BALTIMORE, MD – On Wednesday, July 29th, University of Cincinnati Police Officer Ray Tensing was indicted on a murder charge for fatally shooting Samuel DuBose, an unarmed African American man, during a traffic stop on July 19th. Subsequently, the NAACP has released the following statement.
From Cornell William Brooks, NAACP President and CEO:
“Hamilton County’s grand jury decision to indict University of Cincinnati Police Officer Ray Tensing for the shooting death of 43-year-old Samuel DuBose during a routine traffic stop speaks with tragic clarity to the type of action needed in cases where unarmed citizens are met with excessive and too often times fatal force. Our heartfelt prayers and deepest sympathies go out to the family of Mr. DuBose, who was the father of 10 children. While this indictment is encouraging, it is only a first step in what will likely be a long judicial process. The NAACP and our Ohio State Conference will be closely monitoring the proceedings as we continue to seek justice for Mr. DuBose and his family. Unarmed, law-abiding citizens should be able to survive a routine traffic stop with the police. At a moment when we mark our collective calendars with a criminal justice tragedy seemingly every day, the NAACP is soon to embark on its most ambitious and innovative crusade yet — America’s Journey for Justice. This historic 860 mile march from Selma, Alabama to Washington, D.C., which begins on August 1st, demands that our nation fix its broken criminal justice system. We march because our lives matter. The NAACP will not stand down until accountability and justice in cases of police misconduct are served for Mr. DuBose and the countless other men and women who have been the victims of excessive force.”
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Founded in 1909, the NAACP is the nation’s oldest and largest nonpartisan civil rights organization. Its members throughout the United States and the world are the premier advocates for civil rights in their communities. You can read more about the NAACP’s work and our five “Game Changer” issue areas here.
