NEW YORK (June 9, 2015) -- National Urban League President and CEO Marc H. Morial today issued the following statement in response to the McKinney, Texas, pool party:
“Reports of police brutality against teenagers in McKinney, Texas, are distressing not only because it is the latest in a string of high-profile, allegedly racially-motivated incidents, but also because it reflects a trend of officers exacerbating, rather than de-escalating a potentially violent situation.
“In the wake of these incidents, the National Urban League has called for comprehensive retraining of police personnel, and little else demonstrates the need than the video of an agitated McKinney officer slamming a young girl to the ground and pulling a gun on an unarmed group of teens.
“We’ve seen too many episodes of police treating the communities they’re charged with protecting as enemy combatants. “Save Our Cities,” is he theme of the National Urban League Annual Conference, and incidents like this one show our cities need saving indeed. Texas authorities must send a strong message that this kind of poor judgement and recklessness will not be tolerated. We ask for a thorough investigation and discipline of the officer involved, and we pray for healing in McKinney and across the nation.”
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Teresa Candori
212-558-5362
