The St. Joseph City Commission has issued a statement calling for a commitment to racial justice and healing as protests continue around the nation following the killing of George Floyd. Speaking during a Monday virtual meeting, St. Joe Mayor Mike Garey said as he sees citizens take to the streets to protest systemic racism, he believes all must take an active role in change.
“St. Joseph stands with other cities, businesses, and leaders who want to draw a positive change, eradicate the barriers than deny access and opportunity in our communities of color, and become a city where all men, women, and children are treated as equals,” Gary said.
Mayor Pro Tem Laura Goos said she is committed to working every day for equality.
“I’ve been, as so many people have been, heartsick over the pain of so much loss, the brutality, the injustice that black and brown people go through every day in our country, and I know that our nation is wrapped in the collective grief.”
Commissioner Lynn Todman explained what’s meant by the phrase of Black Lives Matter.
“All lives do matter, but black lives are in crisis right now, and that’s why we ask you to appreciate where that phrase is coming from.”
Todman says after all her years of working on health equity in the area, she knows conversations about racism are uncomfortable and incidents like the killing of George Floyd stem from policies that allow them. Mayor Pro Tem Laura Goos said there will be a unity march this Saturday from St. Joseph to Benton Harbor. It will start at 4 p.m.
