Contacts:

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

CJ Frogozo, 310-570-2622, cj@fitzgibbonmedia.com

Detroit, MI — Last week, Detroit police killed two children while they were playing, Michaelangelo and Makiah Jackson, ages 6 and 3 respectively. Three other kids, ages 5 and 7 were also seriously injured. Eyewitnesses say the police were driving dangerously fast and never stopped after hitting the first two children. A police supervisor tried to call the chase off 3 times to no avail. The department’s policy on car chases requires probable cause of a felony, not just feeling, that outweighs public safety.

In response, Rashad Robinson, Executive Director or ColorOfChange.org released the following statement:

“Our hearts go out to the families during this unimaginably difficult time. The loss of a child at the hands of police, let alone babies, is never something a family should ever have to endure. It’s clear that police are responsible for these senseless killings and should be held accountable to the greatest extent of the law. There was no need to drive down a residential street where children are playing at such dangerous speeds. And not to stop after hitting Michaelangelo and Makiah? The callousness is beyond belief.

“At a time when the country is grappling with how to end systemic discriminatory police violence and vigilante terrorism targeting Black communities, this tragic loss of life creates even greater urgency to implement widespread changes to policing. Independent oversight and officer discipline are critical for transforming a culture of policing that favors secrecy, violence and impunity over transparency and public accountability.

“As we have seen time and time again, police and local prosecutors are unable to hold their own accountable. It is highly concerning that Police Chief Craig has changed the department’s narrative multiple times in defense of these officers reckless actions, despite eyewitness accounts that the police rammed the driver into the children and initiated the chase after they ‘made eye contact’ with Harris. These families deserve a fair and impartial investigation into the inhumane killing of their children and aggressive policing practices that disproportionately harm Black families.”

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With more than 1 million members nationwide, ColorOfChange.org is the country’s largest online civil rights group.