This week, we honored the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. In these troubled times, it’s important to seek inspiration in his words and his vision – and to commemorate the values that shaped who he was.
Dr. King said, "injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” That means re-examining, with vigilance, the inequities of our justice system -- how it is applied, perceived, and experienced by those across Queens and beyond.
For me, this also means working hard to keep communities safe, while doing all we can to make the system more equitable.
It means investigating and prosecuting drivers of crime, while reviewing past convictions when there are credible claims of innocence or wrongful conviction.
It means aggressively prosecuting those who hold our neighborhoods hostage by selling, carrying and shooting illegal guns, while creating opportunities for our kids to make good choices by helping to fund programs that steer them away from gangs and crime.
At a time when fatal drug overdoses have been at record highs, it means cracking down on dealers who mix heroin with lethal fentanyl to increase their profits, while seeking to expand rehabilitation services for non-violent offenders whose addictions fueled their low-level crimes.
I was grateful for the opportunity to reflect on this work during my Office's virtual celebration in Dr. King's honor. We will continue to be inspired by Dr. King's message to come together, united in opposition to injustice.
