The callous May 25, 2020, murder of George Floyd, an unarmed Black man, by a White Minneapolis police officer — and the attention it focused on many similar cases — sparked one of the longest periods of social unrest since protests against the Vietnam War in 1970. The anti-war movement shaped a generation of politicians and the nation itself.
The blowback from activists was immediate, especially toward Mayor Todd Gloria, who supported the plan. They repeatedly cited anGloria wrote for The San Diego Union-Tribune shortly after Floyd’s death that criticized “excessive” and “invasive” surveillance. Seth Hall, one of the TRUST SD coalition’s leaders, told a U-T editorial writer that Gloria’s legislative history and past statements go against his current position.
So is broad surveillance not “excessive” if its uses are made clear ahead of time? No activist is likely to buy that. Are police so untrustworthy that extensive rules are crucial to keep them from being a negative force in the community? No police supporter is likely to buy that.
In a job full of challenges, this is one of the most daunting issues Gloria faces — especially if viewed from the perspectives of the most impassioned observers. If activists or police union members feel he has betrayed them, that sentiment is unlikely to fade. But the mayor, who is running for re-election, has a chance to find a balance in this debate that resonates with a lot of San Diegans.