FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE) Statement on the One Year Anniversary of George Floyd's Death
Alexandria, VA. – May 24, 2021 – Tonight, NOBLE National President Lynda R. Williams issued the following statement in response to the One Year Anniversary of George Floyd's Death:
"It has been unfortunate that a familiar refrain of police and minority community interaction has been the brutal and often fatal manner in which they’ve intersected. One year after the murder of George Floyd, at the hands of a Minnesota police officer, outwardly it does not appear much has changed or improved along the lines of a civil or humane coexistence.
"Seemingly, as though there have been no lessons learned, or best practices applied, even as a jury of peers found guilt, and state and federal reforms have been enacted, wide-spread deterrence of excessive use of force by police has not quelled. Through the expediency of technology, whether from citizen recordings or at times through body or dashboard cameras of the officers involved, we continue to witness uncontrolled aggression, inappropriate escalation of use of force or clear lapses in basic apprehension protocols, which continue to lead to fatalities that could have been avoided.
"In the midst of the global awakening of disparaging treatment in minority communities by police, I assumed my tenure as president of NOBLE and was immediately buoyed by these observations: the world was paying attention and demanding to be active participants in being “policed” more justly, civic and law enforcement leadership needed to take ownership of the problem and problem-solving, reimagining policing can work, if we put in the work.
"Continuing forward, opportunities remain to draw a humane accord in the communities we serve; to restore faith and confidence in our unbiased ability to serve and protect; to be our brothers’ and sisters’ keeper in maintaining expectations of reasoned discipline when everyone is watching, but more importantly, even if no one is watching. We owe this to our profession and to the people we take an oath to protect."
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About the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives
Since 1976, The National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE) has served as the conscience of law enforcement by being committed to justice by action. NOBLE represents over 3,000 members internationally, who are primarily African American chief executive officers of law enforcement agencies at federal, state, county and municipal levels, other law enforcement administrators, and criminal justice practitioners. For more information, visit www.NOBLENational.org.
