We are horrified by the senseless killing of Tyre Nichols at the hands of Memphis police officers, not only for the extreme brutality on display, but also because police acts of violence are an all too common phenomenon in our country today.
2022 was the highest year on record for individuals killed by police: more than 1192 people lost their lives. And Black people were 26% of those killed by police in 2022 despite being only 13% of the population.
We must end the corrupt policing system that continues to produce these horrific acts of violence, disproportionately harming Black Americans. As an organization, we join the call to end pretextual traffic stops, and for the Federal Departments on Transportation and Justice to use their authority to hold responsible parties to account.
Lawyers for Good Government (L4GG) remains committed to the fight for racial justice. Last year, we produced a report documenting the ways in which police officers in school settings regularly commit abuses against children and are protected from being held accountable by our nation’s qualified immunity laws. Regardless of whether an officer is in a school setting or conducting a traffic stop, police officers must never be allowed to abuse the power conferred on them by the government - and when they do abuse that power, they must be held accountable. L4GG will continue to stand with and work alongside communities most directly impacted by systemic racism and oppression.