Donald M. Payne: “Thank you, Ms. Kelly. We appreciate your comments. In closing, I would like to thank you for cohosting the Special Order…”

“Thank you, Ms. Kelly. We appreciate your comments. In closing, I would like to thank you for cohosting the Special Order on criminal justice reform, accountability, and diversity. It is through these Special Orders that we are able to speak directly to our constituents about the valuable work the Congressional Black Caucus does to reduce injustice and promote equality for all African American communities. Our criminal justice and police systems are in a state of crisis. Too often, under these systems, Black lives are treated as though they don't matter. We saw this last month, when Baltimore's Freddie Gray died in police custody from a brutal spine injury. Such tragedies erode trust between our communities and the police. This problem is compounded by a wide range of factors, from disturbing gaps in incarceration rates to racial disparities in sentencing. We need a system that holds criminals accountable and protects law enforcement while, at the same time, ensuring the safety and equal treatment of all communities. This includes implementing police body cameras in order to promote transparency and accountability while deterring wrongdoing. {time} 2000 At the same time, we need to make sure that law enforcement officers don't resort to discriminatory policing practices. It is undeniable that racial profiling remains an ongoing crisis in our Nation.…”