Issued August 09, 2015
On the anniversary of Michael Brown's death, SEIU International President Mary Kay Henry issued the following statement:
"For the friends and family of Michael Brown... Eric Garner... Tamir Rice... Walter Scott... Freddie Gray... Sandra Bland... and so many others, this was a year of incomprehensible loss. Whenever we think about the beginnings of #BlackLivesMatter, we think first of them, and of how we can honor the memory of the victims of violence: by working to end injustice.
"Today, one year after Mike Brown's death, we can speak of a powerful movement known as Black Lives Matter that has sprung from the depths of tragedy and injustice. It is a movement that continues to grow in size, influence and moral authority, and it is a movement that working people, including the members of SEIU, have supported, are supporting and must continue to support.
"Today, we renew our call for the changes that will result in safe and just communities — changes that will not merely reform processes, but dismantle the systems that uphold systemic racism, from our streets and our courthouses to prisons, the ballot box and beyond.
"Today, as loudly and clearly as we can, we say, 'Black lives matter.'"