Rep. Hank Johnson (D-GA) on Monday criticized Congress on the House floor for its lack of response to numerous police shootings, including the shooting death of unarmed black man Walter Scott in South Carolina.
“It feels like open season on black men in America and I’m outraged. In fact, all Americans are at risk when bad actors in law enforcement use their guns instead of their heads,” Johnson said during a floor speech, according to a video posted by Roll Call.
The congressman said that “despite bipartisan nationwide calls for action” the U.S. Congress “does nothing.”
Johnson then listed the names of victims who died from police shootings, including Scott and Michael Brown. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has the full list of names entered into the Congressional record.
North Charleston, S.C., police officer Michael Thomas Slager was charged with murder last week after a video appeared to show him shooting Walter Scott in the back as he was running away.
Watch Johnson’s speech via C-SPAN:
“It feels like open season on black men in America and I’m outraged. In fact, all Americans are at risk when bad actors in law enforcement use their guns instead of their heads.”
Evidently Rep. Johnson didn’t get the memo. It’s open season on white Christian males. Ask Bill O’Reilly.
Congressman,sad to say but they could care less."Congress’ Inaction Following Police Shooting "
Republicans see nothing wrong with unarmed black people being shot by police. 50 years ago, the same people saw nothing wrong with lynching.
and what precisely is congress supposed to do? local authorities should be left to investigate, along with the department of justice. considering that congress is absolutely useless, their involvement is unnecessary and pointless. just stick to the floor speeches.
50 years ago? What makes you think they see nothing wrong with it now? All they see is that it isn’t ok to say so.