[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 147 (Thursday, December 4, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1736]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       CONGRESSIONAL BLACK CAUCUS

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                       HON. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, December 1, 2014

  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, the Ferguson Grand 
Jury's decision not to indict Officer Darren Wilson for the August 9th 
shooting of unarmed teenager Michael Brown is a grave injustice. This 
decision plays into the deeply painful narrative, held in the hearts of 
many African Americans, that the lives of young black men are not 
valued in this country. While this notion may seem hard to believe for 
some, it is a reality for many minorities, as we continually see our 
justice system betray us. Most disturbing about the death of Michael 
Brown is the chilling fact that he is not the first unarmed African 
American man to die at the hands of police officers who were not held 
accountable for their actions. When I think of Michael Brown, I think 
of Edward Garner, Anthony Baez, Amadou Diallo, Anthony Lee, and Oscar 
Grant. I think of the futures that could have been, and the pain and 
suffering brought to their families. How many more lives will we lose 
before deciding to bring about meaningful change?
  As the proud mother of a black man and grandmother to three 
grandsons, I cannot imagine the depth of the wound left in the hearts 
of Lesley McSpadden and Michael Brown Sr. As a Member of Congress who 
represents a predominantly minority community similar to Ferguson, I 
mourn for the societal ills faced by my constituents, the people of 
Ferguson and communities of color around the country. I share in their 
sense of hurt and anger. Our charge now is to harness that anger into 
constructive change, initiating dialogue with our community members, 
our elected officials, and our police departments, to ensure that there 
are no more senseless tragedies.
  We are never wrong for heralding the call for justice. However, it is 
time for us to evaluate our methods for sounding that call. Rev. Dr. 
Martin Luther King once said: ``we must accept finite disappointment, 
but never lose infinite hope.'' At a time when it may seem easy to 
retreat to our respective corners, we should instead seek understanding 
and acceptance from one another, by working together to secure a better 
future for our sons.

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