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Village of Saranac Lake must stand with Black Lives Matter

To the editor:

On June 2, approximately 500 people gathered in Saranac Lake to demonstrate their unequivocal opposition to the murder of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and countless other African Americans. Far too often, law enforcement officers use unnecessary, lethal and sometimes illegal force because they know they will not be held accountable.

On Tuesday, our community came together to say that we are sick of these killings. We are sick of the institutional racism that enables these murders to continue without consequence. We need to take action and eliminate this horror.

To that end, we have gathered more than 500 signatures from people who stood to express their heartfelt anger. These people are parents, students, taxpayers and local consumers.

We will be submitting the petition to the village Board of Trustees. We are asking that the board approve a simple resolution: “We the people of Saranac Lake will not tolerate any police violence toward African-Americans or any people of color.”

It’s that simple. We demand a zero-tolerance policy regarding police violence.

We are fortunate in the North Country to have few, if any, documented examples of blatant police violence. Still, the saying goes: An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

And that’s just what we’re asking for: one ounce of prevention. One proactive measure by the village to demonstrate to the local community and any tourists that Saranac Lake does not tolerate police brutality.

The members of the Saranac Lake Board of Trustees have an opportunity to stand tall and formalize the will of the people, letting the world at large know that we, the people of Saranac Lake, do not tolerate police violence.

Police violence can happen anywhere at any time. We are not insulated from institutional racism or the effects it has on our society. Trustees, join together with your community and adopt our petition.

Black lives matter.

In solidarity,

Executive Committee of High Peaks Democratic Socialists of America:

David Lynch

Erin Cass

Steve McAuley

Zohar Gitlis

Saranac Lake

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