Bucks DA Releases “Open Letter” to County Citizens

On Saturday, Bucks County District Attorney Matt Weintraub issued a public statement following the murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis Police officer. 

The murder and subsequent arrest of now fired officer, Derek Chauvin has led to protests and demonstrations throughout the country prompting peaceful protests, demonstrations, rioting,  heated discussions about race, inequality, and changes to  policing. 

Chavuin was charged with third degree murder and second degree manslaughter on Friday by prosecutors in Hennepin County. 

A video of the alarming incident showing Chauvin (a white officer) leaning on the neck of Floyd with his knee went viral earlier this week. 

Chauvin held his knee against  Floyd’s neck for 8 minutes and 46 seconds according to the criminal complaint  filed by prosecutors.

Meanwhile in Lower Bucks County reports of a planned protest in the area continue to circulate as of Sunday morning. State and local law enforcement officials as of publication have yet to respond for requests for comment as of 10 a.m. 

Below is Weintraub’s complete letter:

Open Letter to Bucks County’s citizens: We will be judged here by our measured response to George Floyd’s homicide, our lawful protests and our lack of lawless looting and rioting afterwards.

Dear Fellow Bucks County Citizens,

Like many of you, I’ve watched George Floyd’s killing on video with feelings of revulsion, sadness and helplessness. Police are sworn to protect and serve ALL citizens, regardless of their race, creed, color, orientation, guilt or innocence. People have the right to express their anger through peaceful assembly, but I don’t understand it when lawless people co-opt peaceful protests by pillaging and burning the communities around them. Thanks to all of you, that has not happened here. I have been in contact with many of the police chiefs in our towns across Bucks County. We all support everyone’s right to peacefully protest injustice anywhere and will insure that it can be done safely. I am most proud of the peaceful way that all citizens of Bucks County have comported themselves, and treated one another, in the shadow of this terrible national unrest. I pray that we will continue to do so.