Congressman García's Statement on Adam Toledo

Press Release

Congressman Jesús "Chuy" García (IL-04), a resident of the Little Village neighborhood in Chicago, issued the following statement after the Civilian Office of Police Accountability (COPA) released body-worn camera footage from the police killing of Adam Toledo, a 13-year-old from Little Village:

"I feel grief, anger, and pain. Whatever the circumstance, we must never normalize the shooting of a child by police. We failed Adam, as we have failed so many other young people in our country.

"The video released today speaks for itself -- Adam was unarmed in his last seconds of life, contrary to now-retracted claims by city leadership that an armed confrontation occurred between Adam and the police. Like so many other Latino and Black children confronted by police, he was not afforded the benefit of the doubt that we've seen given to white suspects. Instead, Adam was robbed of his future.

"Despite repeated calls for police accountability and systemic reform, Latino and Black youth continue to be killed by police. We must acknowledge decades of policies that perpetuate systemic racism, sanction policy brutality, and fail our youth. Like so many communities across the country, we need stronger police oversight and accountability as well as more funding for restorative justice, schools, housing, health care, and jobs so youth have opportunities to live and succeed.

"As many take to the streets in justified protest, I urge that we honor the Toledo family's plea for nonviolence. And as we protest the injustice of Adam's death, we must commit to delivering justice and meaningful reform at every level of government to ensure this never happens again."

Source