Gov. Cooper: Focus on why people are in the streets, not the property damage

At a Sunday afternoon press conference, Governor Roy Cooper made the following remarks:

“I’m here today to talk about the call being sounded right now across our state and country to stamp out the persistent and ugly flames of racism. The unjust killing of George Floyd less than a week ago combined with many other recent and distant events broke open painful wounds.

“These scars mark generations of trauma that black people and other communities of color continue to suffer. Trauma that has too often gone unrecognized in our country.

“We’ve had moments of heightened awareness, some right here in our own state. But they've faded from the headlines too fast. We've made some progress, but when you see George Floyd on the ground begging for air, you realize that we have so much more work to do.

“For people of color, these are not just cable news headlines, though. They’re life and death warnings.

“They are stark instructions from parents to children about how to stay safe in their own neighborhoods, and how to stay safe during encounters with law enforcement. They are heartbreaking memorials for people who should not be dead.

“In cities across our state, protestors gathered to seek justice for them, for themselves and their children. To call for changes to the systemic problems that have allowed racism to endure. Many brought their children with them to show the importance of calling for action.

“Unfortunately, today the headlines are not about those protestors and their calls for serious, meaningful change. They are more about riots, and tear gas, and broken windows, and stolen property. I fear the cry of the people is being drowned out by the noise of riots.

“Let me be clear about one thing: People are more important than property. Black Lives do Matter.

“Throughout this weekend I have been briefed by Emergency Management and Public Safety officials. State resources have been provided to support the response.

“Across the state, we saw a pattern in some of our cities. Protests and demonstrations held earlier in the day remained focused, powerful and nonviolent. Then as the night set in, a different crowd shifted to a more aggressive, more disruptive display.

“Storefront windows & government buildings were damaged. Retail stores were looted. Small businesses already struggling under COVID-19 were damaged. I communicated with some of them today and people were out there helping them today. Fires burned.

“The International Civil Rights Center and Museum in Greensboro, NC– the site of the 1960 Woolworth’s sit in – was damaged. And for a short time, major highways were shut down.

“In many ways, those actions undermine peaceful pleas for justice.

“I am thankful for those who passionately demonstrated and for the EMS workers, law enforcement officers and municipal officials who provided a space for voices to be heard. It was an exhausting night for some of them.

“We are fortunate, however, that none of these demonstrations resulted in death or critical injury. And I'm thankful for those who have worked so hard to keep the peace.

“I have spoken with the mayors of Raleigh, Charlotte, Greensboro, and Fayetteville. Their requests for state support in the form of state highway patrol, SBI and National Guard soldiers are being fulfilled.

“I've urged mayors to work closely with their police departments to prioritize de-escalating tensions. I've encouraged them to meet with the protest organizers in their cities to continue the dialogues they’re having and open dialogues with others they haven't talked with yet.

“I want to remind everyone of something vitally important. We cannot focus so much on the property damage that we forget why people are in the streets.

“Racism. Excessive use of police force. Health disparities. Poverty. White supremacy. These are wrong. They are ugly, but they are present. We must deal with them. We will deal with them.

“George Floyd’s sister, Bridgette, lives in Hoke County, North Carolina. I spoke to her yesterday by phone. While I cannot bring her brother back, I can work for justice in his name. I assured her that’s what we would do.

“We have to constructively channel our anger, frustration & sadness to force accountability & action. If we don’t, we haven’t learned anything. We have to have these conversations & then move beyond them to do the work of fighting racism & building safe communities for everyone.”