Why I Took a Knee
By : Stephen Watson , Chief of Police – Eureka PD
In the early evening hours of Sunday , May 31st , I waited uneasily inside the Eureka Police Department ( EPD ) listening
to updates over the police radio as a crowd of several hundred demonstrators marched toward us . This was our city ’ s second day of spirited and sometimes unruly protests following the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police officers days earlier . An even larger demonstration on Saturday , organized by a local self-professed anarchist group , had turned very tense after a few agitators in the crowd hurled rocks and insults toward our officers . Some carried signs demanding , “ Abolish the police .” Another held a sign that brazenly declared : “ Defend life . Shoot cops .” Patrol cars were damaged and protestors twice marched to EPD where some vandalized the front of our building .
A pivotal moment approached our department when the peace and safety of our city and the relationship with our community was at stake . Nearly 50 law enforcement officers , equipped and ready , were packed into our classroom awaiting orders . I made a decision . Rather than meet the crowd with a formation of officers in riot armor , we would meet them with a powerful moment of solidarity . I would go outside with only my core leadership team .
As the chanting crowd grew closer , I asked the county Sheriff if he wanted to join me . He soon stood by my side . A white board emblazoned with the message , “ We stand with you against racism ,” stood prominently behind us . The crowd arrived and gathered before our small group . I stepped forward and addressed the assembly . I began by making an unequivocal statement condemning the death of George Floyd , saying I was outraged too . A few in the crowd attempted to shout over me , but one individual stepped forward and successfully advocated to let me be heard , telling the crowd to “ listen ” and stating , “ They have a voice too .” The Sheriff spoke , acknowledging their cry of “ no justice , no peace ” and affirming , “ We hear you .” After some time , I took a risk and asked , “ Can we walk with you ?” Many in the crowd responded enthusiastically .
We walked in solidarity with demonstrators to the courthouse where a planned rally took place . A speaker asked for everyone to kneel for 9 minutes in remembrance of George Floyd . The Sheriff and I took a knee with them . I kneeled not out of a sense of obligation to the moment , or because I agreed with every tenet of the BLM movement . I kneeled because it was the right thing to do and what people needed to see from us as leaders of our community and city . It was an authentic moment where we stood in proxy for law enforcement leaders across this country . People needed to know we also stood against racism , especially within our own ranks , and we would act decisively to effect meaningful change . I understood action , not words , were being demanded and we must take tangible steps forward together . As Martin Luther King Jr . said : “ We cannot walk alone . And as we walk , we must make the pledge that we shall always march ahead . We cannot turn back .”
As protests continued across the country and locally , I repeatedly messaged to my command staff and our officers that most in the crowd were our fellow community members — neighbors , friends of family , people we may interact with as we go about our daily “ other ” lives . Their children may go to school or play sports with ours . The
20 CALIFORNIA POLICE CHIEF | www . californiapolicechiefs . org