A group of Northeast Florida CEOs issued a joint statement condemning the “horrific actions” that led to the May 25 death of George Floyd in Minneapolis and urged public policies to “eradicate disparate access to opportunity.”
The Jacksonville Civic Council, a group of nearly 80 CEOs from the region’s companies and organizations, released the statement June 5.
“The Jacksonville Civic Council condemns the horrific actions that led to the death of George Floyd and supports all those who are peacefully seeking justice and demanding an end to racism,” the statement said.
“As business leaders, we know that Jacksonville’s potential will never be achieved until everyone in this community is not only safe from violence, but receives equal treatment under the law and has full rights and equitable access to opportunities that many of us take for granted.
“We stand against racism and discrimination of any kind. While sincere expressions of empathy, support and solidarity are appropriate, mere words are not enough. Accordingly, the Jacksonville Civic Council stands ready to work collaboratively with other community leaders and organizations to create and implement public policies that eradicate disparate access to opportunity while further seeking to advance policies that promote equitable quality of life outcomes for all of Jacksonville’s citizens,” the statement said.
Civic Council CEO and President Jeanne Miller said the message was approved by the group’s African American members as well as the Council’s executive committee.
Floyd was an unarmed black man who died in police custody after a white Minneapolis police officer pressed his knee onto Floyd’s neck.
Predominantly peaceful protests against racial inequities and police brutality against the black community have been ongoing in Jacksonville since May 30.
A smaller group of demonstrators turned violent May 30-31, damaging eight buildings Downtown from Ocean to Adams streets and injured four police officers.
The Civic Council’s response follows similar comments from other Northeast Florida business leaders including Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shad Khan and JAX Chamber Chair Henry Brown, who said “inequities in our country and city have been tolerated for too long.”
Brown said the business community must – and will – step up and lead.”
Jaguars march
On June 5, Jacksonville Jaguars players, coaches, staff and their families and friends marched from TIAA Bank Field in Downtown to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. About 300 demonstrators participated, Daily Record news partner News4Jax.com reported, many wearing “Black Lives Matter” T-shirts.