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Statement

America’s Moms Grieve for Sonya Massey, Demand Justice and that Congress Pass the People’s Response Act Now

July 25, 2024
Police Reform

Lisa Lederer, 202/371-1996

Statement of leaders of MomsRising, the online and on-the-ground organization of more than one million mothers and their families, on the police murder of Illinois mom, Sonya Massey:

“An Illinois mom called 911 for help. She needed care, safety, and concern but, instead, one of the police officers who responded shot her in the face. A mom is dead, a family devastated, a community immeasurably harmed by yet another racist, wholly unjustified police murder. Tragically, nobody should be surprised.

“Moms are enraged, heartbroken, terrified by the police violence that too often takes the lives of Black and Brown people and those with disabilities. We are tired of hoping the legal system will hold police perpetrators accountable, tired of waiting for the next incident we know will come.

“It is past time we transform our approach to public safety to prevent these atrocious tragedies. We need inclusive, holistic and health-centered measures that will keep our communities safe. We need justice for Sonya Massey and the People’s Response Act, now before Congress, to become law now.”

-Statement of Monifa Bandele, Senior Vice President, MomsRising

“Our nation’s approach to public safety is failing badly, and causing terrible harm to moms, children, and families and especially those in Black and Brown communities. Every community deserves to feel safe but that’s not the case today. We need to boost public safety through thoughtful, strategic initiatives rooted in providing appropriate care and response.

“The People’s Response Act is just that. It will build systems of care that are rooted in improving the well-being of all our communities by creating a public safety division at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to support non-carceral, health-centered investments in public safety; researching alternative approaches to public safety; launching a federal first responders unit to support state and local governments facing public health crises; funding evidence-informed interventions that bolster community safety nationwide; and more. These strategies have been proven to reduce violent crime in communities across the country and it’s long past time we bring them to scale.

“America’s moms want Congress to pass the People’s Response Act now.”

-Statement of Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner, Executive Director and CEO, MomsRising

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MomsRising.org is an on-the-ground and online grassroots organization of more than a million people who are working to increase family economic security, stop discrimination against women and moms, and build a nation where businesses and families can thrive. Established in 2006, MomsRising and its members are organizing and speaking out to improve public policy and to change the national dialogue on issues that are critically important to America’s families, including criminal justice reform, immigration policy reform, and gun safety. MomsRising is working for paid family and medical leave, affordable, high quality childcare and early learning, and for an end to the wage and hiring discrimination which penalizes women — particularly moms and women of color — and so many others. MomsRising advocates for access to healthy food for all kids, health care for all, earned sick days, and breastfeeding rights so that all children can have a healthy start. MomsRising maintains a Spanish language website: www.MamásConPoder.org. Sign up online at www.MomsRising.org — and follow us on our blog, and on Twitter and Facebook.