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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.
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.
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
References:
- "Protest live updates: Rayshard Brooks' widow speaks; Tulsa jaywalking arrest 'nonsense'; Minneapolis officers quit after George Floyd." USA Today. https://act.colorofchange.org/go/252119?t=5&akid=43209%2E4731121%2E7aKRYF
- "Atlanta police officer fired after fatally shooting black man Rayshard Brooks" CBS News. https://act.colorofchange.org/go/252120?t=7&akid=43209%2E4731121%2E7aKRYF
- "The world is watching. Yet police keep killing black people." The Washington Post. https://act.colorofchange.org/go/252121?t=9&akid=43209%2E4731121%2E7aKRYF
- Ibid.
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