"I Can't Breathe!" Urban League of Broward County Statement

The Urban League of Broward County expresses our most sincere condolences to the family of George Floyd and to the innumerable Black lives that have been lost to police violence. We have relived the trauma of death far too many times: Eric Garner. Trayvon Martin. Christian Cooper. Michael Brown. Alton Sterling. Breonna Taylor. Ahmaud Arbery. Their deaths are more visible because of technology, but no less painful than the generations of deaths we have endured at the hand of injustice. We join the Urban League of the Twin Cities and the National Urban League in calling for the arrest of all involved officers and prosecution in the brutal death of Mr. George Floyd.

As we acknowledge the pain and frustrations we are feeling as a nation, as a culture, and as individuals, we remember the larger historical context that birthed this injustice. Mr. Floyd last cried, "I can't breathe. Please, I can't breathe," We emphasize his last words, "I can't breathe," and remind our communities that WE STILL CAN. We cannot afford to be silent...we won't be silent.