Third District Santa Cruz County Supervisor Justin Cummings

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Third District Santa Cruz County Supervisor Justin Cummings

Santa Cruz Third District County Supervisor, former Mayor, & City Council member.

10/02/2025

Address

P. O. Box 7607
Santa Cruz, CA
95061

Telephone

+18312913507

Website

https://www.cummingsforsupervisor.com/

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The Time for Change is Not Tomorrow, It’s Today

(Note: This statement was originally shared in the Santa Cruz Sentinel, June 6, 2020. For the original article, visit: https://www.santacruzsentinel.com/2020/06/06/santa-cruz-mayor-justin-cummings-the-time-for-change-is-not-tomorrow-its-today/)

In the wake of the killing of George Floyd in which four police officers were charged in Minneapolis, we have seen communities throughout our nation, and the world, speak out and demonstrate in opposition to police violence, especially violence against black and brown communities. The response of government to these demonstrations has varied from city to city. In some cities, the violent responses that we have witnessed are a reflection of the culture of suppression and racism that has existed for centuries in police culture. Here in Santa Cruz, and some other cities across the nation, we saw police chiefs and officers taking a knee, removing their riot gear, and marching in solidarity with the community against the killing of George Floyd. This is the acknowledgment and leadership that communities across the nation are looking for from police departments and government, and our communities want a commitment to change.

The first action that took place here in Santa Cruz on May 30, 2020, was organized by a black woman named Joy Flynn Wall. She has been a local leader in our community and set the tone for the demonstration. In a message that she posted online, she asked for the community to come out in solidarity and silence. She asked the community to wear masks, socially distance themselves down Pacific Ave, take a knee at 9:25 to honor the death of George Floyd who was pronounced dead at 9:25 p.m. on May 25 and to bring placards with the names of black people who have been killed by police or are living and have wrongfully been imprisoned or oppressed. This online post to a few friends spread throughout the community and ours came out in solidarity.

Rather than show up in riot gear, ready to suppress and disperse members of our community, the Santa Cruz police arrived in uniform, ready to provide a role of support. When I ran into Police Chief Andy Mills, who had been speaking with the organizer and other members of the community, he let me know that they were there to support the community. When it was time to take a knee, the entire street went silent. The organizer asked for people to reflect on the video they had seen and to think about the lives of black and brown people who were victims of police violence. We were asked to say the names that were written on the signs we had brought with us that day, and when the event was over, people peacefully marched down Pacific Ave in each direction as they slowly made their way home.

This event sparked a series of gatherings and actions in our community to honor and respect the life of George Floyd and the lives of black people. There was a peaceful march on the Sunday following the first gathering, the police chief and I organized a community conversation on “Changing the Culture of Policing in Our Community and Beyond.” There were memorial paddle outs, a young black woman named Bella Bonner organized a march from the Dream Inn to the lighthouse and down West Cliff, there was a critical mass on bicycles, a car-led procession, all of which were in the peaceful spirit of demanding an end to unwarranted police violence and reminding everyone that black lives matter just as much as any other life. Along the way, the police have blocked streets and provided the support the community needs to vent their frustration and express their desire for change.

While many other communities continue to clash with their local governments and police departments, Santa Cruz is listening and taking action toward implementing meaningful change. From the conversation that was had with the community on Wednesday evening, the police chief and I organized a small group of leaders from the African American community to initiate a conversation on changing police culture, the police chief has banned the use of chokeholds as restraints and we are working on bringing forward policy that prohibits and restricts the use of certain technologies that have disproportionately negative impacts on communities of color. Although some change may come quickly, many will take time, but along the way, we will continue marching forward together and we will not allow anyone to hijack our peaceful movement toward progress.

Mayor’s message is a Sunday column by Watsonville Mayor Rebecca Garcia, Santa Cruz Mayor Justin Cummings, Scotts Valley Mayor Randy Johnson and Capitola Mayor Kristen Petersen.