'We must not be silent' — Central Ohio CEOs react to Columbus police shooting, Floyd verdict

A group of central Ohio CEOs who gathered Tuesday night as part of their work for the Columbus Partnership put their meeting on hold to watch the verdict come down in the George Floyd case in Minneapolis.

There was a sense of relief that former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was convicted of murder and manslaughter for pinning Floyd to the pavement with his knee on the Black man's neck, said Alex Fischer, president and CEO of the nonprofit, public/private economic development group led by 75 area CEOs and executives.

"From our perspective, the right thing had happened," he said. "There was also a sense of anxiety leading up to the verdict. It's a reflection of reality. That's why we were so nervous, because of the history."

It was moments later that one of the CEOs in the group learned that a16-year-old Black girl was shot and killed by a Columbus police officer on the city's Southeast Side.

"We didn’t know the details at that point," Fischer said. "But holy cow, it's like a kick in the gut."

Fischer said while what happened in Columbus Tuesday night was still unclear, the CEOs are frustrated with gun violence and what Fischer called "senseless deaths."

"We are not immune to what’s happening nationally," he said. "On one hand, we can only control what we can control, but there's a lot of frustration, anger and concern. It's just not related to last night but in general.’’

Fischer said systemic racism continues to be a major problem that runs through society.

"Any of these deaths is one too many, and we must not be silent on the issue," he said. "We are a great country that has solved the toughest of problems. Let's commit to solving these problems that include systemic racism, policing policies and gun violence."

Fischer said it was smart to quickly release the police body camera video of the shooting as part of an effort to be transparent. He said Mayor Andrew J. Ginther has done a good job of handling the shooting so far, including an appearance on national television Wednesday morning.

"We all have to insist on accountability but we also have to insist on a good understanding of the facts," he said. "It's tragic and it's heartbreaking. We’re saddened for our city. We’re not unique and alone. It's happening around the country. It's further proof that we have a way to go.’’

Other local CEOs reflected on the Floyd case.

"Yesterday’s guilty verdict was a step forward in the fight against racism and bias but should not be confused with justice, George Floyd is not alive," Mike LaRocco, president and CEO of State Auto Financial, tweeted. "We must continue to fight against systemic racism and oppression We need to move beyond words and take meaningful action."

"The days leading up to today's verdict have been an emotional journey for many of us. We recognize there is still much work to be done," Nationwide CEO Kirt Walker said in a note to the insurer's staff. "How we react is critical to whether we're able to make lasting progress. Now is the time to continue listening to understand, engaging in productive conversations and taking action toward positive change. "

Cardinal Health CEO Mike Kaufmann said in a letter to employees that they may feel a sense of relief over the verdict.

"And yet, I cannot help but think about the times our system has failed to hold one life in the same regard as another," he said.

"While George Floyd’s murder at the hands of Derek Chauvin was a tipping point for many of us to become an ally, the events we’ve seen in the months since – the experiences of too many to name – clearly demonstrate that, as allies, we must remain engaged and continue to look for ways to take action," Kaufmann wrote. "We must continue our work to raise awareness of the inequities all around us, and we must take steps to peacefully promote equity and humanity for everyone. Ending racial injustice is the goal, and it’s clear there remains much to be done for us to get there."

mawilliams@dispatch.com

@BizMarkWilliams