Westmont, Illinois – The Illinois Federation of Teachers (IFT) President Dan Montgomery issued the following statement on the tragic murder of Sonya Massey at the hands of a Sangamon County Sheriff's Deputy:
“The IFT members across this state share in the pain, outrage, and heartbreak with the family of Sonya Massey, the Springfield community, and people across the nation. Sonya Massey, a Black woman, a mother, a daughter, and a community member, should be alive today. Her murder tragically extends the intolerable record of Black lives needlessly and senselessly lost to the actions of law enforcement.
“This devastating event underscores the need to confront and dismantle the entrenched racism within our policing system, a systemic flaw that requires urgent and comprehensive reform. That’s why we urgently call for the passage of the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, which would establish a national registry of police misconduct. This registry is a crucial step in ensuring that officers cannot escape accountability for their actions by moving to another jurisdiction.
“We stand in solidarity with Sonya’s family. Justice and accountability are only the beginning of much larger work that must take place by us all. The IFT and our members stand in solidarity with Black Americans and their safety, freedoms and importance in our communities. Sonya’s life mattered. Black women matter.”
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