Dear Friends,

George Floyd’s murder was tragic and horrifying. All of the officers involved must be held accountable. My heart is with the Floyd family, and all of the members of our community who have had to relive, and revisit, past traumatic experiences.

The United States is now in the throws of a crisis -- the root causes of which stretch to our country’s founding.

I’ve never been racially profiled. I don’t fear for my boys when they leave the house, nor do I have to have “the talk” with them about law enforcement. But as an American citizen, as your Member of Congress, and as a mom who cares deeply about all of the children in my community, I have a responsibility to be an ally in the centuries-long push for racial equality and to continue the federal work of safeguarding civil rights.

I stand with those who call for justice. In New Jersey, we have a deeply held belief in peaceful protest and civic action -- we must uphold the tradition of leaders like Martin Luther King. As George Floyd’s brother said this afternoon, “My family is a peaceful family. My family is God fearing. We are upset…. But let’s do this another way.”

The unrest in our country cannot be addressed without changing the status quo, and addressing the systemic racism and inequality that continues to claim the lives, livelihoods, and dreams of black and brown Americans.

Congress must act now. So I will continue to speak with, and listen to those who seek change. I’m reviewing proposed federal legislation that will reform our criminal justice system, increase community involvement in policing, increase opportunity for communities of color, and end voter suppression. I support House and Senate hearings into the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery and the committees’ pursuit of legislation to stop this from ever happening again.

If you are looking for a way to take action today, please consider donating to the NAACP’s Legal Defense and Educational Fund.

Sincerely,
Mikie