Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti is speaking live starting at 6 p.m. to give updates on the protests against police brutality, which as we know, are happening at the same time as a pandemic.
According to a press release, he plans to speak about "Los Angeles’ efforts to keep the public safe."
Watch live above or stay tuned for highlights below.
PROTESTS
The mayor repeatedly pointed out tonight that he went to the protests downtown today and kneeled in support of the protestors.
"I'm the mayor," he said, "so I know some people would be happy to see me, and others might be upset at this moment, and need to yell at me. And both of those things happened. That's part of what you do as a leader."
He continued:
"I left the protests in the street. After taking a knee, after praying and after addressing the crowd...and I joined Reverend Reverend Tulloss, who's the president of the Baptist ministers conference...they were as demanding about justice as everyone in America should be right now."
Tonight's speech and the mayor's act of solidarity this afternoon, comes after Garcetti has been heavily criticised by Black Lives Matter Los Angeles for his proposed budget.
Here's what Dr. Melina Abdullah, a co-founder of Black Lives Matter had to say about it:
"We were outraged when we saw a budget that cut virtually every other city department, including the ones most needed right now in the midst of the pandemic and the economic fallout — while actually increasing funding to LAPD."
As Garcetti speaks, hundreds of protestors gathered at his residence in Hancock Park to voice their opposition to his budget.
GIVING THE STAGE TO A BLACK TEENAGER
Garcetti said he wanted to "do something different" today and give a young man that he met a chance to "tell his story." He introduced a 16-year-old from Morningside High School who had this to say:
"I was recently stopped by the police officers and racially and criminally profiled. I was accused of being associated with a gang. I thought that really hurt, because that's not me. I am a God-fearing young black man, I'm an athlete...I love God...I had a conversation with the mayor today that was hopeful. We want to make sure that what happens to George Floyd does not ever happen again to someone that looks like me, losing our lives to police officers is one of the biggest fears that we have in South LA."
He continued:
"This is a hard moment. But the good news is that there is still time for unity. And while I think we should keep protesting and demand change, there is no need to loot and tear things down."
The mayor followed this speech by saying that he is listening to black voices. After going to the protests, he said, he "listened to folks on [his] own team."
"I listened to a powerful young black man who said that it's tough to even work in government right now," he said, adding that all non-black people in L.A. should make an effort to listen right now.
"To my fellow Angelenos, to my African American brothers and sisters who live in this city, I want to say, I hear you. And I hear that this isn't just about the criminal justice system. This is about also our society, and where we put our resources.
THE BUDGET
The mayor hinted that he may be thinking about amending his budget, but did not make any promises. Here's what he said:
"Our budget, which is a moral document, needs to keep people safe and protected. But the best way for people to be safe and protected -- and I hear you on the street loud and clear -- is not just by throwing dollars always into police departments, but also into youth programs and into educational opportunities and into trauma-based recovery for people who carry trauma.
I don't have announcements tonight. But I want you to know that I've been having these conversations, for the last two or three days. I'm having them with my fellow elected officials, I'm having them with community leaders, I'm having them with young people who are demanding that I and we collectively do better."
The mayor added that he "looks forward to the day" when we can get rid of the curfew, the national guard and the police officers wearing helmet.
This is a developing story and will be updated frequently.
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