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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 2, 2020
CONTACT: Randall Avila
PHONE: (714) 453-0900

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Statement on the National and Orange County Riots

ORANGE COUNTY, CA - Hon. Fred M. Whitaker, Chairman of the Republican Party of Orange County, released the following statement:

“On May 25th we as a nation witnessed the horrific death of George Floyd in Minnesota. As a Christian and as an American I was heartbroken by what was captured on video. George Floyd should be alive today. Period.

Within days President Trump and the FBI made this case a top priority and the officer in question was arrested and charged[DEL: . :DEL] I applaud the quick response. I am confident justice will be served.

Yet, this past week in Minneapolis and this past weekend here and throughout the country violent riots highjacked legitimate and otherwise peaceful protests. The Republican Party is the greatest champion of First Amendment rights and our ability to protest. We take no issue with the protests to fix the failures of that precinct of officers in Minneapolis. As a country we need to make sure that no one suffers abuse at the hands of authorities because of the color of their skin. In Minneapolis, there were clearly failures in the system that date back to over a dozen write ups of that officer and Senator Klobuchar's failure to prosecute the officer in 2006 when she had the opportunity to as a prosecutor.

Sadly, George Floyd’s death and the good will of citizen protestors were taken advantage of by ANTIFA and other left-wing agitators. Those organizing riots, burning buildings or looting stores do not represent the memory of George Floyd, or the protestors.

Riots in Santa Ana this weekend destroyed minority communities and minority owned businesses. No American, regardless of the color of their skin, should live in fear in their own homes and their own city. These riots are endangering lives, the wellbeing of our people and the progress we made collectively over the past two months against COVD-19. Lighting a building on fire and looting businesses struggling to recover from the stay-at-home orders only increases the economic dislocation they claim to care about. But most importantly they threaten our ability to come together and heal as a nation because the message from George Floyd’s death is lost.

We can freely express ourselves, because we are a country of law and order that respects the rights of all. The chaos caused by these criminals endangers those freedoms. It must stop immediately. Those who chose to fan the flames of racial divide for political gain do not deserve the carry the mantle of iconic leaders like Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks and Harriet Tubman.

I am reminded of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s words: "Let me say as I’ve always said, and I will always continue to say, that riots are socially destructive and self-defeating. I’m still convinced that nonviolence is the most potent weapon available to oppressed people in their struggle for freedom and justice."

As Republicans we call on all leaders to echo the words of Dr. King: "there is another way." I am calling on the Democratic Party of Orange County to join us in calling for peace and justice by condemning the blatant racism and call to criminal activity from ANTIFA. ANTIFA does not care about using another way, or peace or justice. ANTIFA is only about the destruction of our society.

Together we can begin healing our country, make the reforms that must be made and emerge a stronger, more united nation."

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