County Executive Armond Budish Issues Statement on Brelo Verdict

Cuyahoga County Executive Armond Budish Statement on the Brelo verdict:
 
"I firmly believe that the First Amendment gives every citizen a rightful path to speak out and protest against that which they do not like.  However, the path to free speech ends at the door to violence.
 
For these reasons, I have instructed the Cuyahoga County Sheriff's Department to join with other law enforcement officers to protect the rights of our citizens to peaceful protest.  At the same time, we are prepared to enforce the law to protect the lives and property of law abiding citizens to assure all of our residents are safe and secure.
 
I have been in touch with Mayor Jackson and Governor Kasich, and we stand together on these principles.
 
I pray that our citizens will follow the words and non-violent actions of the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.: 'We must forever consider our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline.  We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence.'"