SAN DIEGO — Civil rights activist and president/founder of the People's Alliance for Justice Rev. Shane Harris opened the briefing by saying he and the other groups represented are looking toward reform. The briefing followed his five-day trip to Minneapolis, Minnesota, during which he met the family of George Floyd.
The media briefing was held where the Chase Bank was burned down on Spring Street in La Mesa during protests over the weekend.
“The buildings you see behind me have been burned down by those who do not represent the black community. And do not represent black leadership in this region or country," said Harris.
Harris condemned the looting and rioting that took place in La Mesa and other areas of San Diego County over the weekend. Harris said those actions do not represent the message they want to advance.
"We do not back up or support looting and rioting," Harris said.
Harris also called for the end of the use of carotid restraint technique by the San Diego County Sheriff's Department. Later on Wednesday, San Diego County Sheriff Bill Gore announced that his department will stop the use of the carotid restraint "effective immediately."
"We will begin a national strategy to end the use of the use of the carotid chokehold restraint in America so we don't lose any more black and brown men Cand women in the country," Harris said.
Civil rights leaders also called for the needs of minority communities to be met amid the COVID-19 pandemic and civil unrest.
"San Diego’s minority-owned business have been disproportionately left behind in grants, loans and financial help," said Donna DeBerry, the president of the Central San Diego Black Chamber of Commerce which is part of the Strategic Alliance of Ethnic Chambers of Commerce. "Because if the businesses don’t exist, the community dies too."
Toward the end of Wednesday's briefing, Harris announced that local civil rights organizations will host a march for George Floyd on Saturday at 10:30 a.m. in downtown San Diego. He said the march will end with a rally at the Edward J. Schwartz Federal Building on Front Street.
No one representing the City of La Mesa or its city council was present at the morning briefing on Wednesday. La Mesa city officials held a separate briefing Wednesday to discuss the controversial arrest last week of a young black man near the Grossmont Transit Center.
Harris praised La Mesa Police Department Chief Walt Vasquez for his leadership and commitment to change. Harris said the chief wanted to be at the briefing but was asked not to attend by La Mesa Mayor Mark Arapostathis.
