For Immediate Release: August 9, 2015

Contacts:

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

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

Statement from Rashad Robinson, Executive Director of ColorOfChange.org:

“Millions of people across the country are struggling with the weight of the anniversary of Michael Brown’s death and the day’s many meanings. While Sunday represents a day of unconscionable tragedy, it also marks the rebirth of a powerful Black-led movement to change not only our criminal justice system, but a culture that doesn’t value Black lives. There is no doubt, Michael Brown’s family and the protesters who refused to remain silent have changed history.

“In the past year, we’ve seen more attention paid to the crisis of discriminatory policing and mass incarceration than we have seen in decades. Since August 9th, 24 states have put at least 40 new laws on the books to tackle police violence, including the use of officer body cameras, racial-bias training, independent investigations and limits on surplus military equipment for police departments.

“We know that the path toward justice is a challenging one and there remains much work ahead to be done. The pattern of racist violence targeting Black people did not begin or end in Ferguson. Since Mike Brown’s murder, thousands of Black families have lost loved ones to police violence and discriminatory mass incarceration. According to the most recent FBI data, local police kill black people at nearly the same rate as people lynched in the Jim Crow-era – at least two times a week. The Guardian’s latest count for the first five months of 2015 puts that number at around once per day.

“This is not a problem that can be solved with piecemeal reforms. We cannot afford anything less than the most far-reaching structural reforms. It’s high time our national leaders — President Obama and Attorney General Lynch — match the courage of everyday people risking their life and liberty to end discriminatory policing. Why is there still no national database on police use of force? Why are indictments of those responsible for the tragic deaths of victims like Sandra Bland still so rare?

“We must take comfort in the power of the people. Because of powerful grassroots and online organizing, the passion and dedication of the families who have lost loved ones, and the many who have held actions, demonstrations, and protests, we’ve made the crisis of discriminatory policing an issue that America can no longer ignore.

We send our love and condolences to Michael Brown’s family. Their courage and dedication reaffirms our call to action. Rest in power Michael Brown.”

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