BY ADAM ATKINSON
North Country This Week

POTSDAM -- The Potsdam town board has passed a resolution declaring its support for the Black Lives Matter movement which has sparked widespread protests and civil unrest across the country in the wake of the death of George Floyd, an unarmed African American man, while he was in police custody in Minneapolis on May 25.

The board unanimously passed the statement of support at its meeting held on Zoom Tuesday, June 9.

The Potsdam town resolution follows on the heels of a peaceable protest in downtown Potsdam in support of the cause on June 1 where it is estimated several hundred people marched.

Potsdam police during the recent BLM march in Potsdam held candles in support of the protesters.

However, elsewhere across the country many peaceful protests in various U.S. cities have been reported to be undermined by what some say are outside anti-fascist groups looking to incite violence. Widespread looting and riots have resulted in millions of dollars in property damage, 12 people are thought to have died from violence related to the riots and almost 10,000 people have been arrested in connection with the civil unrest, according to many major media outlets.

The town’s resolution reads in part:

"Whereas, on May 27, 2020, 46-year-old father of two, George Floyd, pleaded for his life while handcuffed and on the ground, while a police officer pushed his knee into George Floyd’s throat for over nine minutes, ultimately killing George Floyd; and

"Whereas, racism and death continue to plague our country despite many pleas for change; and

"Whereas on June 1, 2020, nearly one thousand community members peacefully marched through the village of Potsdam in protest of these acts;

"Now, therefore, be it resolved that the Potsdam Town Board condemns the killing of George Floyd and condemns any and all acts of racism and discrimination; and

"Whereas, “Equal Justice Under the Law” is a phrase engraved on a pediment in front of the United States Supreme Court, the Town Board believes all law enforcement officials should work toward making this a reality; and

"Be it further resolved that the Potsdam Town Board aims to make the Town of Potsdam an even more welcoming, inclusive, and safe community to all, regardless of race or ethnicity.

Town council member Judy Rich read a statement on the issue that she wanted attached to the resolution, which reads in part: "And let us resolve individually to search our own hearts and decide in a world crisis which in truth is always what we should do, what we can do and determine what we will do."

The board agreed to amend the resolution to introduce the statement into the document.

Council member Sarah Lister said she had based the Potsdam resolution on one put forward in the city of Burlington, VT. Lister also read a statement from council member Toni Kennedy who was unable to attend the meeting due to illness.

Kennedy's statement expressed support for the resolution and the BLM movement. "It is important for us to reform policing all over the nation as well as equality in all aspects of life . . . and education," reads Kennedy's statement.

Kennedy went on to say that she hopes reforms can be enacted like demilitarization of police forces and ending for-profit policing, investigation and prosecution of all aspects of police brutality, "and invest in rigorous and sustained training for all police and prospective police."

"With the protests all over the country I hope we can start enacting real and meaningful change," Kennedy's statement read.

"We still have not seen justice for a lot of people who have faced instances of police brutality . . . but I do want to specifically mention Breanna Taylor from Louisville, Kentucky who was murdered in her bed during this COVID-19 crisis while working as an EMT on the front lines," said Lister. "Justice needs to be served for her and for her family."

"The movement in the country is inspiring," said Town Supervisor Ann Carvill. "I was really taken with General Mattis who made the comments about equal justice under the law. And I thought to myself it's such an honorable and foundational premise this country is based on, but it's so not happening and it's so unfair, especially to the black community, but not just the black community."

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