NBJC ‘Saddened and Outraged’ at Fatal Shooting of Sonya Massey by Police Officer
CONTACT: Jordan Wilhelmi | jordan@unbendablemedia.com
ILLINOIS – After news that Sonya Massey, a Black woman, was fatally shot by a police officer after calling 911 for help, Dr. David J. Johns, CEO and Executive Director of the National Black Justice Collective (NBJC), a leading civil rights organization, issued the following statement:
“NBJC is saddened and outraged by the tragic and senseless killing of Sonya Massey, a Black woman who a police officer fatally shot after calling 911 requesting help. No one should ever be murdered, especially when seeking assistance from those sworn to protect and serve our communities. Yet, here we are again, with another reminder of why Black people, too often, live in fear during encounters with law enforcement.
“The video footage captured from the body cam of the officer’s partner is a harrowing reminder of the importance of activating these devices when officers leave their vehicles. Without this critical evidence, we might never have known that Massey was simply turning off a boiling pot of water on her stove and posed no threat that warranted deadly force.
“Transparency and accountability in policing are urgently needed at all levels of law enforcement. We call for immediate and decisive action to hold the officer responsible for Sonya Massey’s murder accountable. Law enforcement agencies must prioritize professional development to ensure officers are equipped to care for the diverse communities they serve. Additionally, there is an urgent need for all law enforcement agencies to join the federal system created through President Biden’s police accountability executive order, which is designed to track discriminatory policing by officers, ensuring that patterns of bias are identified and addressed.
“NBJC stands in strong support of the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act and the BREATHE Act as essential federal measures to hold law enforcement accountable and protect our communities from discriminatory and violent policing practices. We urge Congressional, state, and local elected officials to take immediate action to prevent further tragedies and to ensure that all citizens can call 911 without fear of becoming victims themselves.”