SEN. HARRIS: America is raw right now. Her wounds are exposed. The reality of it is the life of a Black person in America, historically, and even most recently with Mr. Floyd, has never been treated as fully human. And, it is time to come to terms with the fact that America has never fully addressed the systemic racism that has existed in our country. That's just a fact. And so the people protesting on the street are protesting understanding that we have yet to fulfill that promise of equal justice under the law. And there is a pain that is present that is being expressed in their constitutional right to march and to shout.
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As a former prosecutor, a profession I chose because I also, growing up the way I did, knew how law enforcement had a long history of enforcing laws indiscriminately, and often based on race and racism. That's why I chose to become a prosecutor, and I can say with full certainty that it is time that the leaders in this United State Senate, in this United States Congress take action to reform a criminal justice system that for far too long has been informed by systemic racism and by racial bias. It is time that we say that bad cops are bad for good cops. It is time that we say that one should not be subjected to the indignity of being told to get on your knees and put your hands behind your head simply because you are walking while Black. And it happens every day in America.

There is not a black man I know...who has not been the subject of some form of racial discrimination at the hands of law enforcement, not one I know....and the only thing that is common among them is that the color of their skin is Black. That's why the people are marching in the streets.

And the reality is that racism in America is bad for everyone. Racism is bad for everyone. Racism against Black folks and Latinos and Asians and our Native brothers and sisters, it's bad for EVERYONE. So this is a moment in time where we have to address this.

And we have to address it sadly in the context of a pandemic that has also laid bare longstanding disparities in our public health system, in our education system, in our economy. based on race. This is happening at a moment in time when we have a so-called Commander-in-Chief who also has the title of President of the United States, who I promise you will NEVER speak the words "Black Lives Matter."

Well, they do. So, this is a moment in time when this co-equal branch of government has a responsibility to stand for the principles of those words that are etched on that marble building across the street, "Equal Justice Under Law."