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Statement

MomsRising on the Police Murders of Keith Lamont Scott, Tyre King and Terence Crutcher

September 21, 2016
Maternal Health

Lisa Lederer, 202-371-1996

Statement from Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner, CEO and executive director of MomsRising, on the police murders of Keith Lamont Scott, Tyre King and Terence Crutcher
“No mom or dad, no son or daughter, should ever have to fear a loved one could come to harm at the hands of those charged with protecting them. Yet look at the headlines. Thirteen-year-old Tyre King, as well as Keith Scott and Terence Crutcher, both fathers, were killed by police just this week.  What's going on isn't right, it isn't fair, and it's not okay. It’s not only breaking our hearts, it’s breaking our nation.  And it must stop. Studies show that even though White Americans outnumber Black Americans five-fold, Black people are three times more likely than White people to be killed when they encounter the police in the US, and Black teenagers are 21 times likelier to be killed by police than White teenagers.
 
“Enough is enough. #BlackLivesMatter. Period.
 
“At the national level, we need higher standards of policing, strengthened accountability mechanisms, and critical reforms to end: Biased racial profiling, police brutality, and militarized policing targeting African American and Latino youth, families, and communities throughout our country.
 
“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. The more pressure we mount, the more voices we share, the stronger the call for justice. Don't be silent.  We must end this now.” 
 

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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.