NY Gov. Andrew Cuomo On Racism In The Justice System: "There Are Troubling Questions"

At his second inauguration as governor of New York on Thursday, Andrew Cuomo speaks about the tension surrounding accusations of racism in the police department and how America's leaders must respond.





GOV. ANDREA CUOMO (D-New York): Our national symbol of justice, Lady Justice, carries a sword, a set of scales, and she also wears a blindfold. Why? To signify objectivity, that one's wealth, class, race, are irrelevant to the pursuit of justice. But today, sadly, too many people are question if the blindfold is still in tact. Or does the justice system now see black and white, or black and blue, or rich and poor?



The world saw and African American man in Staten Island die, and people are confused, disappointed, and angry.



Law enforcement officials have been wrongfully targeted, and even assassinated. The situation has devolved into one where everybody is talking and nobody is listening. It must stop, and it is time for the truth.



The truth is the justice system does need review. The truth is there are troubling questions that have been raised which must be answered. The truth is police officers do need more safety and protection. The truth is law enforcement needs to respect the community as much as the community needs ot respect law enforcement. The truth is it is our responsibility as leaders to provide the reforms necessary to ensure safety.