BALTIMORE, Md. – A Brooklyn grand jury has indicted NYPD officer Peter Liang, who allegedly fired his gun by accident, killing an unarmed man in the darkened stairwell of an East New York housing project last year. In light of this development, the NAACP has released the following statement.
From Cornell William Brooks, NAACP President and CEO:
“While the NAACP cannot celebrate any indictment, we commend the grand jury’s careful deliberation and determination in holding officer Liang accountable for the death of Akai Gurley. Our fight doesn’t end with an indictment. The NAACP will continue our work both locally and nationally to secure justice for Mr. Gurley.”
From Hazel Dukes, New York State Conference President and National Board Member:
“The grand jury’s decision to indict officer Peter Liang is emblematic of the type of action we need to see in cases where unarmed, law-abiding citizens are gunned down for no reason. Officer Liang is now subject to the same due process afforded to anyone involved in the accidental death of another. The New York State Conference will be monitoring this case closely to ensure that justice is served.”
From L. Joy Williams, Brooklyn NAACP Branch President:
“The Brooklyn NAACP commends District Attorney Kenneth Thompson and his office for charging the officer responsible for the shooting of unarmed Akai Gurley, and we applaud the grand jury on their decision to indict. Brooklyn deserves police officers who are committed to serving and protecting all members of the community. This incident of police violence and so many others demonstrate that police reform is sorely needed. We are clear that while this indictment is a victory, it is also a first step in what will likely be a long judicial process and we are hopeful that true justice will ultimately prevail. Our hearts and thoughts continue to be with the Gurley family.
