As protests spark around the world to demand justice for the death of George Floyd and countless others who have died in police custody, San Marcos Mayor Jane Hughson, San Marcos CISD Superintendent Michael Cardona and Hays CISD Superintendent Eric Wright issued statements earlier this week addressing their stances on the matter.

Hughson

“Like so many of you, I was outraged as I witnessed the horrific killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. To be a police officer in America is to assume responsibility for the safety of one’s community, and to abuse the power of the badge to endanger, and in this case kill, a resident is inexcusable. I’m still shaken, and frankly, I’m angry.

Many of you are participating in various types of peaceful protests here in San Marcos to make your voices heard. To those of you speaking, kneeling and marching, I am listening, and I hear you. You are demanding justice, reform and dignity for all American lives, both in Minneapolis and in towns across America. We are in a pivotal moment of our nation’s history, and we have an opportunity to begin a real dialogue and foster a better, more secure future for all San Marcos residents. I am grateful that our peaceful demonstrations have been just that, peaceful.

When I learned about the details of this appalling event, my thoughts naturally turned to the fine men and women that serve in the San Marcos Police Department and who choose to put on the uniform in order to protect our residents. These brave officers have my respect and support, and they are part of a system of accountability and transparency to ensure that bad actors are never allowed to fly under the radar.

I spoke with San Marcos Interim Police Chief Bob Klett to learn more about training and policies dedicated to the use of force, and I was very pleased with what I confirmed. First and foremost, the use of a knee to neck during an arrest is never taught nor tolerated. All restraints that our officers are trained to use ensure that a suspect is able to breathe freely. Officers are trained to deescalate a situation and provide a person with any recovery methods they may require, such as water, medical attention, or a mental health officer for support.

Our police department has adopted a standard for use of force that is more restrictive than the average department requirements and provides that an officer use only the force that is reasonably necessary to effectively bring an incident under control while protecting the lives of the officer and civilians. Furthermore, the SMPD has a publicly manned Chief’s Advisory Board that serves as a liaison between the police and the public—in addition to other outreach efforts—reviews summary information on citizen complaints, and gives feedback on certain policies affecting the community under consideration by the police department.

I know as well as anyone that, despite our best efforts, no system is foolproof and we must continually review our policies to ensure they continue to serve our community. That is why as mayor, I am committed to maintaining common sense policies that preserve the right to dignity, freedom, and safety for all San Marcos residents.

I know many of you are hurting, angry, feeling helpless and may be worried about safety. Please rest assured that your concerns are valid, you are being heard, and you are essential to the fabric of this community. I am proud to serve as your mayor. Thank you for continuing to make San Marcos Stronger Together.”

Wright

"Nine days ago, nearly nine heartbreaking minutes were captured on video. In those minutes, George Floyd was murdered.

Today, all four of those responsible were finally criminally charged. Mr. Floyd’s murder has opened, yet again, a suffering in America that continues to wound our collective soul.

Following the death of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., his close confidant and Civil Rights Movement icon in his own right, former Atlanta Mayor and United Nations Ambassador Andrew Young, has said, “We were never concerned with who killed Martin Luther King, but what killed Martin Luther King”—an observation that still haunts us more than 50 years later. It is my hope and commitment that, this time, we can all do our part to unite in the cause of love and healing. Silence on the matter is no longer acceptable because it is tantamount to complicity.

Words are important, but it is action that matters most. So, today, I am announcing the creation of the Hays CISD Diversity Advisory Council.

This group will be a standing committee that will include teachers, staff, parents, our partners in law enforcement and students – all representing the different voices from our district.

They will advise us on important policy and operational recommendations and decisions from the perspective of equity, social justice, fairness, understanding and respect.

We will work this summer to create the initial framework and scope of this advisory council so that it can be in place to begin accepting members when we return to school this fall. This new council is not the solution.

It will not change hundreds of years of history overnight or by itself. And, it won’t have a global or national reach.

It is, however, a start—a step our school district can take on this journey—something we can do right now, at home.

Public education is the great equalizer that preserves and makes possible a strong democracy. We need to do all we can to ensure there is no place for hate, racism, or discrimination in HCISD.

Our school district consists of nearly 21,000 students, twice as many parents, and some 3,000 employees.

We are a rich tapestry of community with people who come from different life experiences, and who represent all colors, abilities, genders, orientations, and creeds.

We, like all school districts and communities, are no strangers to past wrongs, but our hearts are pure and we remain steadfast in our desire to continue to bend the arc toward justice.

Yesterday, we heard from George Floyd’s family for the first time, including his six-year-old daughter Gianna.

She is the same age as some of our youngest students in HCISD. As the father of two daughters and two step-daughters myself, Gianna’s words struck right in the center of my heart.

She said, 'Daddy changed the world.' Through all of the tragedy, pain and loss surrounding her father’s death and the deaths of so many others, it is from the eyes of a six-year-old girl that we see hope and possibility.

In our own small way in HCISD, lets us help guarantee that Gianna’s daddy does indeed leave a legacy of effecting real and lasting change.”

Cardona

“The turmoil, pain, emotional unrest and racial tension in our country and our community are troubling and unsettling. In San Marcos CISD, we unequivocally condemn racism, discrimination and exclusion of all kinds. The killing of George Floyd and other black lives has profoundly impacted our nation and reminded us we live in a world where racism undeniably exists. Although SMCISD takes pride in its sense of unity and community, we are not oblivious or detached from what is happening around us. We know it is time for action.

As the Superintendent for SMCISD, I believe that schools have a responsibility to address race relations, systemic racism and social justice. I believe our students need to see their teachers, administrators, staff and school board members take leading roles against: racism, anti-blackness, anti-religious groups, anti-immigrants, bullying, disparity, evil, and hate. You can count on one actionable item from us - we will not remain silent. As part of that, you as parents must encourage our students to vote and to participate in the U.S. Census to ensure our community is heard.

I have recently tasked our Team Leadership team, composed of assistant superintendents, executive directors, directors, principals, coordinators and myself to address the challenges of returning to school amidst COVID-19 and the state of the nation. Creating an action plan to address equity, racism, and inclusiveness along the lines of what is addressed in this letter will be part of what this team will also be focused on. In prior years, our team has completed implicit bias training and will continue additional training this summer. Vestiges of systemic racism are ever-present in our current time and our duty within SMCISD is to educate and inform to promote change to the system.

However, we must recognize that substantial change takes commitment and time. Is change uncomfortable? Absolutely. Yet as we work to meet the challenges of the current health crisis, which includes caring for our families, our youth and our staff, we will not disregard the importance of listening to the voices of our students and staff.

As we cope with uncertainty, we must partner with our citizens to create equitable and inclusive environments for our entire population. We create a better future for our students when we stand against racism and value the diverse culture of our community. Hope is not enough. As San Marcos CISD, we demand equity and action.

To our black students, parents, and co-workers: I see you, I hear you, and I stand with you, as I pledge to take action to bring down the barriers of racism.”