ACS President Russ Feingold Calls on Legal Leaders to Speak Out on Police Violence

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Nancy Rodriguez, media@acslaw.org

Washington, D.C. – American Constitution Society President Russ Feingold released the following statement in response to the shooting of Jacob Blake and police violence that communities of color across the country experience on a regular basis.

“The shooting of Jacob Blake and the unrest in Kenosha should force all of us as Americans to see the problem of racism as a national problem. It’s not just a problem in our biggest cities. It’s a systemic problem in communities of every size.

I was deeply saddened to see the video of the attack on Jacob Blake — and for this to take place in front of his children has no rational explanation for me. It’s painful and distressing. I can’t imagine how it must feel for Black people to see this type of event happen again and again to people who look like them.

Violence against Black people by police officers or violence by vigilantes deserves our strongest condemnation. Leaders in the legal system in the United States, and in every city and town, need to put their focus on making people feel comfortable in their own communities. For too long, through our silence and inaction, we have been part of the problem. Now – standing in solidarity with the Black community and amplifying their voices – we must be part of the solution.”

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AMERICAN CONSTITUTION SOCIETY
ACS believes that the Constitution is “of the people, by the people, and for the people.” We interpret the Constitution based on its text and against the backdrop of history and lived experience. Through a diverse nationwide network of progressive lawyers, law students, judges, scholars, and many others, we work to uphold the Constitution in the 21st Century by ensuring that law is a force for protecting our democracy and the public interest and for improving people’s lives. For more information, visit us at www.acslaw.org or on Twitter at @acslaw.