(Washington, D.C., 5/1/2015) – The US Council of Muslim Organizations (USCMO), a coalition of leading national and local Muslim organizations, welcomes the announcement that Maryland State prosecutors have filed homicide and misconduct charges against six police officers in the death of Freddie Gray.
The USCMO stands in solidarity with the family of Freddie Gray and the Baltimore community in seeking justice, accountability and transparency in Mr. Gray’s death at the hands of the Baltimore Police Department. Today’s charges are a step in the right direction.
A significant part of the American Muslim community is African American who not only endure commonplace police brutality, but also profiling because of their faith. Like our African American brothers and sisters, the USCMO believes it is our duty to join other community and civil rights organizations standing for justice and demanding an end to police brutality, an end to the structural racism that allows this brutality to exist, and an end to racial and religious profiling, and calling for the demilitarization of our local police forces.
Unfortunately it did not begin with Freddie Gray and will not end with him. We continue to demand justice for all the men and women of color who have lost their lives due to excessive police force.
USCMO Secretary General Oussama Jammal added, “All communities deserve to be treated with dignity and respect and to walk freely without fear of harassment or of being targeted by law enforcement. We understand that justice is universal and we must work collectively towards upholding the rights of all Americans.”
USCMO prays for the healing of the city of Baltimore and for justice, peace, and harmony in our country.
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