Baltimore, MD (June 16, 2020) – Derrick Johnson, president and CEO, made the following statement about President Donald Trump’s Executive Order on policing:
“Throughout our nation’s history, the Black community has been the target of state-sponsored violence. Today, police violence and brutality continue to take Black lives all across our country.
Trump’s Executive Order is woefully inadequate and short-sighted. It contains weak provisions for challenging centuries-old racial terror imposed by our criminal justice system. We can’t encourage, train, and resource our way out of this deeply-rooted problem. This moment in history demands powerfully strong measures centered by accountability and enforcement in order to transform how our nation envisions and conducts policing.
The Trump administration has failed miserably in using tools already available to prevent and address police violence against African Americans. President Obama’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing offered scores of recommendations to improve policing and build public trust, which this administration quickly discarded. The administration also eliminated consent decrees which provide oversight and monitoring of local police agencies to ensure compliance with civil rights laws. Where the previous Justice Department had opened 25 pattern or practice investigations into unlawful policing practices, this Department has only opened one. The Trump administration’s indifference and failure to act is a shameful dereliction of duty with deadly consequences for our community.
Americans of all colors are joining in solidarity through massive protests and rallies to demand a stop to systemic racism in policing, once and for all. The White House and Congressional leaders must heed our collective calls and take the bold, transformative action necessary to rid our criminal justice system of deadly racism that has taken far too many Black lives.”
#WeAreDoneDying
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Founded in 1909, the NAACP is the nation’s oldest and largest nonpartisan civil rights organization. Its members throughout the United States and the world are the premier advocates for civil rights in their communities. You can read more about the NAACP’s work and our six “Game Changer” issue areas here.
