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Statement

MomsRising Mourns Death of Philando Castile, Calls for Federal Action to Protect Civil and Human Rights for Everyone

July 7, 2016
Maternal Health

Lisa Lederer, 202-371-1996

STATEMENT OF KRISTIN ROWE-FINKBEINER, Executive Director & CEO of MomsRising.org, On Police Shooting of Philando Castile
“With Cameron Sterling’s heart-breaking cry still ringing in our ears as he mourned the police shooting death of his father, Alton Sterling, we awoke this morning to news of yet another African American man, Philando Castile, being shot and killed by a police officer. His girlfriend and her four-year-old daughter were witnesses to his death.
 
“Our hearts are breaking but our resolve has hardened. This must stop. We must bring an end to the racial profiling, police brutality, and militarized policing targeting African American and Latino youth, families, and communities throughout our country.
 
“Alongside other leading organizations like Color of Change and #BlackLivesMatter, MomsRising is demanding an end to this slaughter. Local police departments have all too often been ineffective in investigating themselves. It is time for fair, outside, independent, federal investigation and prosecution of police misconduct. We are calling on the Obama administration, the Department of Justice, the Department of Defense and the Department of Homeland Security to investigate and implement reforms to end racial profiling, police brutality and the targeting of communities of color.
 
“Enough is enough. It is long past time for comprehensive national action. Our national leaders must take action now. And we will be watching.”
 

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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, decrease discrimination against women and moms, and to 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: MamásConPoder.org. Sign up online at www.MomsRising.org — and follow us on our blog, and on Twitter and Facebook.