Springfield City Council will take up a resolution tonight condemning the actions of Minneapolis Police in the death of George Floyd.
You can see the resolution below:
The recent actions by police officers in Minneapolis that caused the death of George Floyd are intolerable and cause us all to think twice about the dignity of all persons, the value of life and our responsibility as a local government. As a result, City Manager Jason Gage has drafted a formal resolution expected to be formalized by Springfield City Council Monday evening.
“This resolution is very direct and on point, as intended. It allows all of us to collectively be intentional with regard to our thoughts concerning this horrific incident and what that means for our community and organization,” Gage said. “We think this statement is vitally important, but just an initial step for our organization and community.”
Springfield Police Chief Paul Williams issued a statement Friday, May 29, reading: “I’m aware of and following the recent events in Minneapolis. I was shocked by the behavior of the Minneapolis police officers that led to the untimely death of George Floyd. The actions seen in the video do not align with the training or values of the Springfield Police Department, nor with those of the policing profession as a whole, and I consider those actions egregious and inexcusable.”
Williams went on to say, “I also understand that while this tragedy occurred hundreds of miles away, it still affects us all in a variety of ways. The members of the SPD want to assure the citizens of Springfield that we stand with them and we respect their right to voice their concerns, peacefully. We are committed to continuing to partner with all members of our community to ensure that our city remains a place we can all be proud of.”
City Council will meet for its regularly scheduled meeting on Monday, June 1 at 6:30 p.m. electronically via teleconferencing technology due to City offices being closed to the public at this time.
Citizens wishing to sign up to speak at the meeting or remove an item from the consent agenda are required to contact City Clerk Anita Cotter by 5 p.m. Sunday, May 31. This can be done via an online form, by calling 417-864-1651 or by emailing acotter@springfieldmo.gov. The agenda is located here.
Citizens who have signed up with the City Clerk in accordance with the new rule will be provided the option to participate electronically in Room 108 on the first floor of Historic City Hall.
Citizens who have experienced any of the following, will not be allowed inside City Hall:
Flu-like symptoms
Respiratory illness (cough, difficulty breathing)
Fever
Traveled in the past 14 days to an affected area
Been exposed to someone who has travelled to an affected area
Been exposed to someone who has been evaluated for the illness or confirmed illness.
City Council meetings can be viewed on Mediacom cable channels 15.1, 22 and 80 and AT&T Uverse channel 99, or viewed online at Cityview.springfieldmo.gov/livestream.
The meetings are also livestreamed on the @CityofSgf Facebook page.
