May 31, 2020 - Mesquite, TX - Mesquite Mayor Bruce Archer issued this statement today:

Today reminded me why I am so proud of the Mesquite community and humbled to serve as Mayor. As some cities across the United States face turmoil and tensions in response to the incident of George Floyd – Mesquite fostered dialogue, not destruction. 

Thanks to the leadership of the Mesquite Tri East – NAACP and Mesquite resident Henry Brown, Mesquite City Hall hosted a peaceful, civil press conference today. Our residents, gathered to listen in order to understand, not listen to react with damage to property – or worse people. There were several speakers including Mesquite Police Chief Charlie Cato who spoke of the training each of his police officers receive to treat everyone they encounter on the streets of Mesquite with the respect and care they deserve. 

Today, we moved forward as a community with vigilance, not violence, to seek change. The Mesquite Tri East – NAACP will be moving towards a campaign to remove the use of tactics by law enforcement agencies in Texas similar to the tactics used on George Floyd in Minneapolis, MN. This press conference was another benchmark moment in Mesquite becoming that shinning city on the hill of which I have often mentioned. Listening and empathy are blessings, not detriments.

I want to thank everyone who attended today for fostering a peaceful gathering of people from different backgrounds – but all with the same hopes and dreams. And that is an image of a country and communities everywhere that treat people with the dignity. I ask Mesquite residents to use today as an example to show the rest of the country, and world, how an American city addresses issues such as this and works together to find solutions. I also want to say a special thank you to all of our Mesquite Police Officers for the dedicated service they give us everyday, including the several who helped make today’s event a success.

Together and with God’s help, we will build that “Love Thy Neighbor” community and we will show everyone the greatness that is the Mesquite commUNITY.