LWVSC stands with our community partner, MLK Saratoga, in condemning the murder of Tyre Nichols and calling for accountability. Justice calls for change in the racist systems perpetuating the unconscionable number of deaths of Black people committed under the veil of public safety.
MLK Saratoga statement:
MLK Saratoga demands justice for Tyre Nichols and the countless Black people who are disproportionally violated and murdered by police. Justice that includes both accountability for the officers who beat and killed Tyre, and also calls for accountability for the systems which consistently perpetuate this violence.
Justice will not bring back the lives of Tyre Nichols or any others who have been murdered by law enforcement. But we can honor these precious lives by fighting for a democracy that values each and every person. When our systems continue to enact violence on Black bodies, our democracy is fractured and our humanity is compromised.
All over the United States, people are demonstrating and protesting in the streets to demand justice and to visibly and collectively mourn. This is what a healthy democracy looks like. We stand with these activists as they exercise their right to assemble and voice their grief and outage.
We mourn with the family of Tyre Nichols. We hold them and the families of other victims of police violence in our hearts. May our collective mourning and outrage bring us closer together. We must employ Dr. King’s Beloved Community Mindset to bring meaningful change to these unjust systems, and healing to our wounded nation.
Ann Marie Pendergast 2/2/2023