Rep. John Lewis, one of the members of the Congressional Black Caucus, says the families of both Michael Brown and Eric Garner should be invited to the State of the Union — that they would serve as good teaching tools for America on the problems of police injustice.
Their presence would also send a powerful message that lawmakers on Capitol Hill are serious about dealing with criminal justice system reform, The Hill reported.
“I think that would be appropriate and fitting,” Mr. Lewis said, The Hill reported. “It would help educate and sensitize other members and humanize some of the issues that we’re going to confront.”
Rep. Hank Johnson, also a Democrat from Georgia, said similarly.
“Those families are symbols of an issue that needs to be urgently addressed in America,” he said, The Hill reported. “I think it would be an excellent idea.”
The invitation hasn’t been extended — but both say it should be, and other members of the Congressional Black Caucus agree.
“It would be good that we put a face to the injustices that have occurred as a result of the criminal justice system that hasn’t been lifted to a point of colorblindness,” said Rep. Yvette Clarke, The Hill reported.
And this, from Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee: “Appropriately, people who have experienced tragedies like that would be the right kind of guests to have.”
Brown was shot and killed in an Aug. 9 altercation with Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson. Garner died after being put in a chokehold by New York police officer Daniel Pantaleo. Neither officer was indicted by grand juries.
https://thehill.com/homenews/house/226087-black-lawmakers-want-brown-garner-families-invited-to-state-of-the-union
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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