Overview:
• The Center for Social Justice in Cincinnati condemns the tragic killing of Sonya Massey, a 36-year-old Black woman, by a police officer.
• The organization is advocating for national reform measures and demanding justice for this senseless act of violence.
The following statement has been released by the Center for Social Justice in Cincinnati condemning the murder of Sonya Massey:
On July 6, 2024, Sonya Massey, a 36-year-old Black woman from Springfield, Illinois, called the police to her home citing concerns about a potential intruder.
In her attempt to secure protection from authorities, Massey appears to comply with each of the officer’s verbal commands when she was met with an expletive ridden threat of being shot in the face. Seconds later, Deputy Sean Grayson fired three fatal shots including the promised shot to the head. In the critical moments following the shooting, Grayson failed to provide any medical care to Massey and even dismissed interest from his partner to do so.
After two weeks of the footage not being released to Massey’s family, questions about the transparency and integrity of this investigation continue to rise.
In direct violation of the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office practices, Grayson did not activate his body-worn camera until after the shooting. It was only due to the presence of his partner’s activated body camera that the events of that day could be partially documented.
Far too often the intersectional violence towards Black women is dismissed and ignored in our public narrative of policing.
The Center for Social Justice in Cincinnati emerged following the murder and death of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, we understand protecting Black women and girls should not be revolutionary; it must be the standard.
This incident serves as a stark reminder of the need for national reform measures aimed at enhancing accountability, transparency and oversight of law enforcement.
We affirm the demands of the National Urban League President & CEO Marc H. Morial and Springfield Urban League CEO Marcus Johnson for Congress to pass the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, a critical step towards rebuilding trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve.
We further urge the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate Grayson’s conduct for potential federal Civil Rights violations and to determine if this shooting is indicative of a broader pattern of constitutional violations within the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office.
We cannot allow the senseless killing of community members by police to continue. The time to act is now, to honor the memory of Sonya Massey and countless others lost to state sanctioned violence. We will #SayHerName.
The Holloman Center for Social Justice, established in 2020, is committed to promoting equitable and just policing practices across our region. Through policy advocacy, data collection and reporting, and community education and organizing, to advance racial equity in our region. Our goal is to ensure that all police departments operate with transparency, accountability and respect for human rights.
Editor’s Note: The views expressed in this commentary piece do not necessarily the express the opinions of The Cincinnati Herald.