WASHINGTON, D.C. – Kristen Clarke, President and Executive Director of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, issued the following statement following the police-involved shooting death of Antwon Rose II in East Pittsburgh, PA:
“Yet again, the crisis of police-involved shootings across our country has resulted in the shooting death of an unarmed child. News that Antwon Rose, a 17-year-old promising student at Woodland Hills High School, was shot on sight while fleeing and within second after police stopped a vehicle in which he was a passenger, raises questions of unjustified use of deadly force. We must consider the psychological impact and resulting demoralization, scorn and distrust in the system that these incidents fuel. Communities of color, have little expectation of being treated fairly by those sworn to protect and serve.
“The Justice Department must step up and ensure law enforcement officials around the country address the need to change what appears to be a “shoot first” culture within policing and to eliminate the influence implicit bias and other entrenched problems that have resulted in the loss of too many black lives at the hands of police officers. We implore the Allegheny County police to conduct a thorough and fair investigation led by facts and evidence and unaffected by a desire to reach a predetermined outcome.”
About the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law
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. Now in its 55th year, the Lawyers’ Committee is continuing its quest to “Move America Toward Justice.” The principal mission of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law is to secure, through the rule of law, equal justice for all, particularly in the areas of criminal justice, fair housing and community development, economic justice, educational opportunities, and voting rights. For more information, please visit https://live-lawyers-committee-2020.pantheonsite.io
Contact:
Derrick Robinson | Drobinson@lawyerscommittee.org | (202) 662-8317
