AMERICA’S CONGRESSIONAL BLACK CAUCUS ESTABLISHED 1971 ome Sepember 22, 2016 ‘The Honorable Lovet. Lynch m-nten ce Atomey Genera ofthe United Stats ina ‘US, Department of Justice caval 530 Pennsylvania Avene NW Seva ‘Washington, DC 20530-001 one Dear Attomey General Lynek: x ene an ‘On behalf of the Members of the Congressional Black Caucus we come (0 you today to E urge you to aggressively pursue investigations, indictments and prosecutions, through esas the Ofc of Ciel Right aginst any and alla enforcement cers wh harmo il rates te npc nae Blick en, won nei. titan nei | In 2016, 173 Black people have did at the hands ofthe very lw enforcement fiers | Resell who have been som to potect an eve then (Our citizens have prayed, rallied held press conferences, insisted on beter traning by police departments, and demanded the use of body cumeras to record the actions of law enforcement officers. Meanwhile, many ofthe vetims have held their hands high and cooperaed, yet law enforeement officers have nat been detered from targeting, profiling, and killing Affiean Americans Even when body cameras ate wom, the technology's utility is thwarted when officers lose, drop oF fail to tum on thei eamerss, and the incidents are not recorded. Without these video recordings we hear the same excuses from police officers justiying the Killing of Blek men and women, such se appeared tobe reaching fora weapon.” le appeared to fit te description of someone dha just commited a crime in the ae,” ‘or“I feared for my lif.” Law enforcement officers only seem to offer these excuses afte killing Black people tis time forthe Department of Justice to take agaressive ‘appears tobe the targeting and profiling of Afriean Americans that result in their death, Dicer enjoy the peesimsption nf erediity, whereas vitims endure the presumption af guilt. For too lang this dynamic has helped to protect la enforcement officers from being brought to justice, We demand thorough investigations ina reasonable time frame nd we will not continue to ask our people tobe patient without any hope for change, ion and put an end to what “Mada Attomey General, you have the unigue opportunity and constitutional responsibility to ehange tis narrative. We believe that every person whose civil rights may have been violate is entitled toa fll nd complete investigation by the Department J & + Washingion, BC 20815Page Two September 22, 2016 ‘of Justice, We demand an expansion of “patter-and-practce” investigations into rogue police ‘departments andl greater transparency in the process by which the determinations on these investigations are made, We also demand that vietims have the right to request independent investigations, autopsies and prosecutions. The recording of police confrontations and killings by citizens who document these incidents with their cameras and cellphones and share through social media, have provided you with more evidence than ever before to prosecute these cases ‘an ensure those responsible are brought to justice, “The Members of the Congressional Black Caucus will not rest until we have determined that you tre using the fall power of your office and performing the fullness of your duty o bring about faimess and justice to viens, families and communities who have suffered for fa to long at the hands of law enforcement. Americans ofall backgrounds have mobilized to express theit futrage and fear that our country has lost its way. ‘The world is watching and these killings ‘eannot continue to go unaddressed or ignored by our government, Madam Attorney General, you have the authority and the resources to address these matters. We Lge you to ageressively lize all that is available to you and your office to ensure these killings do not continve. Very wuly yours, : Maine Waters Cnt Member of Congress ongressional Black Caucus Ofce Waiting “Waite, DC 2055