EUREKA, Ca. (KIEM)-George Floyd’s death has sparked protests around the United States demanding justice against police brutality against people of color including right here in Humboldt.
Local law officials expressed their outrage against the actions of the Minneapolis officers connected in the death of George Floyd and asked community members to join them in front of the Eureka police station to have a conversation.
“We want to make sure that we are here listening and always having that conversation, so thank you for being here today,” said Humboldt County Sheriff William Honsal.
Humboldt County Sherriff William Honsal and Arcata and Eureka police chiefs Brian Ahearn and Steve Watson received inquiries from community members to make a statement related to the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
Both Ahearn and Watson put out a call to community members who wish to stand in solidarity and speak out against police brutality against black, brown, and indigenous people to join them today in front of the Eureka Police Station, their call was heard.
About two hundred people attended the “townhall” style press conference.
Law officials from different jurisdictions were in attendance, including Yurok Police Chief Greg O’Rourke, who traveled from Del Norte County.
“I believe it was important to not only support law enforcement community but the community as a whole, but also from the perspective not just as law enforcement as a whole but a native law enforcement who is now fortunate to be in a position to have a positive impact,” said O’Rourke.
Faith-Elaine Meredith Scott is a student who traveled to Eureka for school.
“The one thing to just like say is people are hurt and I keep saying hurt people, hurt people,” she said. “And if we are all acting out of rage and anger nobody is listening.”
Honsal says it all about starting a dialogue.
“I thought this would be a good idea to have a platform for people to hear where law enforcement stands with us and we are against the killing of George Floyd and we’re against racism,” he said. “All that stuff, so we want to also hear from our community, our black community and hear what they have to say.”
Honsal assured those in attendance, he is a phone call or email away.
