Statement from Al Sharpton by U.S. Police Chief Group for Historical Mistreatment of Communities of Color

For Immediate Release
Contact: Rachel Noerdlinger/212.681-1380
rnoerdinger@mercuryllc.com

New York, NY (Monday, October 17, 2016) – Rev. Al Sharpton, founder and president of National Action Network (NAN) welcomed the apology by the president of America’s largest police organization on Monday for recognizing the historically unfair treatment by law enforcement on communities of color but wants his words backed by action.

As a preacher and founder of the National Action Network, Rev. Al Sharpton is keenly aware of the power of words but knows they are meaningless if nothing changes. His organization has fought for justice on police misconduct cases across the country since 1991 and the theme of his work is turning demonstration into legislation. His hope after hearing the words of Terrence M. Cunningham, the chief of police in Wellesley, Mass. who delivered his remarks at the convention in San Diego of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, is that he will urge officers around the United States to back his words up with action and legislation to protect communities of color from the onslaught of police misconduct that has disturbed the country.

NAN is fighting police misconduct cases ranging from the Eric Garner case in New York to the Terrence Crutcher case in Tulsa and words are important but action is integral.

Follow Rev. Al Sharpton on Twitter: www.twitter.com/TheRevAl