Around New England

Deval Patrick Says: ‘I’m So Tired Of White People Being Comfortable’

September 28, 2020

Are you white? 

If the answer is yes, then former Massachusetts governor Deval Patrick might not be too happy with you right now.

The Democrat and failed presidential candidate provided an oral commentary for WBUR talking about how he thinks that the deaths of black Americans like Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and Trayvon Martin means that “policing in America has to change for peace in America to exist.”

Patrick argued that black Americans can’t live ordinary lives in the United States — and took a shot at white Americans.

“I try my best to make people comfortable before plowing into hard subjects, but when it comes to the violence in black people’s lives, especially when it involves the police, I am so tired of white people being comfortable – or is it complacent?” Patrick said. “That George Floyd video ought to make anybody sick. But in one form or another, that behavior continues. And we still don’t have reforms out of the Massachusetts legislature, let alone Congress.”

Patrick suggested that even if the prosecutors made the right legal decision in the Breonna Taylor case in Louisville, Kentucky, it’s the wrong decision on substance.

“That decision not to prosecute the officers in Louisville may be technically correct, but it’s wrong. Official violence with impunity is always wrong,” Patrick said.

Patrick said he opposes no-knock warrants and “stand your ground” laws — and said every politician at every level who supports those things should be voted out.

“And we have to vote in men and women who will take the change we need seriously,” he said. “No more talk. No more being intimidated by police unions and empty ‘tough on crime’ rhetoric. Only action. Smart, forward-looking, meaningful action. And we the voters must be prepared to hold them to account.”

He called for peaceful protest and advocacy, and said like-minded people should “channel our rage into the ballot box.”