"The topic of racial justice has been at the forefront of this country's headlines for the past several years. Our emotions were in inflamed with the murder of Trayvon Martin, and then by the murders of Michael Brown, Eric Garner, Sandra Bland, Alton Sterling, and Philando Castile, to name only a few. Gun violence is in our cities nightly, while the cries for the resources needed to rise above subsistence are ignored.
"Several weeks ago I made my own private protest public by staying seated in prayer during the Pledge of Allegiance. I'm thankful to all my colleagues for the supportive words after the resulting hate mail, and particularly the seven Council Members who joined me in sitting during the following Stated. As I said then, the decision to participate was personal and did not reflect anyone's commitment to the movement.
"While some of us may decide to sit in protest - a tradition deeply rooted in the Civil Rights era - and others decide to exercise their right to protest in a different fashion, what is the most important is that we are united in voicing our discontent about the injustices taking place all over the country.
"I am proud to be a member of this Council and proud to stand alongside my colleagues in singing the Black National Anthem."
