Congresswoman Barbara Lee Statement on the Death of Steven Taylor
OAKLAND, CA -- Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee released the following statement on the shooting and killing of Steven Taylor:
With great sadness, I offer my condolences to the family and friends of Steven Taylor. Mr. Taylor died on April 18 after experiencing what appears to be a mental health breakdown that led to a confrontation with San Leandro police.
As we wait for the particular facts of this case, what is clear is that we have seen such tragedies far too many times. African Americans remain disproportionately impacted by police violence, and I fear we are at a higher risk to be criminalized or to be put in dangerous situations during the extraordinary stress and trauma of this unprecedented public health crisis.
We must continue to work with law enforcement to seek alternatives to the use of force and must continue to demand trauma-informed approaches to policing. I support the District Attorney's investigation into the death of Mr. Taylor, and I pray for Mr. Taylor's family and his loved ones.