Skip to content
CapRadio

CapRadio

signal status listen live donate
listen live donate signal status
listen live donate signal status
  • News
    • topics
    • State Government
    • Environment
    • Health Care
    • Race and Equity
    • Business
    • Arts and Lifestyle
    • Food and Sustainability
    • PolitiFact California
  • Music
    • genres
    • Classical
    • Jazz
    • Eclectic
    • Daily Playlist
  • Programs + Podcasts
    • news
    • Morning Edition
    • All Things Considered
    • Marketplace
    • Insight With Vicki Gonzalez
    • music
    • Acid Jazz
    • At the Opera
    • Classical Music
    • Connections
    • Excellence in Jazz
    • Hey, Listen!
    • K-ZAP on CapRadio
    • Mick Martin's Blues Party
    • Programs A-Z
    • Podcast Directory
  • Schedules
    • News
    • Music
    • ClassicalStream
    • JazzStream
    • Weekly Schedule
    • Daily Playlist
  • Community
    • Events Calendar
    • CapRadio Garden
    • CapRadio Reads
    • Ticket Giveaways
  • Support
    • Evergreen Gift
    • One-Time Gift
    • Corporate Support
    • Vehicle Donation
    • Stock Gift
    • Legacy Gift
    • Endowment Gift
    • Benefits
    • Member FAQ
    • e‑Newsletter
    • Drawing Winners
    • Thank You Gifts
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Close Menu
 We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter 
 We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter 
  • State Government
  •  

Newsom: ‘The Black Community Is Not Responsible For What Is Happening’

  •  Nicole Nixon 
Monday, June 1, 2020 | Sacramento, CA
Listen
/
download audio
Update RequiredTo play audio, update browser or Flash plugin.
Rich Pedroncelli / AP Photo

In this Monday April 6, 2020 file photo, Gov. Gavin Newsom discusses the acquisition of the Sleep Train Arena for use as a field hospital, after touring the facility, in Sacramento, Calif.

Rich Pedroncelli / AP Photo

Following a weekend of riots and protests across California and the country, Gov. Gavin Newsom resolved to “do better” for black Californians to address systemic racism. 

“The black community is not responsible for what is happening in this country right now,” Newsom said. “We are. Our institutions are responsible.”

Newsom did not propose specific changes, but promised protestors and black Americans he had heard their anger and frustration and committed to “own up to our own responsibility” to respond accordingly. 

“Program passing [is] not problem solving,” he cautioned. “You gotta change hearts, minds, you gotta change culture — not just laws.”

Newsom held his press conference Monday at the Genesis Church in Sacramento, where he met with pastor Dr. Tecoy Porter and other community leaders earlier Monday to discuss what Porter called “the double pandemic” of COVID-19 and racism. 

The governor said leaders including himself “have been paying lip service” to African American communities “for generations.”

“We indulge on the margins but we don’t systemically, foundationally, address the root of these issues,” he said. “We prune. We don’t tear out the institutional racism from all of our institutions, large and small.”

“You matter,” Newsom said to demonstrators. “You’re right to feel the way you are feeling. We as a society have a responsibility to you to be better and to do better.”

But the Democratic governor condemned violence and property damage as “not serving the greater good.”

“The looting, the violence, the threats against fellow human beings  —  that has no place in this state and in this nation,” he said. 

The governor said more than 4,500 California National Guard troops were ready to deploy to cities and counties that request assistance preventing violence, vandalism and theft.

Over the weekend, Newsom activated the National Guard to respond to violence in Los Angeles. He said troops would be held back until they are requested by local leaders. Sending in the National Guard “without collaboration” is “a recipe for more problems,” Newsom said. 

Newsom also dismissed a call with President Donald Trump and other governors earlier Monday as “noise.”

“I have a choice,” he said. “I could be part of the daily back-and-forth in the news cycle and to continue to perpetuate the problems in this country ... or I could choose to focus a message that I think is so much more powerful.” 

Watch live at 12:30 p.m. as California Gov. Gavin Newsom gives an update on demonstrations across the state and on the state's continued response to COVID-19.


Follow us for more stories like this

CapRadio provides a trusted source of news because of you.  As a nonprofit organization, donations from people like you sustain the journalism that allows us to discover stories that are important to our audience. If you believe in what we do and support our mission, please donate today.

Donate Today  

    More about Coronavirus

  • NIAID-RML via AP

    Coronavirus In California: Latest Updates And Resources

    The coronavirus has impacted nearly every aspect of life in California and around the world. Here are resources and all our coverage at CapRadio and NPR.

    More about George Floyd

  • Andrew Nixon / CapRadio

    Background: The Killing Of George Floyd, Trial Of Derek Chauvin

    The death of George Floyd — who died after being restrained by Minneapolis police in 2020 — sparked nationwide protest, including in Sacramento. Former police officer Derek Chauvin is on trial for Floyd's murder, with a verdict expected soon.

 CoronavirusGeorge Floyd

Andrew Nixon / CapRadio

Nicole Nixon

Politics Reporter

Nicole covers politics and government for CapRadio. Before moving to California, she won several awards, including a regional Edward R. Murrow Award, for her political reporting in her hometown of Salt Lake City.  Read Full Bio 

 @_Nixo Email Nicole Nixon

Sign up for ReCap and never miss the top stories

Delivered to your inbox every Friday.

 

Check out a sample ReCap newsletter.

Thanks for subscribing!

Thank you for signing up for the ReCap newsletter! We'll send you an email each Friday with the top stories from CapRadio.

Browse all newsletters

More State Government Stories

Rich Pedroncelli / AP Photo

California unemployment program too focused on fraud, failed to timely provide hundreds of millions of dollars, report finds

August 8, 2022

Andrew Nixon / CapRadio

In California, abortion could become a constitutional right. So could birth control.

August 7, 2022

Most Viewed

A California man’s ‘painful and terrifying’ road to a monkeypox diagnosis

North Sacramento residents push back on affordable housing, say city ‘dumping’ homelessness solutions in neighborhood

Northern California wildfires: Where to find updates on air quality, evacuations, and official information

Abortion is still legal in California. Here are answers to questions about access in the state.

New variants, wastewater data, long COVID: What Sacramento region experts are watching

We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter

Most Viewed

A California man’s ‘painful and terrifying’ road to a monkeypox diagnosis

North Sacramento residents push back on affordable housing, say city ‘dumping’ homelessness solutions in neighborhood

Northern California wildfires: Where to find updates on air quality, evacuations, and official information

Abortion is still legal in California. Here are answers to questions about access in the state.

New variants, wastewater data, long COVID: What Sacramento region experts are watching

Back to Top

  • CapRadio

    7055 Folsom Boulevard
    Sacramento, CA 95826-2625

    • (916) 278-8900
    • Toll-free (877) 480-5900
    • Email Us
    • Submit a News Tip
  • Contact Us

  • About Us

    • Contact Us / Feedback
    • Coverage
    • Directions
    • Careers & Internships
    • Mission / Vision / Core Values
    • Press
    • Staff Directory
    • Board of Directors
  • Listening Options

    • Mobile App
    • On Air Schedules
    • Smart Speakers
    • Playlist
    • Podcasts
    • RSS
  • Connect With Us

    •  Facebook
    •  Twitter
    •  Instagram
    •  YouTube
  • Donate

  • Listen

  • Newsletters

CapRadio stations are licensed to California State University, Sacramento. © 2022, Capital Public Radio. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Website Feedback FCC Public Files: KXJZ KKTO KUOP KQNC KXPR KXSR KXJS. For assistance accessing our public files, please call 916-278-8900 or email us.