Golden Valley Human Rights Commission Calls For Unity

Press release from the City of Golden Valley:

June 15, 2020

The Golden Valley Human Rights Commission (HRC) released a statement in response to the death of George Floyd. Read the full statement below.

In the weeks since the death of George Floyd, we continue to call for justice and believe that as a community we must look inward to make Golden Valley a more united, supportive, and caring community.

We have seen many encouraging efforts to connect people and bring comfort to those impacted by the events in Minneapolis. Golden Valley’s own Rose McGee and Sweet Potato Comfort Pie were featured on the NBC Nightly News for building community amidst tragedy, and Meadowbrook Elementary students are writing messages of love and hope to be delivered to the George Floyd memorial site. We are grateful to see this type of response from our community.

However, some residents who are people of color have reported feeling threatened or intimidated by their white neighbors and visitors in recent weeks. This type of behavior runs counter to our Welcome Statement, the values of the City of Golden Valley, and we strongly condemn it. Hate has no home in Golden Valley, and we encourage residents who experience these threats to contact the Minnesota Department of Human Rights and issue a complaint.

The Golden Valley Human Rights Commission is exploring options for Golden Valley residents to express their solidarity with communities of color and stand in opposition to racism and hatred. If you’d like to learn more or join the efforts to support the work of those seeking positive change, check out the Human Rights Commission and Golden Valley Rising TIDES Task Force.

This press release was produced by the City of Golden Valley. The views expressed here are the author’s own.