Hi John,
I want to be very clear with you about where I stand: Black lives matter. No person should live in a state of constant fear -- that’s why I am committed to continuing to learn from you, fight for and alongside you, and do my part to see justice through.
The violence, trauma, and heartbreak that we’ve witnessed in the last several days demands justice, and we must demand change. The anger and despair sweeping through every city is not new -- this pain caused by racism, brutality, injustice, and inaction has been rooted in our nation’s founding.
George Floyd should be alive today. Breonna Taylor should be alive today. Ahmaud Arbery should be alive today. Tony McDade should be alive today.
Enough is enough. I wanted to share with you the work I am doing alongside my colleagues on the House Judiciary and in Congress to take action and demand justice.
In the House Judiciary Committee, my colleagues and I have called for the DOJ and FBI to investigate these killings. We will be holding a hearing this week, on June 10, on police brutality as we work to draft legislation to change the system and hold our law enforcement accountable. I will do all that I can until we have provided oversight, found answers, and introduced new legislation that will protect Black Americans in our district and across the country.
I am joining my colleagues to hold our law enforcement accountable and demand changes to policing practices. I have signed onto various pieces of legislation, including the following:
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Justice in Policing Act
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Rep. Hakeem Jeffries’ Eric Garner Excessive Use of Force Prevention Act
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Rep. Joe Kennedy’s bill to ensure right to counsel in civil proceedings
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Rep. Ayanna Pressley and Rep. Ilhan Omar’s resolution to condemn all acts of police brutality
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Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee’s Law Enforcement Trust and Integrity Act of 2020
We have also sent several letters of inquiry to the DOJ, including calling for a special prosecutor to investigate the AG’s authorization of the attack on protestors in Washington, DC.
We have work to do, and this work will take each and every one of us. I am asking you to join me in this fight.
Thank you, and stay safe,
Mary Gay
