Cook County Bar Association Decries the Slaughter of Innocent Black People by Police Officers Nationwide
The Cook County Bar Association (CCBA) recently condemned the fatal shooting of Ahmaud Arbery, an unarmed black jogger in Georgia. Yet, Mr. Arbery has certainly not been the only innocent black person to lose his life at the hands of individuals acting under color of law in recent months.
In March 2020, an emergency medical technician named Breonna Taylor was killed inside of her own apartment by police officers who burst in shortly after midnight. Not only was Ms. Taylor slain by the police, but Kentucky prosecutors charged her boyfriend with attempted murder of a police officer for firing shots at the intruders (who had not identified themselves as officers).
Just days ago, on May 25, 2020, police officers in Minnesota detained an unarmed black man named George Floyd. Video footage shows Mr. Floyd lying face down on the ground, handcuffed, and no threat to officers. Nonetheless, one officer stands guard watching as three others kneel on Mr. Floyd, with one of the three kneeling on his neck for nearly nine minutes despite his repeated pleas "I can't breathe" and bystanders' pleading that the officers stop the excessive use of force. Mr. Floyd fell unconscious and died in the street under the knees of those officers and the weight of an inhumane and unjust system.
CCBA denounces the repeated unnecessary and unlawful uses of excessive force against black people by law enforcement and call for the arrest, conviction and sentencing of the officers involved in these deaths. Further, the fact that police officers nationwide have engaged in repeated and unnecessary uses of unlawful and excessive force against black people demonstrates the need for nationwide legislative reform. It is no longer enough for these actions to carry civil penalties to be borne by the taxpayers, including the black citizens who are repeated victims of brutality. These repeated abuses of power must also be criminalized and those officers that choose to act in this fashion must be held accountable.
Finally, CCBA extends our deepest sympathies to the families of George Floyd and countless others worldwide who have suffered the loss of loved ones due to racism and senseless violence.
