Rochester, NY– In response to the grand jury decision not to charge the Rochester Police officers responsible for Daniel Prude’s murder, Jalil Muntaqim, community organizer with Citizen Action of New York, issued the following statement:
“There was enough evidence to support arresting a formerly incarcerated person who attempted to vote, but in a moment where the world was watching, a grand jury failed to hold officers accountable for the brutal killing we all saw on camera. It has been said by many that “a grand jury could indict a ham sandwich” if the District Attorney so pleased. When such an obvious example of state-funded harm is inflicted with no consequences, it gives the impression that the state approves of the officer’s behavior. Does this verdict reflect the state’s values on police accountability?
“Despite the grand jury’s decision not to indict those officers, we know this incident is even more egregious than murder – it is a clear indictment of the entire system of policing and justice in our country that targets and criminalizes Black people.
“For Daniel to have been killed in a state that has the resources to provide needed care to those facing mental health crises is unforgivable. State and local elected officials need to invest in the infrastructure for non-police responses to emergencies and service providers that see our humanity.”