Mayor Nancy Vaughan | Facebook
Mayor Nancy Vaughan | Facebook
A Greensboro City Council meeting became less about conducting policy matters when officials confronted concerns about social injustice and systemic racism.
The talk surfaced as local protests erupted in the wake of George Floyd being killed by a Minneapolis police officer, which was caught on video. The officer, Derek Chauvin, has been charged with murder.
During the meeting, tensions rose as council members and Mayor Nancy Vaughen discussed how to handle the protests and disturbances, the News & Record reported. Some council members wanted to fund downtown businesses for their broken windows, while others wanted to see justice for the African American community.
Despite the varying viewpoints, the council agreed that the city needs to listen to the community, the News & Record reported.
But to help with the violence and looting, Vaughn implemented an 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew, according to News & Record.
"It was an effort not to preserve property but really to preserve life," Vaughan said, the News & Record reported. "The property damage was horrific, but buildings can be rebuilt. The possibility that someone could be gravely injured or killed was weighing on my heart."
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