“In November 2012, Malissa Williams and Timothy Russell lost their lives following a high-speed chase involving more than 60 police vehicles. Cleveland police officers fired 137 rounds into their vehicle. The pair were unarmed”, said Rep. Fudge.
On December 10, 2014 Rep. Marcia Fudge asked for and was granted permission to address the US House of Representatives for 5 minutes regarding the recent police shooting in Ohio:
“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to address the recent tragedies that have occurred in my hometown of Cleveland, Ohio, but also the positive change that can come out of these tragedies.
In November 2012, Malissa Williams and Timothy Russell lost their lives following a high-speed chase involving more than 60 police vehicles. Cleveland police officers fired 137 rounds into their vehicle. The pair were unarmed.
I immediately wrote to the Department of Justice seeking an independent review and investigation surrounding the circumstances that led to this use of deadly force by law enforcement.
Following the death of Michael Brown and the unrest that followed, I again wrote to the Department of Justice in August 2014 asking for action. While waiting on the results of the Department of Justice investigation, tragedy again struck my district on November 22, 2014, when a 12-year-old boy, Tamir Rice, was shot dead by a Cleveland police officer in a park outside the Cudell Recreation Center.
While my heart is still heavy, I believe some good will rise from the ashes of this tragedy.
On Thursday, December 4, Attorney General Eric Holder announced the Department of Justice had concluded its review and found that the Cleveland Division of Police had exhibited systemic deficiencies and engaged in a pattern of excessive force. The city of Cleveland is committed to righting these wrongs through a court-enforced consent decree.
The DOJ’s announcement in Cleveland last week is an encouraging first step to tackling the systemic issues that are plaguing our communities. However, let us not for one second think our work is done. The use of excessive force, particularly when it comes to minority communities, is not a concern unique to Cleveland. The deaths of Michael Brown and Eric Garner are tragic reminders that this is a national concern.
The killing of men of color by those sworn to protect and serve must stay foremost in our minds until it stops.
I am encouraged by the young people who have taken to the streets to protest peacefully. They have finally found something that has energized them to be active and vocal about the change they seek. I urge them to continue to let their voices be heard to keep up the drumbeat for justice.
Having worked in the criminal justice system for many years, I understand more than most that police have a very difficult and dangerous job and deserve our respect and our thanks. Each day our police officers put their lives on the line to protect and serve, and they should be commended for the work they do. Yet we cannot ignore that there exists a feeling of distrust of police in many communities across the country. This must end today. A new era, an era of peace and collaborative community involvement, must begin now.”
Source: Congressional Record