CAUCUS STATEMENT ON BLACK LIVES MATTER REMARKS BY BROOKLYN ASSEMBLYMAN
NEW YORK, NY (August 17, 2020) – It is inexcusable in August of 2020 that anyone—let alone an elected leader—misrepresent the global movement to make it clear to citizens all over the world that Black Lives Matter. From its inception, BLM was formed to respond to the extrajudicial killings of unarmed Black Americans. It has grown into a movement to assert the dignity and value of Black lives in a world which is often racially hostile towards people of African descent.
As a multi-ethnic body of legislators across New York State, the Members of the Caucus know how important it is that we all seek to understand the injustices faced by various marginalized communities; and that we take that understanding and compassion with us as we legislate various statewide issues. Thus, the Caucus was shocked and offended by the remarks of Assemblyman William Colton comparing the Black Lives Matter movement to the Ku Klux Klan — a well-known, hate group that seeks to advance white supremacy, historically through heinously violent methods.
Supporting “Black friends” through words is not enough to fight back against the continued injustices that Black and Brown residents often face at disproportionately higher rates across the country. And believing the KKK to be a group of initially “well intentioned people” does not indicate an ability to comprehend the long history of hate directed towards Black people in America; and greatly reduces the trust the public can put in their elected leadership to find solutions to some of our toughest societal issues.
The Caucus calls on Assemblyman Colton to not simply apologize for his words, but to follow his apology with deeds; and to commit to listening and learning from the Black residents within his district who deserve the right to a representative who values their lived experience.
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The New York State Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic, and Asian Legislative Caucus is a sixty-two-member body of state legislators representing a quarter of residents across the State of New York from Long Island, the metro New York City area, and upstate.
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