Photo courtesy of Lorie Shaull

Leonardtown, MD – St. Mary’s County NAACP joins forces with all branches of the NAACP Maryland State Conference VOICING SOLIDARITY FOR JUSTICE IN THE MURDER OF MR. GEORGE FLOYD. Willie Flowers, state president said, “We grieve the loss of our brother George Floyd who was murdered violently in Minneapolis, MN.  This continues a pattern of White Supremacy and a gross abuse of power that are the most insidious aspects of our nation’s history. These systemic patterns must come to an end.

Like other acts of hatred before the murder of Mr. Floyd, this horrific incident reinforces the urgent need to work together to put measures in place to prevent violent acts like this one from ever happening again. Murdering citizens does the opposite of community building. It brings shame and stigma to officers who work for the good of the communities they serve. Let this tragedy serve as fuel to re-commit to community and police relations with the intention of serving together to not only protect the community but   to unify and resolve the long-term challenges with social   injustice.”
 
We encourage   citizens of St. Mary’s County to work in your local communities and churches to build stronger relations with law enforcement and support the positive actions of those leading on the ground in Minneapolis to achieve justice for Mr. Floyd.  Branch president, William Hall   is calling for a review of local policies and practices that hold law enforcement accountable for investigating and following the law when officers are charged with police brutality.  We are calling for federal legislation that provides detailed procedures and penalties in cases of blatant police brutality. 

Trump has proven to be incapable of displaying the competency and compassion necessary   for the presidential leadership   our country needs in such a turbulent time – turbulence which has been largely orchestrated by his intentional   racial divisiveness and marginalization of communities of color.

The branch will focus on redressing the systemic racism against our community that led to this tragedy. In response to this issue, we will meet with local law enforcement, hold a virtual   Town Hall meeting   and continue to lead the charge for securing a Drop Box for mail in voting in Lexington Park.  To honor George Floyd, we must protest peacefully, demand persistently, and fight politically.  We must VOTE in November.

-William (BJ) Hall
 President, St. Mary’s County NAACP #7025

 

The mural, located on the corner of 38th Street and Chicago Avenue South in Minneapolis, is the work of artists Xena Goldman, Cadex Herrera, and Greta McLain. The group started working on the mural on Thursday morning and finished it within 12 hours with the help of artists Niko Alexander and Pablo Hernandez.