Rockland County issued the following announcement.
On Tuesday, June 2, 2020, I met virtually with a working group of local religious leaders, law enforcement and other community leaders. We discussed their concerns about a statement I made which was in reference to specific threats made on social media against Rockland County. I recognize that this statement, while meant to be reassuring, caused additional fear and anxiety in local communities of color that were already on edge.
In what can be described as a candid, honest and sincere discussion, I came to better understand this fear and the concerns that exist in our local community and that specific words matter, particularly when viewed through a historical perspective. This conversation was an extremely important step towards deepening understanding, developing shared goals and creating the relationships needed to address the myriad issues we face today both in Rockland and across our nation.
I want to be abundantly clear on this next point in particular; protesters are not the same as rioters. I view protesting to be one of the highest forms of civic participation; it is guaranteed under the First Amendment of the United States Constitution and I understand and support that tenet unequivocally. Every protest I have witnessed during my many years living in Rockland has been peaceful and respectful, which includes those recently held in Nyack and Nanuet for George Floyd. I deeply respect the rights of assembly and protest but understand that these protests are only a beginning.
Moving forward, this working group will maintain an open dialogue and I, like many, must redouble my efforts to improve my understanding of others. While I often think of myself as just a kid from Brooklyn, I recognize that my words carry weight and significant meaning. I am not perfect by any means, but I am committed to doing my best to do right by, learn with and protect every resident of this county.
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Original source can be found here.
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