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Evans: Tragic Death of Walter Wallace Jr. Must Hasten Policing Reforms – Federal, State and Local

November 4, 2020

PHILADELPHIA (Nov. 4, 2020) – Congressman Dwight Evans (PA-03) issued the following statement on the city's release of police officers' body-camera footage from last week's fatal shooting of Walter Wallace Jr.

"Mr. Wallace's life mattered. The tragedy of his death must hasten immediate policing reform at all levels – federal, state and local. This was avoidable and we cannot allow another death as a result of unnecessary and excessive force. The city has announced several important reforms today and I welcome that. Members of the Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus and others in Harrisburg have proposed police reforms, and those bills deserve hearings and votes.

"In Washington, House Democrats passed the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act on June 25, more than four months ago. The Republican Senate should work with Democrats to get policing reform passed. Lives are literally at stake.

"In addition, I will be joining Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon in co-sponsoring the Mental Health Justice Act, which would reduce violence against people with mental illness and disabilities by supporting the creation of mental health first responder units that would be deployed in lieu of law enforcement when 911 is called because a person is in a mental health crisis.

"This is a difficult time for our community, with this tragic shooting, the stress of the vote count and the pandemic that has gone on for eight months in the United States. We need to do things to make life better for everyone and de-escalate tensions, and policing reform at the federal, state and local level is something we CAN do.

"As the body-camera video is released, despite all of the rightful anger and frustration, I join faith and community leaders who are asking for patience, just as is the case with the vote count. Two separate and simultaneous investigations of the fatal shooting are under way, with the District Attorney's Office and Internal Affairs, and once the facts are gathered and ascertained, officials must be held accordingly accountable.

"Finally, I would urge everyone to listen to Mr. Wallace's father – he pleaded last week for an end to looting and destruction. He said, ‘I don't condone (any) violence, tearing up the city, looting up the stores, and all this chaos going on. And I would ask everybody having respect for my family and my son to stop this violent and chaos that's going on in the city for people that have business.' People have the right to protest peacefully and the key word is ‘peacefully.'"

Evans represents Pennsylvania's 3rd Congressional District, which includes Northwest and West Philadelphia and parts of North, South, Southwest and Center City Philadelphia.

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