We stand in solidarity with the Texas Legislative Black Caucus who we work closely with during the Texas Legislative Session. These fierce leaders are committed to addressing the issues African Americans face across Texas and we are committed to working with all of them to fight discrimination, racism, and create real change.

STATEMENT OF REP. HAROLD V. DUTTON, JR., CHAIR, TEXAS LEGISLATIVE BLACK CAUCUS ON THE KILLING OF MR. GEORGE FLOYD 

As Chairman of the 17-member Texas Legislative Black Caucus, let me share my heartfelt condolences to the family of Mr. George Floyd. I am more than honored to join the many, many well- meaning people throughout this country and even the entire world, for that matter, who believe that we are simply past the point where condolences are enough when police officers have killed another unarmed Black person, like Mr. George Floyd and the long lists of victims who have had their lives taken or been severely mistreated by rogue and racist police officers. 

As the late Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King stated so eloquently: “We can’t overcome darkness with darkness. Only light will do that.” However, the reality for Black people in this country is that no matter how much light has been illuminated upon the disdainful, hateful and too often murderous conduct of too many police officers – NOTHING HAS CHANGED – FOR THE BETTER. Black people in this country continue to be treated with little respect, if any, in their encounters with police officers. Black people continue to be killed by these government empowered assassins called police officers. 

The continued killing of Black people by police officers has led Black people to the considerations contained in that historic 1776 document, which reads in part – “When in the course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the laws of nature and nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.” 

The bright light of our cause has never been brighter which impels action not hollow discourse or earnest condolences. The police killing of Mr. George Floyd has to be the light which brings an end to the darkness of the atrocities committed by police officers against Black people. If not, separation may be the only remaining light for Black people.