WASHINGTON, DC –(ENEWSPF)–July 8, 2016. Today, Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (IL-09) released the following statement in the wake of the killing of five police officers and the wounding of several others in Dallas, Texas:
“Our nation is grieving today.
“I join the friends and families of the brave police officers killed in Dallas in mourning their loss. I am praying for the recovery of those who were wounded at what was designed to be a peaceful protest until snipers – filled with hate, not the determination to win justice – turned it into a tragedy.
“I also grieve for the loss of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile. Their deaths are also tragedies and their families and friends are also heart-broken. Once again, we are faced with evidence that their race determined their fate.
“These devastating events are not just a cause for tears, they are a call for action to make our communities safer and more just.
“All of our children should be confident that they will receive equal and fair treatment. Instead, too many African American and Latino parents have to have “the talk” with their children, teaching them how to avoid harm if they are stopped by law enforcement officials, a talk that white children do not hear.
“We should make sure that there is a justice system that emphasizes justice.
“Law enforcement officials who put their lives on the line in public service should know that they have their community’s support, not that they are targets.
“We must work together in the spirit of non-violence to prevent the senseless killing of Americans and to ensure justice for all – no matter their skin color, sexual orientation, or religious faith. We cannot tackle these challenges if we are divided or if we let hate and prejudice and intolerance triumph.”
Source: http://www.schakowsky.house.gov
