Congresswoman Lee Statement Marking the 10th Anniversary of Oscar Grant's Passing
Oakland, CA – Congresswoman Lee released the following statement marking the 10th anniversary of Oscar Grant’s death:
“Ten years ago, Oscar Grant was tragically and needlessly killed by an officer at the Fruitvale BART station.
“Oscar was a beloved member of our East Bay community. He was a loving father, a loyal friend, and a kind neighbor. My heart is with his family, friends, and loved ones who are missing him dearly today.
“Over the last decade, communities like mine have lost far too many black men to police violence. Since Oscar’s passing, the list of young African American men killed by police officers has grown even longer, from Michael Brown, to Tamir Rice, to Eric Garner, to Mario Woods here in the Bay Area and Stephon Clark in Sacramento.
Let me be clear: the majority of our nation’s police officers serve our communities with compassion and sensitivity. Still, a decade after Oscar’s passing, black and brown people – especially African American men – remain disproportionately impacted by police violence.
“Today, I join our community in mourning Oscar Grant and remembering his life. I pray for his family and his loved ones who are still grieving. And I pledge to honor his memory by fighting for police reforms that empower our communities and repair the broken trust between our police departments and the communities they serve.”
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Today, Congresswoman Lee penned an op-ed in the San Francisco Chronicle reflecting on Grant and the work left to do to make our justice system fairer for all. Read the full article here.