In his most recent call for social action, Texas Representative Greg Casar (D) made a public outcry for “police accountability”.
“David Joseph, George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Mike Ramos, Joshua Wright, Atatiana Jefferson, Erik Cantu, & more—[o]ur constituents deserve public safety. Our constituents deserve police accountability,” tweeted Rep. Casar.
David Joseph,
George Floyd,
Breonna Taylor,
Mike Ramos,
Joshua Wright,
Atatiana Jefferson,
Erik Cantu,
& more –Our constituents deserve public safety. Our constituents deserve police accountability. pic.twitter.com/0EJNbNrerK
— Congressman Greg Casar (@RepCasar) April 3, 2023
Rep. Casar started his speech by accusing Republicans of misrepresenting “civil rights policy”.
"There is a strategy from the Republican majority to try to mischaracterize civil rights policy, overwhelmingly pushed by Democrats, as bad for public safety,” stated Rep. Casar.
The Texas Congressman countered the Republican claims by stating the need for civil rights and safety.
“To try to create this impossible choice between civil rights and public safety, but I humbly submit that Americans deserve both civil rights and public safety."
The relationship between the police and the communities they patrol is a popular topic amongst politicians. Casar highlighted the disconnect between the two.
“And I know as a former council member how important that is to us who are trying to represent our constituents. That when our constituents are in trouble and call 911, that we want them to get help,” said Casar.
Casar stressed his desire to stop police brutality, stating, “And that we don’t want constituents getting harmed or shot in that process by anyone—including police.”
The Texas lawmaker recounted a particular situation in which a young man from his district was killed in an encounter with the police gone wrong.
“But in my time in Texas, I know that I’ve had many constituents who’ve had terrible experiences including a young teenager named David Joseph in my district, who was having the worst day of his life when 911 was called to help David, who was in mental health crisis,” stated Casar.
The Texas representative continued, saying, “He was supposed to be a graduate at Premier High School, just a few months later. When police showed up, he was shot and killed within moments. Not only unarmed, but naked in the street.”
Casar concluded his speech by listing many deceased individuals who had been shot by the police.
“No one should die in a mental health crisis like David. No one should be killed over a $20 bill like George Floyd, or sleeping in their home like Breonna Taylor, or unarmed and fleeing like Mike Ramos in Austin, or shackled like Joshua Wright in Hays County, Texas or playing video games with her nephew like Atatiana Jefferson in Fort Worth, or shot by police while eating a McDonald’s burger like Erik Cantu in San Antonio,” said Casar.
“It’s clear that our communities need and deserve both public safety and police accountability because both of those lead to more safety to our constituents.”
