[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 115 (Wednesday, July 22, 2015)]
[House]
[Pages H5338-H5339]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 CALLING FOR THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT TO INVESTIGATE THE DEATH OF SANDRA 
                                 BLAND

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Texas (Mr. Al Green) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I stand in the well of the United 
States House of Representatives today to call to the attention of the 
Nation the death of Ms. Sandra Bland, something that has been widely 
published. Videos have been shown. People can draw their own 
conclusions. But I stand here today because I want to announce that I 
join the many requesting that the Justice Department impose a thorough 
investigation--a thorough investigation.
  Mr. Speaker, there are some who contend that the Justice Department 
should not look into this death. I differ. The district attorney, 
himself, in Waller County--this is where she died--the district 
attorney, himself, is looking into this and has said the death will be 
treated as a murder investigation.
  A person who is stopped for a minor traffic violation should not end 
up dead. I think we should all agree that the basic premise is that, if 
you are stopped for a minor traffic violation, even if you are taken 
into custody, you should not be found dead in your jail cell.
  It is said that she died from self-inflicted asphyxiation, a very 
polite way to say that she committed suicide. Under these questionable 
circumstances, the district attorney investigated. It is said that the 
FBI is looking into it. It is said that local constabulary will look 
into it in the State of Texas.
  Why not have the Justice Department look into it? This is what the 
Justice Department is for, to look into these questionable 
circumstances of which too many have occurred as of late and, quite 
frankly, over a substantial period of time in our country. So this is a 
questionable case, and I believe this is a case ripe for the Justice 
Department to investigate.
  I want to let the family know--and by the way, I don't know them. I 
didn't know Ms. Bland. I have no association with them. This is not 
about her ethnicity, and it is not about her gender. But I want the 
family to know that I am in sympathy with them, and I feel a certain 
amount of pain. I cannot feel their pain, but I feel a certain amount 
of pain because I believe that, if I had a daughter and if my daughter 
were arrested for a minor traffic violation or as a result of an 
initial stop for a minor traffic violation and my daughter was found 
dead in a jail cell some time thereafter with an allegation of suicide, 
I would want that case investigated, and I believe most people of 
goodwill would want to see an investigation.
  So, Mr. Speaker, I am addressing those who contend that there should 
be no Justice Department investigation. I have great sympathy for this 
family--I want you to know that--and I believe there ought to be such 
an investigation. If this case isn't ripe for a Justice Department 
investigation, I am not sure that we can conjure up in our

[[Page H5339]]

minds a case that is more ripe under these circumstances.
  Finally this, Mr. Speaker, I think we have to ponder the question: 
Have we accorded the constabulary the right to do wrong such that 
wrongdoing can be justified because it has been codified in the law 
that you have the right to do certain things?
  I think we have to ponder this question because what happened in this 
case is highly questionable and highly suspect. I say this as a student 
of jurisprudence, a member of the bar, and a former judge of a court 
that held probable cause hearings. I have seen my share. But I know 
that in this case, the Justice Department should investigate.
  Mr. Speaker, I will continue to pray for this family and pray for 
justice to be done.

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