son. Someone’s family member. Someone’s friend.
He was a human being and his life mattered.
Whatever the investigation reveals, it does not change the simple truth, he should still be with us this morning.
I believe what I saw and what I saw is wrong on every level.
This does not reflect the values Chief Arradondo has worked tirelessly to fulfill.
To our Black community, to the family: I’m so sorry.