Prevent Civil Rights Abuses and Deadly Tragedies During Arrests

Target: Christopher Wray, FBI Director

Goal: Investigate allegations of police brutality and unauthorized use of deadly force.

A Michigan traffic stop ends with a 26-year-old man fatally shot in the back of the head. Just a few weeks later, Houston, Texas became the scene of another deadly traffic stop after a 29-year-old man received a fatal gunshot in the back of his neck. These cases have haunting echoes of the Kenosha, Wisconsin police shooting of Jacob Blake in 2020. This 29-year-old took several gunshots in the back just months after the death of George Floyd.

All of these tragic cases came with accusations of unauthorized use of deadly force, and all have potential racial undertones. In most instances, these investigations are left to local departments. As the country is seeing now with the Texas school shooting tragedy, however, leaving such cases with broad impact in the hands of the authorities that often become part of the scrutiny themselves can lead to distrust and possible injustice. The FBI, while primarily focusing on issues of national interest, does have a mission of protecting communities domestically when the need arises. The Civil Rights and Violent Crimes divisions in particular are suited for these types of incidents.

Sign the petition below to urge the creation of a special task force dedicated to investigating allegations of brutality or deadly force against law enforcement.

PETITION LETTER:

Dear Director Wray,

Patrick Lyoya and Jalen Randle: these two names are the latest in a tragic line of unarmed young Black men apparently shot and killed by law enforcement. The reports that both of these men were shot when they had turned away from police make the incidents even more disturbing. Against this backdrop, local police departments from Boston to Kenosha have faced allegations of systemic abuse and discrimination against minorities.

Such cases are increasingly commonplace yet unique in that they stir broad public interest and outrage, and the defendants in the cases are often the lead investigators. The FBI receives hundreds, if not thousands, of petitions a year from civil rights advocates asking for federal intervention in these controversies. These groups, and more importantly, these communities, should have a centralized point of contact and a confidence that their voices will not be lost in the backlog.

The FBI has created special task forces for dealing with national crises like terrorism and crimes against children. In the wake of the anniversary commemorating George Floyd’s death, please give due consideration to making the same effort with these divisive cases that are tearing communities apart across the nation.

Sincerely,

[Your Name Here]

Photo Credit: Cottonbro


5 Comments

  1. Evan Jane Kriss says:

    This BRUTALITY and MURDER is UNCONSCIONABLE AND UNACCEPTABLE and MUST BE ADDRESSED NOW!

  2. Didn’t we learn for the George Floyd murder? Why does this keep happening? We are different colors on the outside but we are all the same on the inside. These situations should not occur but unfortunately they do. Police have no right to shoot someone in the back of the head, or in the neck, at a traffic stop. Black men are understandably afraid to be pulled over. The FBI needs to have a division to investigate these cases so that the truth is known. The public deserves the truth and the families do even more than the public. Police have a job to do but unless threatened no killing need occur. Please make a distinct office to investigate these matters completely and without prejudice.

  3. Lisa Allis says:

    However, in Uvalde when police did not shoot an active suspect, 19 children and 2 teachers were murdered and others were horribly injured. The suspect was also a public animal abuser. You people cannot have it both ways. It is likely all the people you have named were actively breaking the law at the time of their deaths. People like you hender police and make the world more dangerous for all of us. Show me proof that these were innocent people following the law at the time of their deaths.

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