Issued May 01, 2015
Today, in response to the coroner in Baltimore's determination that Freddie Gray's death was a homicide, and the state's attorney determination that it followed an illegal arrest and her decision to bring charges of murder, SEIU International President Mary Kay Henry Issued the following statement:
Our thoughts and prayers are with the members of Freddie Gray's family and the community in Baltimore as they process this unfathomably painful news. May he rest in peace and may they find peace and Justice.
We echo the sentiments of the people of Baltimore and those in communities of color across this nation in which these disproportionate injustices have become all too common--the time for justice is now.
The pursuit of justice can be elusive in the face of deep-rooted bias and structural inequity. This reality will never diminish the hope in our hearts for a better America for all our children, regardless of where they were born or in which zip code they live. The promise of America can never be fully realized until justice and safety prevail in every community across our country.