Mayor Jim Paine is turning to his Commission on Communities of Color to craft the city’s official statement on the murder of George Floyd by police officers in Minneapolis.
The Commission will meet at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, June 11. It was originally scheduled to meet on Thursday, June 4, but officials changed the date on Wednesday, June 3.
“I have so much to say about the murder of George Floyd and the now countless murders and assaults that preceded it, but it all feels impotent,” Paine posted on Facebook . "We have to do more than speak. We can’t just move on. We have to take action. I need your help.”
In addition to crafting a statement, Paine said he will ask commissioners to review the work the city has done to create a better police force and build racial justice. He would also like their suggestions on how to make meaningful change in Superior.
Paine is collecting comments to share with commissioners and the police chief. People can send their thoughts by email to mayor@ci.superior.wi.us .
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Paine said he plans to share the results of the meeting with the City Council.
“To the black community as well as other people of color and indigenous peoples in Superior, I only have this to say right now: I’m sorry this happened. I’m sorry this is happening. We won’t let it stand. We will do better,” Paine said.
While there were protests Saturday and Sunday in Duluth, Superior Police Chief Nicholas Alexander said things were quiet overall in the city during the weekend, although they have heard online chatter about a protest Tuesday. The department sent about a dozen officers Saturday and Sunday to help the Duluth Police Department. The departments have had formal mutual aid agreements in place since 2005.
“We have no plans for setting a curfew at this time or asking the mayor to impose one,” Alexander said.
This story was updated to reflect the date of the rescheduled meeting of the Mayor's Commission on Communities of Color at 9:45 a.m. June 3. The story originally posted at 2 p.m. June 1.
