Dem Rep. Slams Congress’ Inaction Following Police Shooting Deaths

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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:

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