WASHINGTON — Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin told reporters Tuesday that race remains an issue tied to law enforcement in relation to the events that set off riots seen recently in Baltimore and other cities. He made the comment when asked the best way to prevent such violent and destructive occurrences.
“We need to acknowledge that there is a fundamental issue here at stake about the issue of race when it comes to law-enforcement,” he said.
“And it’s just something that we are evolving in the right direction slowly but sadly there are victims captured on video tape that remind us we still have a long way to go.”
Durbin called the riots last weekend and Monday “heartbreaking” and said the violence has to end. He believes the problem is not an issue that can be solved in a short period of time, saying, “But there are things we should be doing. What we are trying to do is assert dignity of work and get people a decent income so they don’t feel hopeless and I think that is part of the long-term answer to this.”