I have to acknowledge, when I was growing up I never had to wonder if a police officer would stop me and treat me negatively because of who I was. For all of us who happen to be white, we haven't walked a mile in the shoes of our brothers and sisters who are people of color.

We’re seeing that pain right now. That anger from what people have grown up with and never for a moment been able to get away from, that sense that at any given moment they might be singled out simply because of who they were and that the results could even be deadly.

George Floyd was killed in broad daylight. He was killed because he was black. The officer involved seemed to show no emotion that he took a man's life. It would create deep pain if it was the first time but it's happened again and again. People are asking when will it stop?

Our police officers have been given a very clear instruction: as always, respect peaceful protest. We in this city have a long history of respecting every kind of viewpoint, that is the essence of New York City.

To everyone protesting and expressing that anger and pain, please remember how important it is to protest peacefully. Please remember that we're in the middle of a pandemic. We have to do all we can to protect each other. Everyone out there has a responsibility.