For Immediate Release: August 6, 2015

Contact: Michele Setteducato, 732-614-3818, michele@fitzgibbonmedia.com

Samaria Rice, Mother of Tamir Rice, issued the following statement:

“I agree with ColorofChange’s efforts and support any effort that assists with bringing an end to police violence. We believe that many people nationwide stand with us in our call for justice for Tamir Rice. Our city’s ongoing refusal to take responsibility and indict the officers can only continue to spark moral outrage in the local Cleveland community and communities across our country. We must do all we can to prevent the pattern and practice of unreasonable and unnecessary use of force and the repeated violations our civil rights.”

John Crawford Sr., father of John Crawford issued the following statement:

“We are continuing to relentlessly pursue justice and reform of the criminal justice system, in efforts to vindicate the victims and hold accountable the wrongdoers of egregious acts of violence. We support ColorOfChange’s billboards campaign and call on elected leaders to do everything in their power to stop the crisis of discriminatory policing.”

Rashad Robinson issued the following statement:

“The families of Tamir Rice, John Crawford and Tanisha Anderson have faced unconscionable tragedy. No person should have to experience the pain of losing a loved one to discriminatory police violence, let alone having to fight for justice. It’s unacceptable that the Department of Justice and Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Tom McGinty haven’t indicted these officers and we urge them to do so immediately.

The billboards around the convention center honor Tamir, Tanisha and John, while holding candidates accountable for prioritizing systemic reforms to policing and mass incarceration. It’s likely that no candidate will raise the fact that police kill Black Americans at nearly the same rate as Jim Crow era lynchings and more than 175 Black people have been killed by police this year alone. But we cannot afford to allow this political apathy and dangerous silence to continue. It’s time to hold their feet to the fire.”

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With more than one million members nationwide, ColorOfChange.org is the nation’s largest online civil rights organization.