WASHINGTON – Today on the floor, U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) discussed the protests in response to racial injustice and the killing of George Floyd, a native Houstonian. Excerpts of Sen. Cornyn’s floor remarks are below, and video can be found here.
“One week ago today, George Floyd, a native Houstonian, tragically died in the custody of a law enforcement officer. As the gut-wrenching video of his death spread, so has the passion and the anger among all of us who wonder, how can something like that happen?”
“People of all color, backgrounds, and ages are demanding that justice be served in the case of George Floyd.”
“The first step in that process came on Friday when the officer, who had him in custody, was himself arrested and charged with third-degree murder.”
“Devastating events like the death of George Floyd remind us that we have a long way to go in the fight for equal justice under the law. But we cannot yield to the temptation to fill the void created by this tragedy with violence.”
“Too many protests across our country have turned into riots with looting and vandalism and destruction, hurting innocent people and tearing our cities apart.”
“I understand and share the passion and the anger that has spread across the country and support those who are peacefully protesting and demanding that justice be served.”
“There should never be a time in which the color of someone’s skin determines whether they live or die, and we have to do everything in our power to prevent these tragedies from occurring in the first place.”
“But that change can’t happen when businesses are being looted, when vehicles are being set on fire, or innocent people are being harmed. It only can happen when we come together and learn to empathize with one another, and understand the struggles that our neighbors are facing.”