In response to the videos and reports circulating of the fatal police shooting of Da’Quain Johnson, Terrance Sullivan, Director of Racial Justice, Amnesty International USA, said:
“We are saddened and deeply troubled to see the videos and reports of the police killing Da’Quain Johnson. Despite reports that a firearm was found after the fact, the footage available shows no clear indication that he posed an immediate threat that would justify the use of deadly force. When lethal force is used against a Black man under these circumstances, it demands urgent scrutiny and accountability.”
“Amnesty International USA calls for a prompt, transparent, impartial and independent investigation and that Da’Quain Johnson’s family be kept informed throughout. The public deserves the full release of any and all information related to this shooting, and the case must be subject to a truly independent review.
“This killing does not exist in a vacuum. Black communities in the United States have endured generations of discriminatory and violent policing — from slave patrols to modern-day over-policing and disproportionate use of force. International human rights standards are clear: deadly force is a last resort, used only when strictly unavoidable to protect life. Anything less is unlawful.
“Black communities must be able to live in safety and dignity — not fear. We support Da’Quain’s family and the Grand Rapids community in demanding truth, accountability, and systemic change.”
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