Rep. Richmond Statement On the Fatal Shooting of Trayford Pellerin

New Orleans, LA – Congressman Cedric Richmond (LA-02) issued the following statement on fatal shooting of Trayford Pellerin by police in Lafayette, Louisiana:

“Once again, the world has witnessed yet another killing of a Black man at the hands of police,” said Rep. Richmond. “Without question, Trayford Pellerin should be alive right now. He had a loving family, support of his community, and his life mattered. Police have a responsibility to use non-lethal de-escalation tactics in serious situations. Instead, the Lafayette police chose fear over coherence and took the life of a man who caused them no harm whatsoever.

“To make matters worse, we also just witnessed the shooting of another unarmed Black man, Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Thankfully he is still alive but is critically injured after being shot in the back eight times at point blank range while walking away. After the tragedies of Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, Trayford Pellerin, and countless others, law enforcement has failed to live up to its responsibility to always serve and protect. Instead, these actions caught on camera send a clear message that some police don’t believe that Black lives matter. 

“It is also not enough to only call for police accountability. The people of Lafayette, as well as  all those across the country, deserve justice and real reform once and for all. That is why I joined my colleagues in the House to pass the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act two months ago today. Unfortunately, more than 60 days later, Republican leadership in the U.S. Senate has refused to even consider this urgently needed legislation. Without comprehensive action, we will continue to see these kinds of events occur with impunity.

“No Black man, woman, boy, or girl should have to live in fear of police who they have seen too frequently terrorizing their communities. Video footage of Mr. Pellerin’s death is horrifying, and I join the Lafayette community in feeling the despair and rage of seeing one of their own succumb to death in this way. My thoughts are with his family and loved ones during this difficult time.”

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