Statement of leaders of MomsRising, the online and on-the-ground organization of more than one million mothers and their families, on reports that the officer whose actions led to the murder of Elijah McClain has been reinstated with back pay:
“No consequences. The police officer who placed Elijah McClain – who committed no crime and carried no weapon or illegal substances – into a chokehold that led to a series of events that caused his death has been reinstated by the Aurora Colorado police department. Nathan Woodyard will receive hundreds of thousands of dollars in back pay.
“McClain was just 23 years old when police tragically and unnecessarily ended his life. He was simply walking down the street, returning home from a convenience store, when Woodyard used a dangerous chokehold to restrain him for absolutely no reason. Woodyard and other officers ignored McClain when he repeatedly said that he could not breathe. He was then injected with ketamine, an intense sedative, which led to cardiac arrest and McClain’s tragic and unnecessary death.
“That the Aurora police department has reinstated Woodyard to a position with responsibility to serve and protect is an outrage. It is an indefensible, painful affront to McClain’s family and community, to his memory, and to all those who are affected by police racism and violence. This must not stand.”
— Statement of Beatriz Beckford, National Director, Youth & Family Justice, MomsRising
“Police racism and violence are horrifyingly common in this country. The lives lost to police violence are too numerous to list, and the rage, sadness, and terror that causes, in particular to Black and Brown moms, is immeasurable. We need to transform our approach to public safety by adopting inclusive, holistic, health-centered measures that will keep our communities safe. The People’s Response Act, which has been introduced in both chambers of Congress, would do just that.
“The People’s Response Act would reimagine our response to community violence and crime by funding evidence-based alternatives to police and providing meaningful investments to build systems of care that improve the well-being of all communities. It would broaden how we keep communities safe by creating a public safety division at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to support non-carceral, health-centered investments in public safety; research alternative approaches to public safety; launch a federal first responders unit to support state and local governments facing public health crises; and more.
“It would make it possible for all communities to flourish. Enactment of the People’s Response Act would be a fitting tribute to Elijah McClain and to the countless other victims of excessive police force and police violence. Moms want Congress to prioritize its passage now.” —
–Statement of Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner, Executive Director and CEO, MomsRising