SPLC Statement on Rayshard Brooks Killing

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Southern Poverty Law Center President and Chief Executive Officer Margaret Huang issued the following statement in response to the Atlanta police killing of Rayshard Brooks, a 27-year-old Black man, Friday night.

Brooks’ death comes amid national protests calling for a complete overhaul of the policing system following the killings of several Black people, including George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Tony McDade, Sean Reed, Yassin Mohamed, and Ahmaud Arbery, by police and vigilantes.

“I’m not only heartbroken, I’m angry — angry that as we protest to demand change in policing we are grieving the life of yet another Black man killed by police. The killing of Mr. Brooks serves to underscore the need for a complete reimagining of policing in this country. The SPLC stands with movement leaders in demanding accountability at all levels of government that stops the killing of Black people.”