Davey D. Cook:
So this morning I've been making calls to Congressional leaders and asking them what they are going to be doing about this rash of police shootings? I called Congressman John Lewis (202-225-3801), House Minority whip James Clyburn (202-225-3315), House Minority leader, Nancy Pelosi (202-225-4965) and the office of the Congressional Black Caucus (202-226-9776). Last night I tweeted to a number of law makers, including Bernie Sanders & Hillary Clinton.
In my calls I asked what they were intending to do about the recent police shootings. All of the folks I talked to said as yet, they have heard nothing from the respective representatives. In the case of Nancy Pelosi and James Clyburn I was told they are focused on the gun control issue. I asked how that was going to stop the police from killing our people.
When I called John Lewis's office, I was told he was in a meeting. I left my name and number and asked for a call back. They said they had been getting calls but as yet the congressman hasn't addressed this, but things are fluid and that could change. I asked "Can I request he address this and that he make a big stink about this the way he did on the gun control issue?" They told me they would pass along my message.
In the case of Nancy Pelosi, in addition to the recent police executions, I also brought up the rape and human trafficking--of a minor--investigations with Oakland police and the racist text messaging scandal in the San Francisco Police Dept. which have tarnished the Bay Area's reputation. I asked what she intends to do about these police departments that are out of control.
I was told by the staffer that they have received phone calls on this issue and that he would relay my concerns to the congresswoman. I reminded them that almost immediately after the Kate Steinle shooting at Pier 14 last year by the undocumented immigrant, the Congresswoman issued a statement. I asked "What's it gonna take for her and the rest of Congress to speak out about these police killings?"
When I called the Congressional Black Caucus office, they told me they too had been getting calls on this and that I should check the website for updates. I pointed out the gun control issue is on their website, and no statements on the police shootings. I wanted to make a request that they do something about the police shootings.
I asked them, "What will it take to get you to hold police accountable, the way you want to hold gun manufacturers and the NRA accountable?" Again I pointed out that Congressional reps did a sit-in last week, and will they be doing things around the police shootings? They took down my request and promised to pass it along.
None of the websites for these reps as of this morning had on their front page any statement on the shootings. Hillary Clinton did send out a statement yesterday offering prayers to the family and noting the Department of Justice is investigating and that all of us have a right to live and be safe.
Bernie Sanders tweeted out that a police shooting should automatically trigger a DOJ investigation. That's consistent with his position.
If anything else follows, I'll let you know as folks have my info and request for call-backs. I would encourage folks to also hit up these lawmakers. Keep in mind, the goal here is not to have them do sit-ins, but to have them aggressively push for bills and laws that would hold police accountable and punish them for wrongdoing.
On a side note: A number of people have been quoting Malcolm X and stating we need to take this fight around police terror to the United Nations. Folks should know: Over the past 3 years the UN has been visited 3 or 4 times by various groups and orgs.
Michael Brown's family and a delegation from Ferguson went to the UN in Geneva. They addressed the assembly. A group from Chicago called We Charge Genocide went to the UN. I think the Atlantic did a story on them. We had them on our [radio] show to speak on this.
The Dream Defenders in Florida went to the UN twice; we had reports back from them.
During those trips delegations dealing with the issue of political prisoners which consisted of former Black Panthers like Dhoruba Bin-Wahad were also in Geneva before the United Nations.
Anyone proposing we go to the UN should follow up with the people and groups who went and understand that the UN is not always our friend.
Carole H
