INTERVIEW
>> Art Acevedo is the chief of police for Houston. On Monday, the high-ranking official strongly criticized President Donald Trump, live on CNN. The reason is the harsh, even martial, policy of the American president since the death of George Floyd, this African-American killed by the police in Minneapolis. Art Acevedo also returned to racism within the police, and to the funeral of George Floyd, which will take place on Monday in Houston, the city where he is from. Find the full interview given to Europe 1 on Friday morning.
George Floyd grew up in Houston, he will be buried and his remains will be on display to his people on Monday. What are you expecting from this weekend?
"We expect the protests to continue, but calmly. Houston is the big city in America with the most diverse population. So far, the communities are in a great state of mind. There can be angers, but we all love this city, Houston is strong and we do everything we can to keep each other safe.
On Monday, the whole world will be watching Houston. How many police will be mobilized? There's a lot of pressure on your shoulders, right?
Yes it is, but there is also our duty. We are responsible for the safety of everyone who will be there. We have in our department 5,400 police officers and we will have reinforcements from the state and surrounding police. We have the assets to preserve the security of the community.
You said when speaking of Donald Trump: "If you have nothing constructive to say, close your mouth." Is he missing his presidential mission?
I think he gives an individual assessment to each person under his orders. Now we need words that matter, we don't need lessons from any leader in this country. We all need to come together to express ourselves in a way that promotes wound healing, that promotes trust and responsibility, which will lead to peace and reconciliation. We must move forward and we hope that the president will be in a more constructive speech with the American people.
Heard on europe1:
We need to heal the wounds
You seem to be telling the president that he is not helping you, that he is not making your job easier.
You have to know how to stand, we are the United States of America. The Statue of Liberty was offered to us by France, it is a symbol of what democracy should be, it is a recognition of what our country has built. We must bring hope to each other. People who do not want to move the debate forward in the right direction would do better to say nothing at all. Pouring oil on the fire is useless.
The only thing that could put out the flames of hatred and anger is love. There is only love. I hope, as we approach the funeral, that we will be able to love one another and that we will arrive at a policy and laws that put aside officers who violate the oath of confidence. They are no longer police officers. Those who do their job well deserve to do everything we can to rule out all those who violate the code of honor of the American police.
>> Watch Matthieu Belliard's morning show in replay and in podcast here
Donald Trump is criticized for not using the word racism.
I don't know what he said or not, I was too busy keeping the city of Houston safe. The most important thing was also that the people who came to meditate could honor the Floyd family. The family called the protesters to calm down, while no one suffers as much as they do. The family understands hatred, but they also understand that the best way to help George Floyd is to demonstrate without violence. To come back to your question, I don't know what Donald Trump said more than what I commented on.
Heard on europe1:
Are there racist police officers? Yes, but it's the exception, not the rule
Is the American police racist? Why did George Floyd die?
What led to George Floyd's death was a police officer who used a certain technique. Whether it is authorized or not, I will not comment on it. In Houston, we don't let our men use karate shots unless they fight for their lives. There, the policeman maintained his grip while the situation seemed to be under control. While George begged for his life, he chose to keep the knee on his neck, and this is what caused his death.
The other three officers had a duty to intervene and they did not do so. It saddens me, like all the officers in this country. Are there racist police officers? Yes. I can tell you that after 30 years in the business this is the exception, not the rule. And today these police officers are being prosecuted for murder, so we are on the right track to do justice to George Floyd and his family. It will be well received by the African-American community, who saw George Floyd lying down to beg for his life, saw the faces of their loved ones.
This is something we know well in the police when we see the faces of victims of crime, we often think of the faces of our loved ones. If we all think about the faces of our families, it will make a much better police not only here, but around the world.
Heard on europe1:
There is a lot of work to do, not just in the police
Are the police afraid when they intervene?
We train our officers to overcome resistance, to manage complex cases in police custody and to do everything to ensure their safety and that of the community. In our police department, from the first day at the Academy we learn that everyone's life is the most important. Sanctifying life must be the most important thing in our life and in our skin. To no longer be afraid, we must behave like reasonable and measured men. And when it doesn't go like this, obviously it affects people of color more.
What I want to say to you, French people, is to pray for peace and reconciliation with us here, because this anger does not only concern the police. There are of course very ugly police stories here, but there are also some elsewhere. It is also because of the inequalities in our society. There is a lot of work to be done, not just in the police. This moment is a key moment, I hope that we will work to make our country stronger and better than ever.
We saw you knee on the ground with the demonstrators. You are of Cuban origin, how do you feel when the police are accused? Does that affect you?
The vast majority of police are angry. They feel hurt and dirty by this video, because they know that this event has an impact on us all. But this country is the only one in the world, when a child comes with his parents and his brothers and sisters with nothing other than 5 dollars, where he can grow up and become the head of the third largest city in this country. Only in the United States can an African and Muslim son like Barack Obama grow up and become president. There is no other country I would like to be.