AMERICA’S
CONGRESSIONAL BLACK CAUCUS
ESTABLISHED 1971
ome Sepember 22, 2016
‘The Honorable Lovet. Lynch
m-nten ce Atomey Genera ofthe United Stats
ina ‘US, Department of Justice
caval 530 Pennsylvania Avene NW
Seva ‘Washington, DC 20530-001
one Dear Attomey General Lynek:
x ene an ‘On behalf of the Members of the Congressional Black Caucus we come (0 you today to
E urge you to aggressively pursue investigations, indictments and prosecutions, through
esas the Ofc of Ciel Right aginst any and alla enforcement cers wh harmo il
rates te npc nae Blick en, won nei.
titan nei | In 2016, 173 Black people have did at the hands ofthe very lw enforcement fiers
| Resell who have been som to potect an eve then
(Our citizens have prayed, rallied held press conferences, insisted on beter traning by
police departments, and demanded the use of body cumeras to record the actions of law
enforcement officers. Meanwhile, many ofthe vetims have held their hands high and
cooperaed, yet law enforeement officers have nat been detered from targeting,
profiling, and killing Affiean Americans
Even when body cameras ate wom, the technology's utility is thwarted when officers
lose, drop oF fail to tum on thei eamerss, and the incidents are not recorded. Without
these video recordings we hear the same excuses from police officers justiying the
Killing of Blek men and women, such se appeared tobe reaching fora weapon.”
le appeared to fit te description of someone dha just commited a crime in the ae,”
‘or“I feared for my lif.” Law enforcement officers only seem to offer these excuses
afte killing Black people
tis time forthe Department of Justice to take agaressive
‘appears tobe the targeting and profiling of Afriean Americans that result in their death,
Dicer enjoy the peesimsption nf erediity, whereas vitims endure the presumption af
guilt. For too lang this dynamic has helped to protect la enforcement officers from
being brought to justice, We demand thorough investigations ina reasonable time frame
nd we will not continue to ask our people tobe patient without any hope for change,
ion and put an end to what
“Mada Attomey General, you have the unigue opportunity and constitutional
responsibility to ehange tis narrative. We believe that every person whose civil rights
may have been violate is entitled toa fll nd complete investigation by the Department
J & + Washingion, BC 20815Page Two
September 22, 2016
‘of Justice, We demand an expansion of “patter-and-practce” investigations into rogue police
‘departments andl greater transparency in the process by which the determinations on these
investigations are made, We also demand that vietims have the right to request independent
investigations, autopsies and prosecutions. The recording of police confrontations and killings
by citizens who document these incidents with their cameras and cellphones and share through
social media, have provided you with more evidence than ever before to prosecute these cases
‘an ensure those responsible are brought to justice,
“The Members of the Congressional Black Caucus will not rest until we have determined that you
tre using the fall power of your office and performing the fullness of your duty o bring about
faimess and justice to viens, families and communities who have suffered for fa to long at
the hands of law enforcement. Americans ofall backgrounds have mobilized to express theit
futrage and fear that our country has lost its way. ‘The world is watching and these killings
‘eannot continue to go unaddressed or ignored by our government,
Madam Attorney General, you have the authority and the resources to address these matters. We
Lge you to ageressively lize all that is available to you and your office to ensure these killings
do not continve.
Very wuly yours,
: Maine Waters
Cnt Member of Congress
ongressional Black Caucus
Ofce Waiting “Waite, DC 2055