Sign the petition: The DOJ must investigate police-involved shootings

As a 10th grader, Antwon Rose wrote a haunting poem about the fear and uncertainty he felt living as a young Black man in America: "I understand people believe I'm just a statistic I say to them I'm different" [Antwon Rose poem]( -- As a 10th grader, Antwon Rose wrote a haunting poem about the fear and uncertainty he felt living as a young Black man in America: "I understand people believe I'm just a statistic I say to them I'm different" This week, the worst of his fears came to pass when an East Pittsburgh police officer shot and killed Antwon, who was 17 years old and unarmed. Antwon was shot in the back while running away from the officer -- a horrific scene caught on camera by a local resident. His death has already been ruled a homicide -- but there may be little to no consequences for the officer who killed him. That's because even though incidents of police brutality and killings have been rampant against communities of color nationwide, these shootings are still investigated internally, often by an officer's own police departments. This needs to change. That's why DFA is joining with Daily Kos, People's Action and other progressive organizations to tell the Department of Justice to start investigating police shootings immediately. [Sign this petition now to demand that the Department of Justice investigate these outrageous abuses of power. Investigate police-involved shootings now.]( The same appalling sequence of events that unfolded in Pennsylvania this week has played out over and over again across the country. In Sacramento, California, police officers brutally shot unarmed Black man Shephon Clark 20 times. New York police shot and killed unarmed and mentally ill Saheed Vassell. Officers fired 30 shots into Diante Yarber's car at a Barstow, California Walmart parking lot. These are just a few examples from the last few months. How is it that an unarmed Black person can be shot 30 times for sitting in their car or 20 times for talking on a phone when a white person responsible for shooting school children is safely apprehended without a scratch? This is to say nothing of the regular police harassment people of color face for doing everyday tasks, like meeting up with someone at a coffee shop or having a meal at a restaurant. We must acknowledge and confront the horrific practices of our racist police system. That starts with building an independent review process capable of holding officers accountable. [Sign now to demand justice for these egregious losses of life. The Department of Justice must step in to conduct fair and thorough investigations of police shootings](. Thank you for your support. - Jay Jay Henderson, Senior Digital Strategy Manager Democracy for America Paid for by Democracy for America, and not authorized by any candidate. Contributions to Democracy for America are not deductible for federal income tax purposes. This message was sent to {EMAIL}. Click here to [unsubscribe]( from further communications.