Civil and Human Rights Coalition Responds to Grand Jury Decision in Michael Brown Shooting Case

Washington – Wade Henderson, president and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, issued the following statement after a grand jury failed to indict Darren Wilson in the shooting of unarmed teenager Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri:

“The decision not to indict the officer who shot and killed Michael Brown further compounds the tragedies faced by the Brown family, the people of Ferguson, Missouri, and the nation. Today’s announcement makes clear that the systemic bias and dysfunction in law enforcement that led to Michael Brown’s death extends all the way to the courthouse. We send our condolences to the Brown family and the community of Ferguson for today’s announcement that there would be no justice for this shooting death or the wounds it inflicted on the community.

But we cannot forget that Michael Brown was just one of many unarmed young men of color who have been killed by law enforcement this year. We must continue to partner with law enforcement at all levels to correct the systemic bias that exists at every juncture of our justice system and causes young men of color to be killed or unjustly targeted and subject to heavy-handed sentencing.

We must honor the legacies of Michael Brown and these young men by reforming our justice system to prevent these tragedies from ever happening again.”

Wade Henderson is the president and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, a coalition charged by its diverse membership of more than 200 national organizations to promote and protect the rights of all persons in the United States. The Leadership Conference works toward an America as good as its ideals. For more information on The Leadership Conference and its 200-plus member organizations, visit www.civilrights.org.