WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Conference of Mayors President and Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson issued the following statement in response to the grand jury’s decision in New York City:
“The nation’s Mayors extend our sympathies and our prayers for the Garner family. Mayors know better than anyone that the deaths of Eric Garner and Michael Brown are not isolated incidents.
“Similar tragedies have taken place in small and large cities, north, south, east and west for decades.
“This is our chance to make this right. As the leaders of the nation’s cities, we are committed to working with leaders in Washington and across the nation to bring communities together to deal with the greater issues of race and poverty, and the growing economic and cultural divide we see in some of our neighborhoods today.
“There’s nothing wrong with expressing concerns as long it is done peacefully and with purpose.
“We need a continued national dialogue that doesn’t stop once the news coverage has stopped.
“President Obama is leading the way, and we all should follow without losing sight that this country is the world’s greatest democracy. To remain so, we must respect our laws and the rights of all Americans.”
