YouTube download / AP video / A man was shot dead as violent protests over the death of a black man in police custody rocked Minneapolis for a second straight night Wednesday. Protesters looted stores and set fires. A suspect in the Wednesday night death is in custody (May 28). Pics above: Chase Tramont, a Port Orange city councilman, is shown at right with a guest column reacting to Monday's death of George Floyd, who died while in the custody of four Minneapolis cops, all since fired, including Derek Chauvin, the arresting officer who had his knee pressing into Floyd's neck while he was handcuffed and on his stomach in a public street.
By CHASE TRAMONT / Port Orange City Councilman / Guest Column for Headline Surfer
PORT ORANGE, Fla. -- I want to take a moment and sadly, but boldly, add my name to the list of the outraged people of this country at the recent event in Minneapolis.
I support our law enforcement and will continue to do so as day in and day out they put their lives on the line to protect our communities. These actions were of but a few and they have been appropriately fired and now being investigated.
Let justice be served. But more importantly, I support my African-American brothers and sisters and their desire to walk through their daily lives without the fear of being judged, treated differently, or looked upon with skepticism simply because of the color of their skin.
Why, in 2020, isn't this a no brainier? I grew up with and share an everlasting bond with some of the most incredible men of character. During these horrific events I think of them often: Joe Giddens, Yavis Perry, Cornelius S. James, Tony Bobbitt, Matthew Robinson, Daytona Dogons, Akil Harrell, Mike Hill, Al Sermon, Alvin Hawthorne, and many others. I think about the experiences we all shared together throughout our lives on and off the basketball court. The experience we had just can't be understood by anyone but us because we lived and shared them together. They were experiences that very few get the opportunity to live through. And we created those together.
Why, in 2020, isn't this a no brainier? I grew up with and share an everlasting bond with some of the most incredible men of character. During these horrific events I think of them often: Joe Giddens, Yavis Perry, Cornelius S. James, Tony Bobbitt, Matthew Robinson, Daytona Dogons, Akil Harrell, Mike Hill, Al Sermon, Alvin Hawthorne, and many others. I think about the experiences we all shared together throughout our lives on and off the basketball court. The experience we had just can't be understood by anyone but us because we lived and shared them together. They were experiences that very few get the opportunity to live through. And we created those together.
But no matter how close we are even to this day and no matter how many memories we shared together, I'll never be able to put myself in their minds and understand the experience they have individually and collectively when they walk into a store only to be given a little extra attention from the security guard, or evaluated and questioned why their car is so nice, looked upon with confusion when they are driving through a particular neighborhood.
I cannot understand it nor will I ever pretend to know what their community endures day in and day out, all I can do is love my brothers and sisters and offer my voice in solidarity with theirs for justice, equality, and an end to racism.
There's no question that it will always exist even in spite of the efforts put forth, however, those efforts will make it more difficult to being looked upon as acceptable behavior. I believe that the more we offer our voices and definitive action that those who promote racism of any kind will be the real unacceptable minorities.
And as an elected official, I continue to hold fast to my previous statements declaring that if anyone who harbors such racism and a prejudice heart, not only do I not want your support for future elections, but I actually don't even want your vote. I would prefer there not even being a record of that kind of support for my campaigns.
And as a regular citizen of this great country (and we are a great country) I dare challenge us all that we can and must do better. It's actually quite simple really. The Lord already laid out the formula: "Love one another even as I have loved you." "Treat others the way you would want to be treated."
No excuses. We have the game plan. Time to execute.
#JusticeForAhmaud #JusticeForGeorge #LoveOneAnother.
Editor's Note: Chase Tramont is an elected municipal leader in Port Orange, Florida. His write-up was initially posted on his Facebook page.
