SAINT PAUL – Rep. Tina Liebling (DFL – Rochester) issued the following statement regarding the death of George Floyd and the subsequent events in the Twin Cities:
“I am heartsick over the events of the last few days.
“The public torture and death of a black man at the hands of the police comes after generation upon generation of similar crimes, most of which have gone unpunished. Without justice, there is no peace. I call upon Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman and other authorities to move swiftly to charge and punish the officers responsible for the brutal death of George Floyd.
“At the same time, I call on everyone to express their anger in ways that respect the lives and property of their neighbors. My heart goes out to the Minnesotans whose communities have been devastated by the violence. There are families—including many families of color—who now have nowhere to buy groceries, whose jobs are gone, whose small businesses are burned.
“We need fundamental change in this country to overcome the legacy of slavery and create justice for all. I will continue working with my colleagues in the legislature—especially our legislators of color—to create that change.”