Rayshard Brooks was murdered by Atlanta police officers in a Wendy's
parking lot after falling asleep in his own car.
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Tell DA Paul Howard and to file charges against the officers who
murdered Rayshard.
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Dear John,
Rayshard Brooks, a 27-year-old Black man, was murdered by Atlanta police
this past Friday.
Rayshard was unarmed and asleep in his own car in a Wendy’s drive-thru
when police arrived to interrogate him. After insisting Rayshard take a
breathalyzer exam, police attempted to arrest him and say that because he
struggled during the arrest and attempted to take possession of the taser
he was shot twice in the back. Those gunshot wounds killed Rayshard after
surgery.^1
Rayshard would still be alive today if a tow truck had been called instead
of the police, if family members were called to pick him up, or even if he
was simply allowed to walk home. There are a number of non-police
alternatives that could have been used at that moment. Yet, Rayshard is
another young Black man whose life has been stolen at the hands of police
violence.
Shortly after news of Rayshard’s murder broke, Atlanta Police Chief Erika
Shields stepped down and the two officers responsible for Rayshard's
murder have been fired and place on administrative leave subsequently.^2
It is not enough. Public officials have an ethical obligation to reign in
killer cops and make substantive changes that will deter an inherently
dangerous police force from killing Black people. We must demand more.
That’s why we are calling on Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard
to immediately file charges against the two officers who murdered Rayshard
Brooks. Officer Garrett Role and Devin Brosnan must be held accountable to
the communities from which Rayshard’s life was taken-- a simple slap on
the wrist is not going to cut it. These officers should not be free to
roam the streets while Rayshard's family and community are left to mourn
without justice.
[ [link removed] ]Sign the petition. Tell DA Paul Howard to file charges against the
officers who murdered Rayshard Brooks.
Policing is a violent institution that will never keep us safe. Time and
time again we’ve seen the inability of the police to intervene in Black
communities without engaging in lethal or excessive force. As of this
moment, Officer Devin Brosnan has been placed on administrative leave,
which means he hasn’t even been fired for taking Rayshard’s life.^3
Earlier this week, DA Paul Howard released a statement saying, “[Rayshard]
did not seem to present any threat to anyone. The fact that it would
escalate to his death seems unreasonable.” ^4 But the truth is this: we
are not even shocked or surprised by the violent action that was taken by
the officers at the scene. Police officers seldom face criminal charges or
accountability for their criminal behavior.
Our people need investment in things that keep us safe. That starts with
envisioning a society that functions for all of us. We must take real
steps toward the dismantling of systems that unjustly harm Black people.
And this is not an issue we can afford for our elected officials to
continue ignoring. With your help, we can demand justice for Rayshard and
change the status quo where Black people are protected.
[ [link removed] ]Tell DA Paul Howard: Rayshard Brooks died at the hands of police and he
deserves justice.
Until justice is real,
--Scott, Rashad, Arisha, Erika, Malachi, Marybeth, Madison, Leonard,
Cheryl, and the rest of the Color Of Change team
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References:
1. "Protest live updates: Rayshard Brooks' widow speaks; Tulsa jaywalking
arrest 'nonsense'; Minneapolis officers quit after George Floyd." USA
Today.
[link removed]
2. "Atlanta police officer fired after fatally shooting black man
Rayshard Brooks" CBS News.
[link removed]
3. "The world is watching. Yet police keep killing black people." The
Washington Post.
[link removed]
4. Ibid.
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[ [link removed] ]ColorOfChange is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black
folks and our allies, and win real social and political change.
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