Mason Calls for Justice for George Floyd

GURNEE, Ill. – State Rep. Joyce Mason, D-Gurnee, released the following statement Tuesday:

“It’s been eight days since George Floyd was murdered in Minneapolis; eight days since a police officer pressed his knee into George Floyd’s neck for eight consecutive minutes; and eight days since three police officers watched in silence as George Floyd died before their eyes.

“Like so many others, I have spent the past eight days overwhelmed by feelings of grief and anger. I hope the law enforcement officer who killed George Floyd is rightly held accountable, and I hope the officers who stood by and watched are too.

“George Floyd’s death is not an isolated incident. Rather, it’s the result of a broken system that has failed people of color for far too long. It’s past time for us to fully address racism in all its forms. That includes condemning explicit acts of racism when we see them, but it also means intentionally changing our policies on healthcare, housing, criminal justice and the environment in a way that addresses the stark racial disparities that still exist in each of those areas today. These are inequalities that have been created and reinforced for centuries. If we are to fix them, every one of us must step up and commit to doing what is right.”