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Re: Ferguson - time sensitive

Content is strong and good. My assumption is she will still be expected to react to the actual decision--is this being seen as a replacement to that? I guess my inclination would just be to wait (why say two things rather than one?), but I don't feel strongly. I don't think, however, that she won't be expected to comment later even if she does this tonight. On Mon, Nov 24, 2014 at 4:56 PM, Dan Schwerin <dschwerin@hrcoffice.com> wrote: > As you’ve probably heard, the grand jury in Ferguson has reached a > decision on whether to charge the police officer in the death of Michael > Brown. The decision is expected to be announced around 9pm ET. HRC is > speaking at an open press event this evening sometime between 6:30-7:30pm. > I believe it’s her last scheduled open press event of the week. After > talking with Nick, our suggestion is that we consider having her address > Ferguson at the conclusion of her remarks, even though the decision will > not be known yet. That way she can frame some of the larger issues at play > and we can have her on camera. That seems better than a paper statement or > tweet later on. Attached and below is what I propose she says. Time is > short, so I’d love quick feedback if possible. > Thanks > Dan > > > Now, before I close, I would like to say a few words about what’s > happening tonight in Missouri. Like so many other Americans, my prayers > are with the people of Ferguson – with the family and loved ones of Michael > Brown who have suffered such a terrible loss, with this wounded community > demanding justice, and with the law enforcement officers doing everything > they can to protect public safety and uphold the rule of law. > > > > As many of you know, a decision from the grand jury is expected this > evening. Whatever the outcome, there are a few things I believe it’s > important that we keep in mind tonight and in the days ahead. > > > > First, let’s remember that this decision will be just one step in a > process that will hopefully lead toward healing, reform, and > accountability. The Department of Justice continues to investigate both > this case and the broader conduct of the Ferguson police department. The > people of Ferguson deserve a full and fair accounting, as well as > substantive reforms that ensure equality, justice and respect for every > citizen. That is the only way this community is going to stitch itself > back together. > > > > More broadly, events in Ferguson have forced our country to grapple with > hard truths that extend far beyond one Missouri suburb, and we can’t allow > ourselves to close our eyes or turn our heads when this story eventually > falls out of the headlines. > > > > There are Fergusons all over America. Despite all the progress we’ve made > together, African Americans are still more likely to be stopped and > searched by police, charged with crimes, and sentenced to longer prison > terms. A third of all black men face the prospect of prison during their > lifetimes, a staggering number that has devastating consequences for > families and communities across our country. > > > > The United States has less than five percent of the world’s population, > yet we have almost 25 percent of the world’s total prison population. > That’s not because Americans are more violent or criminal than others > around the world – far from it. It’s because we have allowed our criminal > justice system to get out of balance. > > > > I hope that out of the tragedy in Ferguson, we can come together as a > nation to begin a serious and substantive debate about how we find our > balance again. There’s encouraging progress to build on. Since 2008, both > rates of crime and incarceration have actually fallen together for the > first time in 40 years. > > > > All over the country there are creative and effective police departments > demonstrating that it is possible to keep us safe and reduce crime and > violence without relying on unnecessary force or excessive incarceration. > There are officers out there every day inspiring trust and confidence > rather than fear and frustration. > > > > We can learn from these examples, invest in what works, and make sure that > federal funds to state and local law enforcement are used to bolster best > practices rather than buy weapons of war that have no place on our streets. > > > > Tonight, we pray for peace and justice. But tomorrow, let’s redouble our > efforts to turn those prayers into real progress for the people in Missouri > and all across America. > > > > Thank you. > > > > ### > > >