Fayetteville Today

Rep. John Szoka (R-Cumberland) will co-chair a new North Carolina task force to address issues related to law enforcement, community relations and discrimination in minority communities.

The bipartisan task force was formed by North Carolina House Speaker Tim Moore (R-Cleveland) in response to the continuing social unrest following George Floyd’s death. 

“I don’t in a million years think a group of lawmakers are going to be able to meet and fix the problems of racism,” Moore said, The Carolina Journal reported on June 9. “But I think we can make steps in that direction. I think we can see the determinations.”

Floyd died while in police custody in May. In a video captured by a bystander, a now-former white Minneapolis police officer, Derek Chauvin is recorded for nearly nine minutes with his knee on his Floyd's neck, who was black, which reportedly led to his death. 

Chauvin has since been charged with murder. Three other now-former Minneapolis police officers, who are seen standing by but not intervening, face several charges.  

Along with Szoka, Kristin Baker (R-Cabarrus) and Howard Hunter (D-Hertford) were named co-chairs of the Task Force on Justice, Law Enforcement, and Community Relations.

“The recent events that have torn apart communities across our state are deeply disturbing and we need to have a true and honest conversation about the causes, the effects and how our communities can come together," Szoka said in a Facebook post on June 4.