YWCA USA Statement on the Killing of Daunte Wright

On Sunday, April 11, Daunte Wright was fatally shot in Brooklyn Center, Minneapolis, about 10 miles from where Derek Chauvin is on trial for the killing of George Floyd. Elisha Rhodes, Interim CEO, YWCA USA has issued the following statement in response:“When will the headlines change? We are devastated by the fatal killing of Daunte Wright on Sunday night in Brooklyn Center, Minneapolis, and we send our deepest condolences to Mr. Wright’s family, the Brooklyn Center community, and all those who have been impacted – yet again – by this senseless death of another Black person at the hands of the police.YWCA joins our voices with those rallying across the country to call for an end to police violence against Black and Brown communities. These are not isolated incidents. YWCA USA condemns carceral violence, and we demand that the State of Minnesota conduct a thorough and transparent investigation into Sunday’s events. Those responsible for Mr. Wright’s death must be held accountable.We know that communities of color experience disproportionately high rates of unnecessary and excessive force by law enforcement. Racial profiling and the overall criminalization of communities of color reinforce dangerous police practices with lethal  consequences for those targeted.  We urge all to join our call for immediate Congressional action to pass the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act as a first step toward ending the use of racial profiling and excessive force by police, and ensuring police accountability.At YWCA, we are unwavering in our commitment to justice. We do this work because we demand a world of equity and human decency, in which women, girls, and people of color can live healthy, safe, full lives with dignity. And we will get up and continue to do the work until injustice is rooted out and institutions are transformed –  until justice, just is.”