Press Releases

Miami, FL – Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson (FL-24) released the following statement following the grand jury's decision in the Eric Garner case:

"I am truly disappointed and stunned by the Staten Island grand jury's decision not to return an indictment in the death of Eric Garner, who died after being placed in a chokehold by police officer Daniel Pantaleo.

Again, the justice system has failed yet another unarmed Black man and in this case whose violent death was videotaped, leaving no doubt that this was a clear-cut case of use of excessive force.

I expose children on a daily basis to techniques on how to resolve conflict without resorting to violence through the 5000 Role Models of Excellence Project that I founded 22-years-ago. This program teaches boys how to interact with law enforcement and has paid huge dividends in the salvation of human life.

We must break this tragic pattern of predictability. We cannot afford a repeat of the past.

As we pray for the Garner family, let us continue to wage a peaceful battle to put an end to injustice and racial profiling."

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Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson is a second-term Congresswoman from Florida representing parts of Northern Miami-Dade and Southeast Broward counties. A former state legislator and school principal, she is the founder of the 5000 Role Models for Excellence Project, a mentoring program for young males at risk of dropping out of school. Congresswoman Wilson also founded the Florida Ports Caucus, a bipartisan taskforce that coordinates federal action in support of Florida's harbors and waterways.