On June 2, Montgomery County Commissioner Joseph G. Gale issued this statement criticizing recent protests against police brutality. Commissioners Valerie A. Arkoosh and Kenneth E. Lawrence, Jr. issued a response, which you can see here, denouncing Commissioner Gale's statement. The Sierra Club Southeastern PA Group issues this in response:

The Sierra Club Southeastern PA Group is shocked to see the remarks from Montgomery County Commissioner Joseph Gale regarding the protests in the region in response to the recent killings of black people across the U.S. and would like to take this moment to reaffirm the value of black lives and the right to demonstrate, in Philadelphia and beyond.

Commissioner Gale has demonstrated an open hostility to the public and a total lack of understanding and compassion for black communities, disqualifying traits for any public servant.

The Sierra Club will continue to uphold our mission to fight for safe and livable communities for all people — a vision that is undermined by the inhumane, daily assaults on black people in the U.S. and by statements like that of Commissioner Gale — and we acknowledge and support people who have taken to the streets to highlight police abuses and the countless failures of our society and government to value black lives.

Jim Wylie, Sierra Club, Southeastern PA Group Chair

Tom Torres, Sierra Club, Pennsylvania Chapter Director