U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams says he understands the anger, frustration and fear behind the protests against police brutality.
Adams, who is among the most prominent African Americans in the Trump administration, made his remarks on Politico’s “Pulse Check” podcast.
He is 46-years-old — the same age as George Floyd, who died while in Minneapolis police custody.
“And I look at him, and I really do think that could have been me,” he said.
Adams revealed he has been repeatedly detained by police and security guards in grocery stores and shopping centers while being accused of things he did not do.
“That could be me, pulled over for speeding five miles over the speed limit,” he said. That could be me with a busted tail light. That could be me who is just seen as a black man and not as the surgeon general of the United States — especially if I'm not wearing a uniform, but I'm casually dressed in my hoodie and tennis shoes and athletic apparel — and that could be me on the side of a road with a knee in my neck.”
Politico noted hundreds of thousands have protested across the county after Floyd’s death was captured on video.
"I think really it’s why you have so many people angry and frustrated, because they saw that. They saw that,” Adams said. “And they didn't see George Floyd alone. They saw themselves.”
Meanwhile, Adams has said the protests will likely spark new coronavirus outbreaks.
Jeffrey Rodack ✉
Jeffrey Rodack, who has nearly a half century in news as a senior editor and city editor for national and local publications, has covered politics for Newsmax for nearly seven years.
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