Cherry Hill Leaders Express Outrage Over George Floyd Killing

CHERRY HILL, NJ — Cherry Hill officials added their voices this week to the collective outrage that has been expressed nationwide over the police-involved killing of George Floyd in Minnesota.

“The killing of George Floyd exposed deep fissures in our shared American experience. This injustice demands our attention,” Cherry Hill Mayor Susan Shin Angulo said in a statement. “We must be unwavering in our commitment to social equity, protecting the underrepresented and vulnerable, and to respect peaceful demonstrations that advance real and sustained change.”

“We cannot be silent when it comes to fighting hate and bigotry,” Cherry Hill Council President David Fleisher said. “Especially now— during the health and economic crisis— we must double our efforts.”

The mayor and council said they echo the earlier sentiments of Cherry Hill Police Chief William Monaghan, who encouraged our residents to continue partnering with law enforcement to effectuate positive change. Read more here: South Jersey Police Leaders Stress Community Trust

“The partnership between our residents and our police is built on a foundation of shared information, trust, respect, and accountability,” officials said in a joint statement. “Our community policing program continues to build meaningful bonds between local law enforcement and our neighborhoods, houses of worship, and businesses.”

Floyd, a black man, was killed in a police-involved incident in Minnesota last week. He was handcuffed and lying face down on a Minneapolis street Monday when officer Derek Chauvin kept his knee on Floyd's neck for 8 minutes, 46 seconds. Floyd became unresponsive after 2 minutes, 53 seconds, according to the criminal complaint.

Chauvin was charged Friday with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. In the wake of Floyd's death, protests against racism and police brutality have sparked around the world.

“As we watch the events unfolding around the country, and even some very close to home, we ask that you join us in speaking-out out against racial and social justice, violence, inequality, and hate,” the officials said. “And we ask you to instead embrace kindness, compassion, tolerance, and justice for all. To quote Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., ‘Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.’”