CONGRESSWOMAN SHEILA JACKSON LEE CALLS FOR U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE TO LAUNCH INVESTIGATION OF USE OF DEADLY FORCE BY POLICE DEPARTMENTS AGAINST UNARMED AFRICAN AMERICAN MALES
Houston, TX –Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, a senior member of the House Judiciary Committee, released the following statement today at the rally and press conference organized by the Houston Lawyers Association demanding action to stem the epidemic of unarmed African American males being the victims of lethal force by police departments across the country:
"The strength and foundation of democratic government rests upon the consent and confidence of the governed. Similarly, effective enforcement of the law and administration of justice requires that the community has confidence that the law will be enforced impartially and that all persons are treated equally without regard to race or ethnicity or religion or national origin.
"While most police officers take this responsibility seriously and strive to treat all persons equally and with respect, their efforts are too often undermined by some of their colleagues who abuse the enormous trust and confidence placed in them. These officers must be removed because their actions undermine the good work of their colleagues and betray the persons they swore an oath to protect and serve.
"In recent months, the nation has been repeatedly shocked by the killings of unarmed African Americans, mainly young African American males, by persons claiming, despite substantial and credible evidence to the contrary, that the use of lethal force was justified. The tragic killing of Michael Brown is just the latest example. Last month in Staten Island, unarmed Eric Garner, an asthmatic 43-year old father of six and grandparent, died from an unlawful chokehold administered by a New York Police Department officer who suspected Mr. Garner of selling an untaxed pack of cigarettes.
"And closer to home, we all remember the outrageous case involving young Robbie Tolan, who was shot and seriously injured by a white Bellaire Police Department officer while in the driveway of his home, 15 to 20 feet away from the officer, had committed no crime, and whose innocence had been affirmed to the officer by his mother and father.
"According to the FBI's most recent accounts of ‘justifiable homicide,' in the seven years between 2005 and 2012, a white police officer used deadly force against an African American person almost two times every week. Of those African American persons killed, 18 percent, or nearly one in every five, was under 21 years of age. In contrast, only 8.7 percent of white persons killed by police officers were younger than 21.
"In 2012, Houston had an African American population of 23.7 percent. That same year, African Americans accounted for 48% percent of victims killed by the police. Chicago was even worse with a whopping 91% of police killings involving an African American victim, nearly three times their percentage of the city's population. For New York, the comparable figures were 87% and 2836 percent. Across the country, in 2012 there were 739 justifiable homicide shootings by police and citizens and of these, 313 of the victims (42.35%) were African American.
"This cannot and must not continue. That is why I am renewing my request to Attorney General Holder that in addition to investigating the killing of Michael Brown, the Department of Justice should also launch a nationwide review of problematic police departments and take appropriate action to ensure there is a zero tolerance policy when it comes to patterns or practices of police misconduct.
"As Americans we must demand that the law is applied fairly and equally to all persons in the courtroom and on the street. Achieving this goal is the best way to honor the memory of Michael Brown.
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Congresswoman Jackson Lee is a Democrat from Texas's 18th Congressional District. She is a senior member of the House Committees on Judiciary and Homeland Security and is Ranking Member of the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Border and Maritime Security