Sacramento, CA — 

SACRAMENTO, CA – CFT President Jeff Freitas, Secretary Treasurer Luukia Smith, and Senior Vice President L. Lacy Barnes released the following statement in response to the video released this evening showing the murder of Tyre Nichols at the hands of Memphis police: 

“Tyre Nichols should be alive today.

“George Floyd should be alive today.

“Breonna Taylor should be alive today.

“Laquan McDonald should be alive today.

“Tamir Rice should be alive today.

“And sadly so many more.

“No one should be murdered at the hands of the officers who swear to protect and serve our communities. CFT will continue to stand with Black and Brown Americans, who are targeted disproportionately by the police, in the fight for justice for every single person who should still be alive today.

“As our educators and classified professionals look ahead to returning to their classrooms on Monday, we are working with our members to provide the materials they need to have difficult conversations and ensure safe spaces for our students who deserve to feel safe in their communities and who deserve to live their full lives.

“Black lives matter.”

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CFT – A Union of Educators and Classified Professionals represents 120,000 teachers, faculty, and school employees in public and private schools and colleges, from early childhood through higher education. It is the statewide affiliate of the AFT.