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Washington, D.C. – Following today’s decision that the Mecklenburg County District Attorney’s Office will not pursue criminal charges in connection with the death of Keith Lamont Scott, an unarmed African American man killed by law enforcement in North Carolina, the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law issued the following statement:

Use of deadly force against African Americans and other minorities by law enforcement remains a crisis across the nation. Today’s decision not to pursue criminal charges in the death of Keith Lamont Scott undermines public confidence in the ability of our criminal justice system to produce outcomes that are just and fair.  Here, the District Attorney’s Office, with the assistance of the state, described a process that established the prosecutor as judge and jury, having reviewed the facts leading up to death of Mr. Scott without the benefit of a grand jury determination or a trial.  Too often, we find that prosecutors simply lack the political will to seek justice in these cases. We will continue to push for federal reforms and the systemic changes necessary to ensure that law enforcement agencies across our country maintain constitutional and equitable policing practices that ensure equal justice under law for all.”

– Kristen Clarke, president and executive director of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law

About the Lawyers’ Committee
The Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law (Lawyers’ Committee), a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization, was formed in 1963 at the request of President John F. Kennedy to involve the private bar in providing legal services to address racial discrimination. Formed over 50 years ago, we continue our quest of “Moving America Toward Justice.” The principal mission of the Lawyers’ Committee is to secure, through the rule of law, equal justice under law, particularly in the areas of fair housing and community development; employment; voting; education; and criminal justice.  For more information about the Lawyers’ Committee, visit www.lawyerscommittee.org.