The Leadership Conference Statement on the Shooting of Jacob Blake

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Janessa Sambola-Harris, [email protected]

WASHINGTON – – Allyn Brooks-LaSure, executive vice president for communications of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, issued the following statement on the shooting of Jacob Blake:

“We are outraged at yet another act of police violence and brutality with the shooting of an unarmed Black man by police. Kenosha, Wisconsin police officers violently accosted Jacob Blake as he returned to his three children in his parked SUV. These children had to witness their father being shot seven times in the back, in broad daylight and in front of members of the community who urged police not to use force. This is appalling.

“We implore local prosecutors and the U.S. Department of Justice to conduct swift and thorough investigations into Blake’s shooting. We demand the police officers involved be held accountable. The horrific video requires that the Kenosha police department take immediate action to protect the public from these officers. This tragic shooting underscores the immediate need for a new vision of justice that respects human life, ensures accountability, and redefines public safety — to shift resources away from criminalization and policing, and toward investments in social supports and community-driven solutions. We join the nation in keeping Blake and his family in our hearts and hope for his recovery.”

The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights is a coalition charged by its diverse membership of more than 220 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 member organizations, visit www.civilrights.org.