By ACLU\Center For Policing Equity
Photos: YouTube Screenshots
SPRINGFIELD – Monday morning, video footage of the shooting death of Sonya Massey in her home on July 6th by a Sangamon County Sheriff’s Deputy was released to the public. The Deputy has been charged with murder and is being detained pending trial. In response to the release of the footage, the ACLU of Illinois and the ACLU of Illinois Springfield Chapter issued the following statement:
“The video made public is shocking, gut-wrenching and underscores the senselessness of Sonya Massey’s death. We offer the family our deepest condolences to the Massey family and we stand with all those engaged in peaceful protest demanding justice for Ms. Massey.
We also applaud officials for moving quickly to investigate and bring charges against the Deputy responsible for this shooting. If the details contained in the complaint last week are accurate, this case needs to be prosecuted.
This tragedy, however, demands more than words; it demands deep reflection and change. Sonya’s death – and too many similar, sad events – are the result of the bias that permeates much of our society – bias that too often associates danger with someone being Black or Brown. We all must examine our own hearts and commit to rooting out such preconceptions.
This self-examination is essential for law enforcement in the Springfield area and across Illinois. It is imperative that law enforcement leaders seek to address the deep-seated bias experienced by too many people of color at the hands of police. Put simply, discrimination by police must end before we see further tragedies like Ms. Massey’s killing.”
Editor’s Note: The Center for Policing Equity released the following statement on the police killing (by Deputy Sean Grayson) of Sonya Massey:
“The unconscionable murder of Sonya Massey by former Sangamon County Sheriff’s Deputy Sean Grayson is beyond defense. After calling for help, welcoming uniformed officers into her home, and engaging in conversation, yet another life has been cut short. We cannot continue to allow harmful and deadly policing practices to terrorize our communities. Elected leaders, community advocates, and law enforcement officials must continue working together to create safer, more just communities – not ones where people consider if their lives are worth calling the people charged with protecting them. We stand with her family, friends, and community to call for justice.”
