FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Media Relations
Statement from APHA Executive Director Georges C. Benjamin, MD
“Last year, we were stunned, horrified, and angered as we witnessed the horrific image of George Floyd’s merciless killing, an egregious act of police brutality that was finally met with justice today.
And while our hearts are still heavy over this tragedy, and remain in distress in a country that has allowed this type of brutality to happen for years, we can find some solace and healing with the verdict of accountability that the jury handed down today.
We still have much work laid out before us, however. We must continue to tirelessly fight against our nation’s systems of structural racism and the racial profiling that too often perpetuate violence at the hands of police. The shootings and killings of unarmed Black men, women and children will not be any less of a public health crisis tomorrow, and the need to effectively change national conversations and public policy will not be any less imperative.
I, along with the rest of the public health community, will advocate for these changes until discrimination within law enforcement and the pervasive racism that plagues our nation is no more.”
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The American Public Health Association champions the health of all people and all communities. We are the only organization that combines a nearly 150-year perspective, a broad-based member community and the ability to influence federal policy to improve the public’s health. Learn more at www.apha.org.