Messages Of Hope, Sadness In West Orange Over George Floyd Death

WEST ORANGE, NJ — It’s been less than a week since George Floyd died in the custody of police in Minneapolis, Minnesota. But since then, a massive wave of anger, outrage – and hope – has swept the nation.

Here are some of the messages that have recently emerged from West Orange.

'DEEP-ROOTED OUTRAGE'

West Orange township officials offered the following message on Friday night, just hours before protests erupted across the nation.

"The death of George Floyd while in police custody in Minneapolis has sparked deep-rooted outrage across the country. The videos which have emerged depict a gross negligence of lawful authority and need to be denounced by all police agencies in the strongest of terms. The incident has understandably unleashed an aftermath of escalating tensions nationwide but due process must not be replaced by the consequences of inflammatory rhetoric. West Orange is a community with cultural roots spread across the spectrum of ethnic and racial backgrounds. Our town has a proud history of respect and acceptance for all people. This is best exemplified in the reputation of our police department for upholding and enforcing the law with a professionally trained police force."

Officials continued:

"Town residents should be assured that the men and woman of the West Orange Police Department are committed to the highest standards of law enforcement. The WOPD is the only nationally accredited law enforcement entity in all of Essex County and one of about only 12 in the entire state. All WOPD personnel attend semi-annual training regarding our use of force policy. It specifically focuses on circumstances when there is a necessity to intervene in excessive use of force situations. Failure to adhere to our established polices by officers may subject them to departmental charges and criminal charges if warranted. In-custody deaths within our jurisdiction always would be investigated by the New Jersey State Attorney General."

West Orange officials concluded:

"Mayor Robert Parisi, West Orange Township Council President Michelle Casalino, Councilman Jerry Guarino, Councilman Krakoviak, Councilwoman Cindy Matute-Brown, Councilwoman Susan McCartney, West Orange Police Chief James Abbott, and the West Orange Human Relations Commission join the countless voices across the country offering support to the family of George Floyd for their profound loss. As a caring community with a committed police agency in a lawful nation we must continually all work together in the shared hope that our combined efforts achieve our common goals of justice and equality for all."

'HEARTBREAKING AND APPALLING'

U.S. Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill of New Jersey’s 11th District said it’s “unconscionable that another black man has died at the hands of someone sworn to protect.”

“George Floyd’s murder is heartbreaking and appalling,” the congresswoman said. “Communities are grieving, and it's on all of us to stand united against hate and systematic injustice.”

Sherrill represents several towns in Essex County, including West Orange.

‘SHOCK, OUTRAGE, HURT, GRIEF’

New Jersey Assemblywoman Mila Jasey of the 27th District released a statement about Floyd’s death on Friday.

Jasey represents multiple towns in Essex County, including West Orange.

“We’ve felt these emotions too many times before,” Jasey wrote. “Shock. Outrage. Hurt. Grief. We want to believe it will never happen again, and then, painfully, it does.”

“I desperately wish we knew George Floyd’s name because of his character, his accomplishments, or his place in his community,” Jasey continued. “Instead, we know his name because of his agonizing final moments. I’d give anything for this not to be the case.”

The assemblywoman continued:

“This tragedy impacts us all, not just Minneapolis or the black community. We are all hurting, and we all will need healing, again. My heart goes out to the Floyd family and the residents of Minneapolis. I hope that our nation’s shared grief brings greater awareness and encourages action, compassion and justice for George Floyd.”

'SADDENED AND CONCERNED'

West Orange School Superintendent Scott Cascone also offered a statement about Floyd's death.

"As we know, in the wake of the tragic death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, the unprecedented and challenging times through which our country has been living amidst the global pandemic have now become even more troublesome," Cascone said.

"I am, of course, saddened and concerned by this senseless act and understand how our citizens are compelled to protest what took place," Cascone said. "To peaceably assemble is, of course, one of the rights afforded to all United States citizens under our constitution. After all, it was through the largely peaceful protests of the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s that some of the greatest strides towards equity were made in our country. However, I am equally saddened and concerned at the prospect of our nation being further plunged into discord and division at a time when we must find common ground and remain unified."

Cascone continued:

"As I watched the events unfold last night in various cities around the country, I was reminded of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s words, “A riot is the language of the unheard.” Now, more than ever, it is essential that we hear one another, we listen to one another. I would suggest, that one of the critical aspects of a culturally pluralistic democracy which has been lost over the years is our ability and willingness to engage in critical, yet civil discourse with one another. It is safe to say that none of us wants to see innocent lives lost or taken, none of us wants to see our cities burning, and none of us wants to see our country torn apart. So the question is, what can we do as individuals and as a community?"

The superintendent added:

"First, let us vow to listen, let us vow to seek to understand our brothers and sisters with open hearts and minds. Let us commit to put politics and rhetoric aside, and find our common ground as beings of the same human race. I, as Superintendent of Schools and the district administration stand ready to work with our student leaders. We are eager to hear their thoughts and perspectives and develop ways in which their voices can be included at the table, not only in the wake of these events, but also moving forward. We stand committed to nurturing an environment in which students establish a solid foundation of self belief, worth, and voice."

Cascone continued:

"Over the course of the last three months as we have lived together through this global pandemic, we have seen the power of the human spirit. We have seen first responders, front line health workers, and simply everyday people coming together giving selflessly to one another, risking their lives for one another regardless of race, culture or religion. We have seen this time and time again over the course of human history. When push comes to shove, and life is on the line, our innate care and love for one another takes over. Politics, race, religion all fade away and we simply see a fellow human being in need. Make no mistake about it, we may not be on the front lines of a battlefield, in a burning building, or swimming frantically against a riptide, metaphorically, however, as a society, that is precisely where we are."

Cascone concluded:

"So what shall we do? I can only speak for myself and as the leader of the school district ask you to follow me. I will listen, I will seek to understand, and I will act each and every day with faith, hope, and love in others, in our great West Orange community, nation and world. I bid you peace, calm, and safety in the days ahead."

‘BRUTALLY MURDERED’

U.S. Rep. Donald Payne Jr. of New Jersey’s 10th District said that Floyd was “brutally murdered.” While Chauvin has since been arrested, the congressman also called for Minneapolis authorities to file charges against the other three police officers who participated in the incident.

Payne wrote:

“I want to extend my full support to all Americans who have taken to the streets to protest systemic racism in cities across the country. Mr. Floyd’s death is just one of far too many recent and historic police actions nationwide that have killed unarmed African Americans. These repeated incidents erode our faith and trust in democracy. As a nation, we were founded on the belief that all men and women were created equal regardless of race and that all of us have a universal right to life and liberty. These protestors are practicing their Constitutional right to peaceful assembly and all elected officials as well as public servants should respect and honor that. But the key word is peaceful. I understand how the frustration and anger of a peaceful protest can turn violent. There are times when such actions are necessary, such as the time a band of American patriots protested taxation with their actions during the Boston Tea Party. However, violence is never the answer. It only allows aggressors to justify the excessive force that has come to characterize the arrest and detention of blacks in America.”

Payne represents several towns in Essex County including part of West Orange.

Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com

Don’t forget to visit the Patch West Orange Facebook page. Learn more about posting announcements or events to your local Patch site. Sign up for Patch email newsletters.