Assembly Homeland Security and State Preparedness Chair Annette Quijano on Friday called for cooperation and compassion in the wake of the Dallas police shootings and the deaths of two African American men this week.
“The events that have unfolded this week are a tragic blow to our collective psyche as a nation. My heartfelt sympathies go out to the families of the fallen officers in Dallas, as well as the families of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile.
“As a prosecutor in a racially diverse community, I’ve seen firsthand the challenges that both law enforcement and minority citizens face. But this week’s tragedies are a stark reminder that we cannot afford to let our differences divide us.
“If we continue down this path we risk sacrificing all that we hold dear as a nation. We need to find the courage to have the difficult conversations, the compassion to see the value in others and the cooperation necessary to address these societal ills together,” said Quijano (D-Union).