The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights Statement on the Shooting of Walter Wallace Jr.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 27, 2020
Contact: Janessa Sambola-Harris, [email protected]

WASHINGTON—Lynda Garcia, director of the policing campaign at The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, issued the following statement on the shooting of Walter Wallace Jr.:

“The shooting of Walter Wallace Jr. at the hands of Philadelphia police officers has left us devastated. Our hearts break for Wallace’s family, especially his mother who tried to calm him as he was going through a mental health crisis and watched as her son was killed by the very people who are supposed to help him.

“This killing must be thoroughly investigated, and the officers responsible for Wallace’s death must be held accountable for their actions. As we know from the tragic killings of Daniel Prude, Nicolas Chavez, Quintonio LeGrier, and now Walter Wallace Jr., the criminalization of mental health is dangerous, particularly for Black and Brown people. We must redefine public safety and prioritize investing in community-based services and non-police responses to assist people with mental health needs so we can prevent more tragedies like this.”

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.