Read the PDF of our statement here.
LDF Statement on the U.S. Department of Justice’s Decision Not to Charge NYPD Officers for Killing Mohamed Bah
Yesterday, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that federal charges will not be filed against New York Police Officers Edwin Mateo, Andrew Kress, and Michael Green for the September 2012 shooting death of Mohamed Bah. Sherrilyn Ifill, President and Director-Counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. (LDF), issued the following statement:
“For almost five years, Mohamed Bah’s family and friends have tirelessly demanded that Officers Mateo, Kress, and Green be brought to justice for their senseless actions. Unfortunately, Bah now joins the ever-growing list of Black men killed needlessly by law enforcement for whom there will be no accountability. We are deeply disappointed, but unfortunately not surprised. The Justice Department’s announcement underscores the urgent need to reform state and federal laws, as well as police department policies nationwide, to ensure that officers cannot kill people of color with impunity.
“No mother should be afraid that a call for help for a child in crisis will end in death. The NYPD must improve its response to individuals with mental health concerns so that no parent loses their son or daughter the way Hawa Bah did. During this incredibly difficult time, our thoughts are with all of Mohamed Bah’s loved ones. Although it feels impossible in this moment, we will continue to fight for policing reform in New York City and nationwide.”
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Founded in 1940, the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. (LDF) is the nation’s first civil and human rights law organization and has been completely separate from the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) since 1957—although LDF was originally founded by the NAACP and shares its commitment to equal rights. LDF’s Thurgood Marshall Institute is a multi-disciplinary and collaborative hub within LDF that launches targeted campaigns and undertakes innovative research to shape the civil rights narrative. In media attributions, please refer to us as the NAACP Legal Defense Fund or LDF.
