Scott Statement on the Grand Jury Decision in the Shooting of Michael Brown

NEWPORT NEWS, VA – Congressman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-3), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security and Investigations on the House Judiciary Committee, issued the following statement on the Grand Jury’s decision not to issue an indictment in the shooting of Michael Brown:

“The Grand Jury has spoken. While this is not the legal outcome of the state criminal proceedings desired by the Brown family and many in the Ferguson community, it is important to remember that a federal investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice remains ongoing.  There are also civil remedies still available to the Brown family. 

"Regardless of this decision, the death of any young man is a tragedy, but as Michael Brown’s parents have called for, we must use this opportunity to recommit ourselves to advancing change, so that we can ensure that these events are an anomaly and are no longer the norm.  One step in that direction would be for the House Judiciary Committee to hold hearings requested in August on recent incidents of excessive force by law enforcement as well as other violations where individual civil rights may have been infringed.”

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On August 14, 2014, House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member John Conyers Jr. (MI-13), Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security and Investigations Ranking Member Bobby Scott (VA-03) and Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice Ranking Member Steve Cohen (TN-09) issued a letter to House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (VA-06) requesting a Congressional hearing on several incidents of local law enforcement using excessive force–sometimes deadly–and other violations where civil rights have been infringed upon. The letter also expresses concern over the extensive militarization of local law enforcement.