Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi

Representing the 12th District of California

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Pelosi Statement Following Grand Jury Decision Regarding Death of Eric Garner

Dec 4, 2014
Press Release

Contact: Drew Hammill, 202-226-7616

Washington, D.C. – Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi today released the following statement after a grand jury in New York declined to issue an indictment in the death of Eric Garner:

“Tonight, in communities across the country, Americans are grieving the tragic deaths of unarmed citizens. Neither Eric Garner, nor Tamir Rice, nor Michael Brown deserved to be killed, and as we search for healing and progress for their families, it is my hope that the demonstrations in their name will remain peaceful and that their voices will be heard.

“I support President Obama’s recent call for measures to increase trust between law enforcement and their communities — including new limits on the use of military style equipment and new funds for body cameras for police officers.

"All lives matter.  We must work to ensure that law enforcement has the resources, training, and commitment to community needed to uphold our laws and keep our families safe.  Any one of these deaths would be a tragedy, but three such incidents appear to be a clear pattern, and that’s why the efforts by Attorney General Holder and the Department of Justice are so critical to ensure that injustice in any American community is transformed into the equality under the law that all Americans deserve.”

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