[George Floyd Commemorative Lecture]
[00:01:21]
THAT IS RIDGE POINT HIGH SCHOOL CHOIR UNDER THE DIRECTION OF CHELSEA BURNER.
I'M THE MANAGER AT THE AFRICAN AMERICAN LIBRARY AT THE GREGORY SCHOOL.
AND ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, AS WELL AS DR.
RIO LAWSON, UM, AN EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP TEAM, WE ARE HONORED TO PRESENT THE INAUGURAL GEORGE FLOYD COMMUNITY LECTURE SERIES.
THE AFRICAN AMERICAN LIBRARY AT THE GREGORY SCHOOL IS ONE OF THREE SPECIAL COLLECTIONS HELD BY HOUSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEM.
OUR MISSION IS TO PRESERVE, PROMOTE, AND MAKE ACCESSIBLE AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY AS IT RELATES TO HOUSTON, UM, AS WELL AS THE STATE OF TEXAS AND SURROUNDING REGION.
SO THE GEORGE FLOYD COMM COMMEMORATIVE LECTURE SERIES, UH, WAS A BRAINCHILD OF DR. LAWSON.
SO IN THE EFFORT TO MAKE SURE, UM, WE NEVER FORGET HIS NAME, UH, WE HOPE THROUGH THIS PROGRAM, THIS EVENT THAT EACH YEAR HOUSTONIANS WILL HAVE A PLATFORM AROUND WHICH TO GATHER TO REMEMBER HIS LIFE AND TO CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION AROUND SYSTEMATIC
[00:05:01]
CHANGE, RACISM, POLICE FORMS, UH, REFORM, AS WELL AS MAKING OUR COMMUNITY AND WORLD A MORE LOVING AND ACCEPTING PLACE.WE ALSO CREATED, UH, THE GEORGE FLOYD SOCIAL JUSTICE COMMUNITY ARCHIVES.
UH, THIS COLLECTION AIMS TO PRESERVE RECORDS OF RESISTANCE TO RACIAL OPPRESSION THROUGH MOVEMENTS AGAINST RACISM, SOCIAL INJUSTICE, CIVIL RIGHTS IN HOUSTON, UH, AS WELL AS, UM, AS IT RELATES TO THE BLACK COMMUNITY, AS WELL AS PROMOTING BLACK FREEDOM STRUGGLE IN GENERAL.
UM, THE ARCHIVES CONSIST OF THE GEORGE FLOYD MEMORIAL COLLECTION, WHICH DOCUMENTS THE LOCAL PROTESTS INCLUDING PHOTOGRAPHS, PROTEST SIGNS, AND ORAL HISTORIES.
SO WE ALSO STARTED THE DIGITAL GEORGE FLOYD MEMORIAL PAGE TO DISPLACE SOME OF THE IMAGES FROM THE COLLECTIONS ON A, UH, DIGITAL PLATFORM.
SO YOU CAN GO AND LISTEN TO, UH, ORAL HISTORIES, UH, ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED DURING THAT TIME, AS WELL AS, UH, SEE THESE IMAGES AND, AND PHOTOS AND, AND SILENCE.
WE ALSO CREATED A WITNESS TO THE TRUTH PORTAL, WHICH IS HOUSTON PUBLIC'S LIBRARY'S, UM, RACE AND SOCIAL JUSTICE INITIATIVE.
AND NOW IT IS MY HONOR TO INTRODUCE DR.
DR. PRICE IS AN ENDOWED PROFESSOR OF POLITICAL SCIENCE AT PRAIRIE VIEW AND M UNIVERSITY AND IS, AND THE INAUGURAL DIRECTOR OF THE RUTH J. SIMMONS CENTER FOR RACE AND SOCIAL JUSTICE.
DR. PRICE ALSO SERVED AS PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR FOR THE UNIVERSITY'S AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDIES INITIATIVE.
HER RESEARCH IN TEACHING INTEREST INCLUDE BLACK POLITICS, PUBLIC OPINION, AND SOCIAL MOVEMENTS.
DR. PRICE IS THE AUTHOR OF TWO BOOKS, THE RACE WHISPERER, BARACK OBAMA, AND THE POLITICAL USE OF RACE AND DREAMING BLACKNESS, BLACK NATIONALISM, AND AFRICAN-AMERICAN PUBLIC OPINION.
UH, DR. PRICE COMPLETED HER BA IN GEOGRAPHY AT PRAIRIE AND M UNIVERSITY AND A MASTER'S AND PHD IN POLITICAL SCIENCE AT THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY.
UH, BEFORE COMING TO PRAIRIE VIEW, DR. PRICE WAS AN ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDIES AND POLITICAL SCIENCE AT RUTGERS UNIVERSITY.
IN 2017, DR. PRICE SERVED AS THE BLACK HISTORY LECTURER FOR THE US EMBASSY IN GERMANY, WHERE SHE LECTURED AT UNIVERSITIES AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY ABOUT THE MEANING OF BARACK OBAMA'S PRE PRESIDENCY, PRE, SORRY,
SO SHE ALSO, SHE HAS ALSO DONE MAJOR KEYNOTE IN LECTURES AT UNIVERSITIES AND CONFERENCE AROUND THE US IN 2019.
DR. PRICE RECEIVED PRAIRIE VIEWS AND NIM UNIVERSITY'S DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AWARD FOR THE HIGHEST, WHICH IS THE HIGHEST HONOR OF THE, UH, ALUMNI THAT YOU CAN RECEIVE FROM THE UNIVERSITY.
PRICE IS A REGULAR CONTRIBUTOR TO THE NEW YORK TIMES OPINION SECTION AND ALSO HAS DONE POLITICAL COMMENTARY FOR M-S-N-B-C-C-N-N MS MAGAZINE, L MAGAZINE, AND NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO.
SO PLEASE HELP ME WELCOME DR. PRICE.
UM, I'M HONORED TO BE ASKED TO, TO BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE, UM, IN THIS OCCASION.
THANK YOU DR. LAWSON, FOR THAT OPPORTUNITY.
AND I ALSO FEEL LIKE I WOULD KIND OF BE, UH, MISSING AN OPPORTUNITY IF I DIDN'T SAY, I HAVE NO IDEA WHERE RIDGE POINT HIGH SCHOOL IS, BUT ALL ROADS FROM RIDGE POINT HIGH SCHOOL LEAD TO PRAIRIE VIEW A AND M UH, UNIVERSITY.
JOHN CORNELIUS HERE, WHO IS ALSO FROM WHERE PRAIRIE VIEW A AND M UNIVERSITY.
LET'S START TALKING ON JUNE 6TH, 2020.
REVEREND CHRISTOPHER STACKHOUSE, SENIOR PASTOR OF THE LEWIS CHAPEL MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH, EULOGIZE GEORGE PERRY FLOYD IN RAYFORD, NORTH CAROLINA.
I WAS STRUCK BY THE WAY HE KEPT THE THING THAT HE KEPT SAYING, HE WOULD SAY HIS NAME WAS GEORGE FLOYD, BUT PERRY JR.
HE WOULD TELL A STORY ABOUT GEORGE FLOYD'S BIOGRAPHY ABOUT THIS MAN.
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SIMULTANEOUSLY REMIND US THAT THIS MAN, GEORGE FLOYD, WAS ALSO CALLED PERRY JR.IN MY MIND, REVEREND STACKHOUSE WAS MAKING A RHETORICAL MOVE KNOWN IN THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY AS SIGNIFYING HE WAS TELLING US SOMETHING BY THE WORDS HE CHOSE, BY THE INFLECTIONS.
HE CHOSE BY REPEATING A SINGULAR PHRASE OVER AND OVER AGAIN FOR EFFECT.
HE WAS SAYING TO EVERYONE WATCHING, WHO HAD ONLY RECENTLY LEARNED THIS MAN'S NAME IN THE DARKEST HOUR OF HIS LIFE.
YOU KNOW HIM, BUT WE KNOW HIM, KNOW HIM, RIGHT? YOU GET IT.
WE KNOW HIM, KNOW HIM BECAUSE HE AND THE MOURNERS IN THAT CHURCH KNEW HE HAD OTHER NAMES, INTIMATE NAMES, SHORTHAND NAMES, NAMES THAT DISTINGUISHED HIM IN HIS LARGE FAMILY.
I KNOW SOMETHING ABOUT THAT AS THE, AS THE YOUNGEST OF SIX KIDS WHO DISTINGUISHED HIM IN HIS LONG, IN HIS LARGE FAMILY, THEY GREW UP WITH HIM.
NAMES THAT PEOPLE, NAMES THAT PEOPLE WHO LOVED HIM CHOSE TO BREAK DOWN THE FORMALITY.
BUT YOU KNOW, AS A PERSON, UH, UH, BUT YOU, BECAUSE YOU KNOW A PERSON, SORRY, IN A DIFFERENT WAY WHEN YOU CALL THEM BY THEIR NICKNAMES, AS THE REVEREND CONTINUED TO SIGNAL TO US THAT THIS MAN WAS MORE THAN A HEADLINE TO THE WARNS IN THAT CHURCH, I ALSO BEGAN TO THINK ABOUT HOW WE AS HOUSTONIANS ALSO KNEW GEORGE FLOYD IN WERE WAYS THE WORLD DID NOT SEE, BECAUSE I WAS BORN IN THE SAME YEAR AS GEORGE FLOYD AND I GREW UP ON THE SOUTHEAST SIDE OF HOUSTON, LIKE GEORGE FLOYD.
I CAN'T SAY FOR SURE, BUT I CAN SOMEHOW SEE IN MY MIND'S EYE THAT HIM AS A TALENTED ATHLETE AT JACK YATES HIGH SCHOOL, I DON'T KNOW FOR SURE, BUT I AM ALMOST POSITIVE THAT AS A YOUNG MAN, HE DROVE OR AT LEAST ROLLED DOWN DIAL AVENUE LISTENING TO THE GHETTO BOYS IN UGK.
I KNOW BECAUSE I ALSO DID IT, THAT HE WAS A KIND OF HANDSOME MAN.
IF YOU LOOK AT HIM, AND I KNOW THAT IN THE CUNY HOMES, HE WOULD SHOW THOSE PEARLY WHITES TO THE WOMEN WHO LIVED AROUND THERE, I SUSPECT.
BUT I DON'T KNOW THAT HE WOULD GET UP EARLY IN THE MORNING SO HE COULD GET SHIPLEY'S DONUTS ON SCOTCH STREET WHILE THEY WERE STILL HOT.
YOU SEE IN HOUSTON, WE KNOW GEORGE FLOYD IN A PARTICULAR KIND OF WAY, BUT WE ALSO KNOW THAT HE WAS ALSO STRUGGLING UNDER THE SYSTEMS OF OPPRESSION THAT CONSPIRED TO CUT HIS LIFE SHORTER THAN IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN.
WE BLACK HOUSTON KNOW HIM AS A H TOWN HERO, A THIRD WARD SOLDIER, A JACK LATES, JACK YATES LION, RODNEY LANIS, JAJA AND LATANYA'S.
BIG BROTHER, GIANNA'S DADDY TIA'S BABY BOY CHILD OF THE MOST HIGH.
MOST PEOPLE KNEW HIM FOR THE LAST 10 MINUTES OF HIS LIFE.
BUT AS A SON OF HOUSTON, WE WILL KNOW HIM FOREVER.
WE WILL CALL HIS NAME FOR GENERATIONS.
HIS NAME WAS WHAT, BUT PERRY JUNIOR WAS WHAT THEY CALL HIM.
WE WILL FOREVER CALL YOUR NAME.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR INVITING ME AND FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
THANK YOU, DR. PRICE, FOR THOSE IMPORTANT WORDS.
SO AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME BACK THE RIDGE POINT HIGH SCHOOL CHOIR UNDER DIRECTION OF CHELSEA BURNER.
[00:15:07]
WHEN GONNA STAND UP, TAKE MY PEOPLE TOGETHER, WE INTO A NEW HOME.YOU HEAR FREEDOM, CALLING, CALLING EARLY IN THE MORNING WHEN THE SUN BEGIN TO SHINE AND LET'S GIVE HIM ANOTHER ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR RIDGE POINT CHOIR.
[00:20:14]
WE SHALL.ONE DAY TO THE HEAVENS, NO MAN, NO WEAPON FORMED AGAINST.
EVERY DAY, WOMEN AND MEN BECOME LEGENDS SINCE TO GO AGAINST OUR SKIN, BECOME BLESSINGS.
THE MOVEMENT IS A RHYTHM TO US.
FREEDOM IS LIKE PREVENTION TO US.
JUSTICE IS JUX DEPOSITIONING US JUSTICE FOR ALL.
HIS SPIRIT IS REVISITING US, TRULY LIVING, LIVING IN US.
THAT'S WHY I RODE THE SHOT ON THE BUS.
THAT'S WHY WE WALKED THROUGH FERGUSON WITH OUR HANDS UP.
WHEN IT GO DOWN, WE WARM THE MAN UP.
WE ON THE GROUND, THE CAMERA PANNED UP.
KING POINTED TO THE MOUNTAINTOP AND WE RAN UP.
GLORY, GLORY, GLORY, GLORY, GLORY.
NOW FOR EVERY MAN, WOMAN IN CHILD, EVEN JESUS GOT HIS CROWN IN FRONT OF A CROWD.
WE DONE GONE HUNDREDS OF MILES FROM DARK ROADS, HEROES TO BECOME A HERO FACING THE LEAGUE OF JUSTICE.
A KING BECAME REGAL, SAW THE FACE OF JIM CROW UNDER A BALD EAGLE.
THE BIGGEST WEAPON IS TO STAY PEACEFUL.
WE SING OUR MUSIC AGAINST THE S THAT WE BLEED THROUGH.
SOMEWHERE IN THE DREAM WE HAD AN EPIPHANY.
NOW WE RIGHT THE WRONGS IN HISTORY.
NO ONE CAN WIN THE WAR INDIVIDUALLY.
IT TAKES THE WISDOM OF THE ELDEST AND THE YOUNG PEOPLE'S ENERGY.
WELCOME TO THE STORY WE CALL VICTOR, THE COMING OF THE LORD.
MY GLORY, GLORY FOR RICH POINT CHOIR.
SO AT THIS TIME, UM, I WOULD LIKE TO BRING TO THE STAGE, UM, DIRECTOR OF HOUSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEM.
[00:25:01]
CHURCH SAY AMEN.SEE, I, I KNOW SOMETHING ABOUT OUR SPEAKER AND I JUST HAD TO SET THE STAGE.
IT IS MY HONOR TO WELCOME YOU TO THE INAUGURAL GEORGE FLOYD COMMEMORATIVE LECTURE.
SPECIAL GREETINGS TO LATONYA FLOYD, SISTER OF GEORGE FLOYD.
LATONYA, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR MAKING TIME TO BE HERE.
I KNOW THERE ARE PLENTY OF, UH, ASK FOR YOU TO BE AT DIFFERENT PLACES.
SO WE ARE HONORED THAT YOU TOOK TIME TO COME.
THE MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD AT THE HEIGHT OF THE PANDEMIC WAS A TURNING POINT FOR MANY, NOT ONLY HERE IN AMERICA, BUT ACROSS THE WORLD.
TWO WEEKS AGO, THE NATION WAS DEALING WITH THE HORRIFIC SHOOTING IN BUFFALO BY A SELF-PROCLAIMED RACIST.
AND TODAY, OUR HEARTS ARE HEAVY AND BROKEN IN THE AFTERMATH OF A SCHOOL SHOOTING RIGHT HERE IN TEXAS.
AND STILL WE MUST PRESS FORWARD.
THE ISSUES OF RACE, INSTITUTIONAL RACISM AND SOCIAL JUSTICE SOARED TO THE FOREFRONT OF OUR LIVES IN A NUMBER OF WAYS.
IN ADDITION TO THE MARCHES AND PROTESTS, CITIES, BUSINESSES AND ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE EXAMINING, REVIEWING, AND CHANGING THEIR PRACTICES TO PROMOTE AND ESTABLISH MORE RACIALLY INCLUSIVE AND RACIALLY RESPECTFUL ENVIRONMENTS.
HERE AT THE, AT THE HOUSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY, WE IMMEDIATELY SET OUT TO BEGIN THE CONVERSATION ABOUT RACE AND SET OUT ON A PATH TO EQUIP STAFF WITH TOOLS AND RESOURCES RELATED TO RACE AND SOCIAL JUSTICE.
WITH THE CREATION OF THE HOUSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY RACE AND SOCIAL JUSTICE INITIATIVE, MANY, UH, THOSE MEMBERS ARE HERE IN THE AUDIENCE.
WON'T YOU JUST STAND? UH, WE MADE IT POSSIBLE AT THE HOUSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY TO TALK ABOUT RACE AND TALK ABOUT RACISM.
THIS SYSTEM-WIDE EFFORT AIMS TO IDENTIFY AND ADDRESS HOW RACISM IMPACTS OUR DEPARTMENT SO WE CAN WORK TO CREATE A CULTURE THAT IS ANTI-RACIST AND RESPECTFUL TO A VARIETY OF PEOPLE AND A VARIETY OF EXPERIENCES.
THIS DIFFICULT WORK IS ESSENTIAL FIRST TO OUR TEAM MEMBERS WE WORK WITH EVERY DAY AND TO OUR MISSION OF PROVIDING EQUITABLE INFORMATION AND RESOURCE ACCESS TO THE PEOPLE OF HOUSTON, THE NATION'S MOST DIVERSE CITY.
IT WAS IMPORTANT THAT WE DO SOMETHING.
WE ARE PROUD TO HOST THIS INAUGURAL LECTURE AND OTHER PROGRAMS LIKE IT HERE AT THE AFRICAN AMERICAN LIBRARY AT THE GREGORY SCHOOL.
A FACILITY THAT IS DEDICATED TO PRESERVING, DOCUMENTING, AND CELEBRATING THE BLACK EXPERIENCE HERE IN HISTORIC FRIEDMANS TOWN, THE CITY OF HOUSTON, NEIGHBORHOOD REGIONS, NEIGHBORING REGIONS IN THE AFRICAN DIASPORA.
THIS VERY BUILDING IS AN IMPORTANT PIECE OF OUR HISTORY AS IT ONCE SERVED AS HOUSTON'S FIRST PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOR COLORED CHILDREN.
IT STOOD VACANT FOR DECADES UNTIL ITS TRANSFORMATION INTO THE RESEARCH CENTER YOU SEE HERE TODAY.
WALKING THROUGH THESE DOORS GIVES US INSIGHTS INTO HOW OUR ANCESTORS LIVED AND COMPELS US TO WONDER WHAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THE TIMES WE ARE LIVING IN NOW.
WE HOPE TO GROW THE IMPACT OF THE GREGORY SCHOOL BY ADDING A BLACK BOX THEATER.
SO WE WON'T BE ALL CROWDED IN HERE 'CAUSE WE DON'T HAVE A AUDITORIUM.
WHEN YOU WALK OUT GREGORY'S DOORS, IF YOU LOOK TO THAT GRASSY AREA TO YOUR LEFT, THAT IS WHERE THE DREAM LIES FOR THE BLACK BOX THEATER.
SO THAT WE CAN HAVE PROGRAMS AND LECTURES AND CONTINUE TO SPREAD INFORMATION
[00:30:01]
THAT'S NECESSARY.WE WILL PASS THE COLLECTION PLACE.
AND THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN LIBRARY AT THE GREGORY SCHOOL WILL CONTINUE YEAR AFTER YEAR TO HOST THE GEORGE FLOYD COMMEMORATIVE LECTURES, UM, BY INVITING ESTEEMED SPEAKERS TO REFLECT ON SOCIAL JUSTICE, ON THE SOCIAL JUSTICE MOVE MOVEMENT EVERY YEAR.
'CAUSE WE HAVE TO KEEP THE DREAM ALIVE.
HBL IS COMMITTED TO CREATING SPACE IN OUR FACILITIES TO FOSTER CRITICAL DIALOGUE AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT IN THE YEARS TO COME.
SO BEFORE THE LECTURE BEGINS, I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO THANK MY TEAM FOR THE MANY WAYS IN WHICH THEY HAVE COLLABORATED TO MAKE THIS EVENT POSSIBLE.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK THE FRIENDS OF THE GREGORY SCHOOL, THE HOUSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY FOUNDATION, THE FRIENDS OF THE HOUSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY FOUND THE FRIENDS OF THE HOUSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY, ALL THE ELECTED OFFICIALS THAT ARE HERE TODAY, AND ALL OUR DONORS, PARTNERS AND SUPPORTERS.
IT IS NOW MY GREAT PLEASURE AND PRIVILEGE TO INVITE OUR INAUGURAL SPEAKER TO THE PODIUM.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, PLEASE JOIN ME IN WELCOMING AMERICA'S BEST MAYOR, THE HONORABLE SYLVESTER TURNER.
LET ME START OFF BY, UH, BY THANKING, UH, DR. LAWSON, UH, FOR HER, FOR HER LEADERSHIP.
AND SHE HAS JUST BEEN EXCEPTIONAL.
AND, UM, I TELL YOU JUST FIRST RATE, UM, AND LET ME JUST SAY, I DON'T THINK YOU'LL FIND A BETTER DIRECTOR OF A LIBRARY ANYWHERE IN THE COUNTRY THAN DR.
AND IT IS, IT IS GOOD TO BE WITH YOU, UH, TODAY.
LATONYA ALWAYS GOOD TO BE WITH YOU AND OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS AND MEMBERS OF THE FAMILY, YEAH, ALL OF THE MEMBERS OF THE FAMILY, UM, IT HAS BEEN GOOD TO BE ON THIS JOURNEY WITH YOU ALL OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS.
AND LET ME, LET ME JUST START OFF BY COMMENDING THE FLOYD FAMILY FOR JUST BEING EXTRAORDINARY AMBASSADORS.
UH, NOT JUST FOR THEIR FAMILY, BUT FOR THIS CITY.
SO PLEASE GIVE IT UP JUST FROM THE VERY BEGINNING TO THE FLOYD FAMILY.
I CAN'T GO MUCH FURTHER, UH, WITHOUT ACKNOWLEDGING THAT, THAT THAT CHOIR, UH, RIDGE POINT CHOIR.
ARE THEY, ARE THEY STILL HERE? UH, YES.
WELL, LOOK, I, I KNOW THEY'RE IN THE BACK, BUT YOUR VOICES ARE STILL RINGING FROM WAY UP HERE.
IN FACT, WHEN I CAME IN AND SAT DOWN AND, UH, THEY STARTED SINGING THAT, THAT SONG, I THOUGHT IT WAS A RECORDING, UH, THAT I WAS, THAT I WAS HEARING.
I WAS JUST TAKING IN THE MUSIC.
UH, AND THEN I GLANCED OVER AND SAW THAT, UH, THESE ARE ACTUAL PEOPLE WHO ARE SINGING THAT ACTUAL SINGING.
SO, UM, LET ME, LET ME JUST GIVE A HUGE SHOUT OUT TO RIDGE POINT AND TO THOSE THINGS.
IT'S A REMINDER THAT GOD GIVES US ALL SOMETHING.
AND WHATEVER THE SOMETHING WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN, WE NEED TO USE IT.
I CERTAINLY WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE ALL OF MY CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO ARE HERE.
UH, CAROLYN, COUNCIL MEMBER CAROLYN EMMA SHABAZZ FROM DISTRICT, UH, D COUNCIL MEMBER ABBY CAYMAN.
AND WE ARE IN HER DISTRICT FROM DISTRICT C COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN AND COUNCIL MEMBER DAVID ROBINSON, WHO IS AT LARGE, WANT TO THANK ALL OF THEM.
AND THEN OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS WHO ARE HERE.
AND THEN OF COURSE, MOST IMPORTANTLY, ALL OF YOU.
UM, YOU KNOW, UM, IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE LATONYA.
IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE IT'S BEEN TWO YEARS, YOU KNOW, IT REALLY DOESN'T.
UM, BUT IT HAS AND WE ARE STILL MOVING ON.
I WANT TO THANK DR. LAWSON IN THE HOUSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY, UH, FOR ASKING ME, UH, TO, UH, BE A PART OF THIS INAUGURAL, UH, LECTURE FOR GEORGE FLOYD REMEMBRANCE DAY HERE AT THE AFRICAN AMERICAN LIBRARY AND THE, AND THE GREGORY SCHOOL.
AND I AGREED TO DO IT, UH, BECAUSE I WAS
[00:35:01]
SITTING IN OUR COUNTRY, CANNOT FORGET, UH, WHAT HAPPENED TO YEARS AGO.WE SIMPLY CANNOT, AND I UNDERSTAND, UM, THAT THERE ARE SOME MEMBERS, I THINK EVEN OF THE FLOYD FAMILY THAT ARE IN DC UH, AS WE SPEAK, UH, WHERE PRESIDENT BIDEN IS SIGNING AN EXECUTIVE ORDER TO ADVANCE EFFECTIVE ACCOUNTABLE POLICING AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE PRACTICES THAT WILL BUILD PUBLIC TRUST AND STRENGTHEN PUBLIC SAFETY.
UH, THE PRESIDENT'S EXECUTIVE ORDER CRYSTALLIZES FOR FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES.
MANY OF THE PRACTICES, UM, THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, UH, WILL HAVE TO ABIDE BY, UH, MANY OF THOSE PRACTICES, LARRY, WE HAVE ALREADY IMPLEMENTED IN OUR CITY.
AND I'LL HAVE MORE TO SAY ABOUT THAT IN A FEW MINUTES.
WE WERE ALL SHOCKED AND INFURIATED WHILE WATCHING THE VIDEO OF A MINNEAPOLIS POLICE OFFICER SIT ON THE KNEE OF GEORGE FLOYD'S NECK FOR MORE THAN NINE MINUTES.
IN FACT, WE OUGHT TO STILL BE INFURIATED AND STILL BE BOTHERED BY IT EVEN TWO YEARS AFTER FACT.
THAT IMAGE IS SEARED IN THE MINDS OF PEOPLE WORLDWIDE IN LIFE.
GEORGE WAS, UM, JUST LIKE YOU AND I, OKAY, UM, BUT HE WAS SOME AND WAS SOMEONE WHO WAS STRIVING TO DO EVEN BETTER, RAISED IN HOUSTON'S THIRD WARD.
THE ONLY THING THAT COULD HAVE BEEN BETTER IF HE HAD BEEN BORN IN THE FOUR FOUR
HIS DEATH WAS DEEPLY PERSONAL, DEEPLY PERSONAL FOR THE FAMILY, DEEPLY PERSONAL FOR ME, AND I'M SURE FOR ALL OF US COMING FROM A NEIGHBORHOOD IN HOUSTON, NOT UNLIKE THIRD WARD, HAVING EXPERIENCED THE SAME KIND OF INEQUITIES AND SYSTEMIC RACISM AS HE DID, GEORGE FLOYD COULD HAVE BEEN YOUR FRIEND, YOUR BROTHER, YOUR NEIGHBOR, YOU NAME IT.
THE TWO YEARS SINCE HIS DEATH HAVE BEEN A TIME OF TRANSFORMATION FOR HOUSTON, OUR NATION AND THE WORLD.
AND WHO WOULD'VE THOUGHT PAULA, THAT ON THE DAY THAT WE CELEBRATE AND REMEMBER HIM, THAT YESTERDAY IN OUR STATE, IN OUR COUNTRY, WE WOULD ALSO BE PRAYING.
AND, UM, ABOUT 19 OF OUR CHILDREN KILLED IN UVALDE, TEXAS AND TWO OTHER ADULTS.
AND I SAY OUR KIDS INTENTIONALLY, THEY WERE OUR CHILDREN.
DOESN'T MATTER WHAT IT LOOKED LIKE, DOESN'T MATTER THEIR SOCIAL ECONOMIC STATUS, THEY WERE OUR CHILDREN JUST YESTERDAY.
AND THEN WHO WOULD'VE THOUGHT TWO WEEKS AGO, 10 AFRICAN AMERICANS IN A GROCERY STORE IN BUFFALO WOULD BE MOWED DOWN AND THEY WERE OUR BROTHERS AND OUR SISTERS.
AND THE SAME SORT OF HATE THAT KILLED GEORGE FLOYD WAS THE SAME SORT OF HATE THAT TOOK THE LIVES OF 19 OF OUR CHILDREN AND 10 OF OUR AFRICAN BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN BUFFALO.
AND WE CAN DO BETTER SUPERINTENDENT HOUSE EVERY DAY WHEN WE LOOK AT OUR CHILDREN AND WE ASKED OURSELVES, WHAT WILL THEY BE DOWN THE ROAD? NOW WE HAVE TO ASK OURSELVES, WILL THEY BE HERE TOMORROW OR WILL THEY BE HERE AT THE END OF THE DAY FOR THE FLOYD FAMILY MOVING FROM THE CUNY HOMES TO MINNEAPOLIS? I'M SURE YOU ALL THOUGHT NEXT WEEK, NEXT MONTH, NEXT YEAR, WE WOULD SEE HIM AGAIN.
AND WHO WOULD'VE THOUGHT, WHO WOULD'VE THOUGHT THAT HE WOULD'VE BEEN KILLED ON THE STREETS BY A MEMBER OF LAW ENFORCEMENT? WHO WOULD'VE THOUGHT SO? AS A PEOPLE, WE ARE GRAPPLING WITH IT.
AND IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE CONSTANTLY REFLECT AND REMEMBER BECAUSE IF WE DON'T, WE'LL BECOME NUMB TO IT AND WE WILL JUST HEAR IT AND GO ABOUT
[00:40:01]
OUR BUSINESS.AND THAT CAN NEVER BE JUSTICE WAS SERVED WHEN MINNESOTA JURY CONVICTED GEORGE FLOYD'S MURDERS.
BUT OUR WORK CONTINUES TO FIND WAYS TO MAKE OUR SOCIETY MORE EQUITABLE, BETTER AND SAFER FOR EVERYONE.
WE CANNOT BRING GEORGE BACK, BUT WE CAN DEMAND BETTER FOR OUR COUNTRY.
HIS DEATH SPARKED A MOVEMENT FOR CONVERSATIONS ABOUT RACE, POLICING, REFORM AND SOCIAL JUSTICE.
AND IN PART, THAT'S THE REASON WHY WE ARE HERE AT THE AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSEUM, GREGORY LINCOLN, FREEMAN'S TOWN FOURTH WARD.
I'LL NEVER FORGET THE INCREDIBLY DIVERSE GROUP OF 60,000 HOUSTONIANS WHO MARCHED FROM DISCOVERY GREEN TO HOUSTON CITY HALL IN 2020.
AND AS THEY MARCHED FROM DISCOVERY GREEN AND CAME TO CITY HALL, WERE GREETED AND MET THE ENTIRE FLOYD FAMILY.
THAT WAS AN INCREDIBLE DAY FOR THE MOST PART.
IT WAS PEACEFUL AND THEY DEMONSTRATED THE GREAT POTENTIAL OF WHAT HOUSTON AND ITS PEOPLE HAVE TO OFFER PEOPLE FROM ALL BACKGROUNDS COMING TOGETHER TO ASK FOR JUSTICE AND HONOR THE MEMORY OF A MAN WHOSE NAME IS NOW KNOWN ACROSS THE GLOBE.
AND I WAS HONORED TO BE INVITED BY THE FAMILY TO SPEAK AT GEORGE FLOYD'S FUNERAL.
AND I ANNOUNCED THAT HOUSTON WILL LEAD THE WAY ON POLICING REFORM AND TO THE FLOYD FAMILY.
I WANT YOU TO KNOW WE KEPT OUR WORD OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS, THE CITY HAS WORKED TO PROMOTE LOCAL LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS SUCH AS EXECUTIVE ORDER ONE DASH SIX SEVEN ON POLICING AND REFORM USE OF FORCE, AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE MAYOR'S TASK FORCE ON POLICING REFORM.
LARRY PAYNE, WHO CHAIRED THAT EFFORT OF 45 PERSONS, DID AN INCREDIBLE JOB AND COMING UP WITH THE REFORMS THAT WE ARE NOW PUTTING IN PLACE, LARRY, I BROUGHT A COPY THAT YOU AND YOUR TEAM PUT TOGETHER.
LET ME ASK LARRY PAYNE TO STAND AND PLEASE ACKNOWLEDGE THIS ONE.
NOW EMBODIED IN THIS DOCUMENT ARE 104 RECOMMENDATIONS THAT THE MAYOR'S TASK FORCE ON POLICE REFORM CAME UP WITH.
AND I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT OF THOSE HUNDRED AND FOUR, OVER 80 OF THEM ARE NOW FULLY IMPLEMENTED AND EXECUTIVE ORDER, ONE DASH SIX SEVEN POLICE REFORM AND USE OF FORCE AMONG OTHERS BAN OFFICERS FROM PLACING THEIR KNEE, THEIR FOOT OR BODY WEIGHT ON THE NECK OF A SUSPECT TO CONTROL OR CONTAIN THE SUSPECT MOVEMENTS.
YOU JUST CAN'T DO THAT IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
WE'RE NOT DOING THAT ANYMORE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
THE EXECUTIVE ORDER, ALONG WITH OTHERS STATES THAT ANY POLICE OFFICERS PRESENT AND OBSERVING ANOTHER POLICE OFFICER USING FORCE THAT IS BEYOND THAT WHICH IS REASONABLE UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES, SHALL WENT IN A POSITION TO DO SO SAFELY INTERCEDE TO PREVENT THE USE OF SUCH FORCE.
OFFICERS SHALL IMMEDIATELY REPORT THESE OBSERVATIONS TO AN ON DUTY SUPERVISOR.
YOU JUST CAN'T SEE SOMETHING HAPPENING AND DO, AND YOU KNOW IT'S WRONG AND SAY NOTHING AND DO NOTHING.
80 OF THESE 104 MAYOR'S TASK FORCE ON POLICE AND REFORM RECOMMENDATIONS IMPLEMENTED ONE OF THEM CALLED FOR A DEPUTY INSPECTOR GENERAL.
TWO SEPARATE AND APART FROM THE POLICE TO LOOK AT COMPLAINTS THAT ARE COMING IN.
WE'VE NAMED THAT PERSON CRYSTAL
CRYSTAL, I WANT YOU TO STAND A FORMER, A FORMER DISTRICT ATTORNEY AND A GRADUATE OF THURGOOD MARSHALL SCHOOL OF LAW AND CRYSTAL IS DOING AN OUTSTANDING JOB.
IT CALLED FOR THE CREATION OF THE OFFICE OF POLICE AND REFORM AND ACCOUNTABILITY AND REVAMPING OF OUR INDEPENDENT POLICE OVERSIGHT BOARD CALLED FOR THE CREATION OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON POLICE TRANSPARENCY HUBS.
NOW THERE ARE FIVE OTHER DASHBOARDS THAT YOU CAN LOOK AT IN AN INTERACTIVE WAY AND SEE INSIDE OF THE CITY THE POLICE DEPARTMENT DASHBOARDS SHOWING THE USE OF FORCE DISCIPLINARY ACTION, TRAFFIC STOPS,
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SITE AND RELEASE AND DIVERSITY OF THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT.AND YOU HAVE NOW THE ABILITY TO FILE AND COMPLAINT WITH HPD.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO COME IN PERSON, YOU CAN DO IT ONLINE AND YOU CAN UTILIZE SEVERAL LANGUAGES IN ORDER TO FILE THOSE COMPLAINTS.
30 DAY BO BODY-WORN CAMERA RELEASE ON ALL CRITICAL INCIDENTS INVOLVING HPD OFFICERS, WHETHER WE LIKE THE FOOTAGE OR NOT, WITHIN 30 DAYS IT MUST BE RELEASED.
AND IN OUR MEET AND CONFER CHANGE TO ONE TO, TO THE 180 DAY RULE, ALLOWING DISCIPLINARY ACTION TO TAKE PLACE 180 DAYS AFTER THE DISCOVERY VERSUS THE DATE OF THE INCIDENT.
COMMUNITY POLICING AND INVESTMENTS OF MORE THAN $24 MILLION IN CRISIS INTERVENTION.
THE POLICE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO RESPOND TO EVERY CRISIS OCCURRING IN OUR CITY.
THERE ARE SOME INCIDENTS, MENTAL, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ISSUES WHERE THE PROFESSIONALS SHOULD BE ABLE, SHOULD BE THE FIRST ONES ATTENDING TO THOSE INCIDENTS.
HOMELESSNESS, SUBSTANCE ABUSE, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, OVER $24 MILLION, WE ARE NOW PLACING IN THOSE CATEGORIES.
THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT WOULD NOT, LET'S SAY THEY WOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED AS QUICKLY AS THEY DID WITHOUT THE SACRIFICE OF GEORGE FLOYD BECAUSE OF YOUR BROTHER, BECAUSE OF SOMEONE WHO GREW UP IN THIRD WARD AT THE CUNY HOMES WHO LOST HIS LIFE.
THESE REFORMS HAVE BEEN PUT IN PLACE.
AND SO THIS CITY AND GENERATIONS TO COME IN OUR CITY OWE A GREAT DEAL OF GRATITUDE TO GEORGE FLOYD.
NOW IT'S YOUR JOB NOW TO SAY HIS NAME.
AND IT'S GEORGE FLOYD TODAY THAT WE REMEMBER HE SHOULD NOT HAVE DIED THE WAY HE DID.
SHOULD NOT HAVE DIED THE WAY HE DID, BUT HE DID NOT DIE IN VAIN.
AND THOUGH THESE REFORMS HAVE NOT BEEN IN PUT IN PLACE NATIONALLY YET THEY ARE TAKING PLACE IN CITY AFTER CITY, AFTER CITY.
AND THE MORE WE REMEMBER AND THE MORE WE PUSH FORWARD, I BELIEVE EVEN BESIDES THE EXECUTIVE ORDER, THAT THE PRESIDENT IS SIGNING THAT EVENTUALLY CONGRESS WILL ALSO DO THE RIGHT THING.
MY HOPE IS THAT TODAY'S GEORGE FLOYD COMMEMORATIVE EVENT WILL GIVE A PLATFORM AROUND WHICH WE GATHER TO REMEMBER FLOYD'S LIFE AND CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION AROUND SYSTEMATIC CHANGE, RACISM, POLICING, REFORM, AND WAYS TO MAKE OUR COMMUNITY AND WORLD MORE LOVING AND ACCEPTING OF ALL DIFFERENCES.
THIS EVENT ALSO HIGHLIGHTS THE ONGOING EFFORTS TO COLLECT AND PRESERVE AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
IT IS VITAL THAT WE CONTINUE TO TALK ABOUT THE SHARED HISTORY AND TR TRAUMA WE EXPERIENCE AS A SOCIETY DUE TO VIOLENT EVENTS.
NO MATTER HOW DIFFICULT THOSE CONVERSATIONS MAY BE, SO THAT WE CAN EFFECTUATE CHANGE.
WE MUST NEVER FORGET HIS NAME.
WE MUST ALWAYS AND REPEATEDLY SAY GEORGE FLOYD BECAUSE GEORGE FLOYD STANDS FOR SO MANY OTHERS WHO LIVE IN OUR CITY.
GEORGE FLOYD FROM THE CUNY HOMES MAY HAVE LOST HIS LIFE, BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF GEORGE FLOYDS THAT ARE WALKING AROUND IN THE TRAY IN THE NICKEL IN THE FOUR FO IN HIRA CLARK IN THE EAST END IN FORT BEN.
THERE ARE A LOT OF GEORGE FLOYD.
SO WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WHEN THEY GROW UP, THEY CAN BE ALL THAT THE GOOD LORD WILL HAVE THEM TO BE.
AND SO TODAY WE HONOR HIS SPIRIT BY RENEWING OUR COMMITMENT TO MAKING OUR COMMUNITY SAFE AND EQUITABLE.
AND SO BEFORE I PRESENT THIS PROCLAMATION, LET ME JUST SAY THIS, WE CANNOT GET WEARY OF DOING GOOD AND WE CAN'T GET TO THE POINT WHERE WE BECOME HOPELESS AND THINK THERE IS NOTHING THAT WE CAN DO AFTER ONE MASS, MURDER AFTER ANOTHER.
IT IS SO EASY FOR PEOPLE JUST TO SAY THERE IS NOTHING WE CAN DO.
BUT LEMME JUST SAY TO YOU, THERE IS ALWAYS SOMETHING WE CAN DO.
AND JUST BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN DOESN'T NO LONGER MEAN THAT IT WILL ALWAYS
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BE.WHEN PEOPLE REACH DEEP DOWN AND DECIDE TO STAND UP.
OTHERS I BELIEVE WILL STAND UP AS WELL.
AND I KNOW IT CAN HAPPEN BECAUSE WHEN I LOOKED OVER AND SAW THOSE KIDS FROM RIDGE POINT, ITS POINT, IT BROUGHT, IT BROUGHT ME HOPE.
AND AS LONG AS GOD GIVES US STRENGTH, THERE IS STILL HOPE.
AND AS LONG AS ONE IS STANDING, THERE IS STILL HOPE.
AND WHY IS THAT? BECAUSE I WITNESSED HOW SOMEBODY FROM THE CUNY HOMES, PAULA, THAT NO ONE OUTSIDE THE FAMILY AND THAT JAKE YATES KNEW.
NOW THE NAME OF GEORGE FLOYD IS REVERBERATING ALL OVER THE GLOBE.
I SAW HOW THE NAME, HOW ONE PERSON BROUGHT MILLIONS OF PEOPLE ON THE STREETS IN THIS COUNTRY.
I SAW HOW GEORGE FLOYD LITERALLY WHEN THE COME, THE CONVERSATION OF ALMOST EVERY CITY IN OUR NATION.
SO DON'T TELL ME THAT YOU CAN'T CHANGE THINGS WHEN YOU STAND UP.
AND SO LET ME ASK MY COUNCIL MEMBERS, IF YOU ALL COME UP WITH ME AND IF YOU'LL JOIN ME WITH THE MEMBERS OF THE GEORGE FLOYD FAMILY.
IF Y'ALL ARE, COME UP AND JOIN US.
LOOK, THIS IS, THIS IS THE LEAST WE CAN DO.
AND I'M GONNA PRESENT THIS, THIS PROCLAMATION, UM, BECAUSE WE DO NEED TO REMEMBER, WE DO NEED TO REMEMBER TODAY AT CITY COUNCIL, WE TALKED ABOUT THOSE 19 CHILDREN.
YOU HAVE 200,000 OR MORE AT HOUSTON INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT.
AND THE QUESTION REPEATEDLY HAS COME UP, WHAT DO WE SAY TO THOSE KIDS WHEN THEY REFLECT ON WHAT HAS HAPPENED, WHAT HAPPENED YESTERDAY AND THE DAYS BEFORE? FOUR? AND I THINK, UM, AND I'VE GRAPPLED WITH THAT, BUT YOU KNOW, I OFTEN WOULD GO TO MY MAMA BECAUSE MY MAMA WAS THAT MAID WHO DIDN'T GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL WHO NEVER LEARNED HOW TO DRIVE.
AND TIMES GOT ROUGH AT THE TURNER HOUSEHOLD.
AND WHEN YOU GROW UP IN A FAMILY WHERE YOUR MONEY IS REAL FUNNY AND THEN YOUR MAMA GIVE YOU THE FOOD.
BACK THEN WAS THE FOOD STAMPS NOT, NOT SOMETHING THAT LOOKED LIKE A CREDIT CARD, BUT THE FOOD STAMPS.
AND I'LL NEVER FORGET SHE HANDED ME THOSE, THAT, THAT THAT LITTLE COUPON BOOKLET AND TOLD ME TO GO TO THE STORE, GAVE ME A LIST, AND TO GO PICK UP THE STUFF FROM THE STORE.
AND SHE GAVE ME THOSE FOOD STAMPS.
AND I SAID TO MY MAMA, I DON'T WANT THOSE FOOD STAMPS.
MY MAMA SAID, SON, IF I HAD THE MONEY, I WOULD'VE GIVEN YOU THE MONEY.
AND I SAID, WELL, I DON'T, I DON'T, I DON'T WANT THAT.
SHE SAID, MAMA, YOU GET HUNGRY ENOUGH,
BUT WHEN, WHEN YOU GET HUNGRY ENOUGH, HERE ARE THESE FOOD STAMPS RIGHT HERE.
AND YOU KNOW, I GOT HUNGRY ENOUGH AND I WENT TO THE STORE, TRUE STAR.
I WENT TO THE STORE AND I WAS PICKING UP ALL OF THOSE ITEMS. AND WHEN I GOT TO THE CASHIER, I GAVE THE CASHIER THE FOOD STAMPS AND SHE WAS IN NO HURRY.
SHE OPENED IT UP TAD THIS WENT OUT.
AND THEN I SAW SOME OF MY FRIENDS GOING IN THE COMING IN THROUGH THE STORE, COMING IN MY DIRECTION.
I LEFT THE GROCERIES AND THE FOOD STAMPS WITH THE CASHIER AND I WALKED OUT THE STORE JUST TOO ASHAMED WHEN I GOT HOME, YOU KNOW WHAT MY MAMA TOLD ME, SON, I KNOW IT'S ROUGH.
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IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE, IT SHOULDN'T BE THIS WAY.BUT EVERY MORNING SHE SAID, I GET UP ON THAT BUS WHEN I GET Y'ALL READY.
AND I TAKE THAT BUS TO THE RICE HOTEL AND I CLEAN OTHER PEOPLE'S COMMODES AND THEY BEDS AND I DON'T LIKE IT EITHER, BUT I DO IT BECAUSE I GOT NINE KIDS I HAVE TO FEED.
BUT SHE SAID, SYLVESTER, LET ME SAY THIS TO YOU NOW, NO MATTER HOW IT LOOKS TODAY, TOMORROW WILL BE BETTER THAN TODAY.
SHE SAYS, SON, DON'T, DON'T GIVE UP.
LIFE IS NOT FAIR, BUT YOU GOTTA LEARN TO NAVIGATE THROUGH IT.
TOMORROW'S GONNA BE BETTER THAN TODAY.
AND I'M HERE TO TELL YOU, I'M HERE TO TELL YOU, TOMORROW WILL BE BETTER IF WE DON'T GIVE UP.
AND IF WE REMEMBER THOSE WHO HAVE SACRIFICED IN ORDER FOR US TO BE WHERE WE ARE TODAY, THAT'S WHY WE HONOR GEORGE FLOYD BECAUSE OF HIS LIVING AND HIS DYING.
THE WORLD WILL BE A LOT BETTER FOR A LOT OF OTHER FOLK WHO ARE COMING AFTER HIM.
AND SO WHEREAS AS A SOCIETY, THE STRUGGLE TO ACHIEVE THE FUNDAMENTAL HUMAN RIGHTS OF EQUITY, FAIRNESS, AND JUSTICE FOR ALL CONTINUES TO IMPACT OUR COMMUNITIES.
REFORM IS ONGOING AND IMPROVEMENTS TO CREATE SAFE AND INCLUSIVE ENVIRONMENTS CANNOT BE OVERLOOKED.
AND INCIDENTS SUCH AS THE WRONGFUL DEATH OF AN INNOCENT HOUSTONIAN LIKE GEORGE FLOYD REMIND US THAT SYSTEMATIC CHANGE IS NECESSARY AND ACHIEVABLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF OUR LEGAL SYSTEM, OUR CITY OFFICIALS, AND THE DETERMINATION OF OUR CITIZENS.
THE CITY OF HOUSTON WOULD LIKE TO HONOR THE LIFE OF GEORGE FLOYD, A BELOVED MEMBER OF OUR HOUSTON COMMUNITY, AND TREASURED BY HIS ENTIRE FAMILY AND FRIENDS.
THEREFORE, I, SYLVESTER TURNER, MAYOR OF CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROUDLY PROCLAIM THIS DAY, MAY 25TH, 2022, AS GEORGE FLOYD REMEMBRANCE DAY IN HOUSTON, TEXAS.
I, I'M LATONYA FLOYD, BIG SISTER OF GEORGE FLOYD.
BUT LET ME SEE IF I CAN SHAKE THE TEARS FOR A MINUTE.
DID YOU EVER GO BACK AND GET THE FOOD STAMP OR SOMETHING
I DID GO BACK AND GET THEM FOOD STAMPS,
WOULD YOU, UM, ALLOW THE PHOTO? ABSOLUTELY.
HOW ABOUT THAT? ALRIGHT, SO, UM, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK, THANK YOU EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU GUYS, UM, FOR BEING HERE.
YOU'RE GONNA PUT THIS TOGETHER, ALL THE SPEAKERS, Y'ALL WERE AWESOME AND Y'ALL GOT YOUR OWN NAME FOR 'EM.
I'M JUST GONNA CALL 'EM VOICES OF ANGELS 'CAUSE THEY WERE OKAY.
THAT'S MY NAME FOR, AND, UM, MR. TURNER, YOU ALWAYS DARE YOU ALWAYS, HEY, THIS HAS BEEN A TOUGH DAY
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FOR ME AND MY FAMILY, BUT, UM, IT'S YOU GUYS, THIS PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, ESPECIALLY HOME, HIS HOME, YOU KNOW, THAT MAKES IT EASIER, MAKES IT EASIER.AND I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU, GOD KNOWS.
I THANK GOD FOR PEOPLE LIKE YOU.
Y'ALL AGREE? UM, SO THE REST OF MY FAMILY, UM, THEY'RE AT THE WHITE HOUSE WITH, UH, PRESIDENT BIDEN, BUT, UH, THIS IS THE SECOND TIME.
BUT, UH, THIS IS, UH, MY BROTHER.
YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY HAS TO BE HERE AND NOT IT'S GONNA BE ME.
UM, THIS IS, THIS IS HIS, YOU KNOW, HIS PLACE, HIS SPOT, AND I, I CAN'T DEVIATE.
AND THEN ALSO IN MINNESOTA, THEY'RE NAMING THE STREET AFTER HIM TODAY.
AND IT WAS, I THOUGHT IT WAS PRETTY GREAT DAY, AS HE SAID.
AND, AND SOMETHING ELSE IS GREAT.
YOU KNOW, JUST, JUST DON'T STOP.
I MEAN, ALL IS SO WONDERFUL AND, UH, I THANK Y'ALL FOR THIS SERIES.
THIS IS BEAUTIFUL AND BEAUTIFUL.
I'M, UM, I'M JUST SO HAPPY RIGHT NOW.
SEE THESE, THESE ARE HAPPY TEARS.
THIS IS WHAT I SAY ABOUT YOU GUYS, YOU KNOW, AND THERE'S JUST ONE MORE THING I JUST HAVE TO SAY.
AND I'M SAYING THIS FOR OUR CONGRESS, OUR CONGRESS LADY.
YOU, MR. PRESIDENT WAS ON THE NEWS, UH, THIS MORNING AND HE WAS LIKE, WHY IS, UM, WHERE IS IT? WHERE IS IT COMING FROM? WHEN IS IT GONNA STOP THE GUN VIOLENCE? YOU KNOW? UM, WHY? SO MY ANSWER TO HIM WOULD BE, I CAN'T SPEAK FOR THE OTHER STATES, BUT I CAN SPEAK FOR TEXAS.
IF YOU WANT THE ANSWERS TO THAT QUESTION IN TEXAS, I SUGGEST YOU GIVE GREAT RABBIT A CALL.
AND AGAIN, I THANK GOD BLESS YOU ALL.
LET'S GIVE OUR INAUGURAL SPEAKER ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
AND NOW I'D LIKE TO WELCOME ALEXANDER SMITH TO THE PODIUM ON BEHALF OF CONGRESSWOMAN SHEILA JACKSON LEE.
LET'S GIVE, UH, THE CONGRESSWOMAN A ROUND OF APPLAUSE IN HER ABSENCE.
HI, MY NAME IS ALEXANDRA SMITH AND I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF THE OFFICE OF CONGRESSWOMAN SHEILA JACKSON LEE.
SHE'S RIGHT NOW FIGHTING HARD FOR HER CONSTITUENTS IN WASHINGTON, DC BUT SHE DID WANT TO MAKE SURE WE BROUGHT GREETINGS TODAY.
SO, AND THIS IS ACTUALLY FOR THE FLOYD FAMILY TO ACKNOWLEDGE YOU AND THE CONGRESSWOMAN.
SHE REALLY WISHES SHE COULD BE HERE, BUT SHE'S IN DC RIGHT NOW.
BUT SHE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAD THIS.
AND THANK YOU SO MUCH DR. LAWSON FOR THIS LECTURE, SIR.
AND SO THE COUNT CONGRESSWOMAN ALSO IS, UH, PRESENTING, UM, IS CONGRATULATING THE HOUSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY FOR THIS LECTURE SERIES.
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ALL RIGHT.SO WE WILL BE HAVING, UM, CLOSING OUT THE PROGRAM THIS AFTERNOON.
UM, IS THE COMPOSER AND PROFESSOR DR.
JOHN CORNELIUS WITH HIS ORIGINAL COMPOSITION, THE RIVER.
SO I HOPE THAT YOU NOTICE THE DENKER SYMBOLS THAT WERE IN THE SIDEWALK AS YOU WERE WALKING INTO THE LIBRARY.
THEY INSPIRED IN PART THIS PIECE.
I WAS COMMISSIONED ABOUT A YEAR AGO TO WRITE A PIECE TO ACCOMPANY A MURAL THAT THE MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS BOSTON HAD COMMISSIONED.
AND IT WAS ENTITLED, HANDS UP DON'T SHOOT.
AND ALL OVER THAT MURAL IN MULTIPLE LANGUAGES WAS THAT PHRASE.
AND ALSO MANY OTHER IMAGES AND A LOT OF INDRA SYMBOLS.
AND, UH, WE KNOW THAT IN AFRICAN AND AFRICAN AMERICAN FOLKLORE, OFTEN IMAGES OF WATER OR RIVERS, BODIES OF WATER REPRESENT US.
PEOPLE COMING TOGETHER TO MAKE CHANGE.
ONE DROP MAY NOT DO IT, IT MAY TAKE A LONG TIME, BUT A COLLECTIVE BODY HAS AN INCREDIBLE FORCE WITH IT.
AND THUS, WE HAVE THE PIECE OF THE RIVER.
OH, AND OUR SOLOISTS ARE MR. MS. ALEXIS GRANT AND MR. JE JEREMIAH JOSEPH.
TWO YOUNG MUSIC EDUCATORS FROM, YOU KNOW, PRAIRIE VIEW A AND M UNIVERSITY.
THE RIVER IS RISING, THE RIVER IS RISING, ANCESTORS IS RISING.
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RISING.ALL RIGHT, LET'S GET HIM ANOTHER ROUND OF APPLAUSE TO THE RIDGE POINT CHOIR, DR.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO THANK EVERYONE FOR JOINING US TODAY.
UM, WE WANT TO INVITE YOU TO VIEW THE DISPLAYS THAT WE HAVE ALONG THE WALL ONCE YOU GO OUT.
UM, IT DEPICTS THE, UH, PHOTOGRAPHS FROM THE, UH, PROTEST HERE AT HOUSTON.
UH, ALSO WE HAVE A VIDEO IN THE RESTORED CLASSROOM, WHICH, OKAY, I'M GONNA GET THIS NAME WRONG.
AND MATTHEW ENTITLED PEACE FOR GEORGE FLOYD.
UM, AND THERE'S ALSO A RECEPTION TO FOLLOW IN THE, UM, FORER.
SO ONCE AGAIN, THANK YOU GUYS FOR COMING OUT, AND WE HOPE TO SEE YOU NEXT YEAR.