Press Releases

Today, the Chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus, Congressman Cedric L. Richmond (D-LA-02), released the following statement on the Trump Justice Department’s decision to gut the Collaborative Reform Initiative of the DOJ COPS Office, a federal program that reviews, grades, and monitors how well police departments interact with the communities they serve.  

“This is yet another example of what the black community has to lose under this administration.

“In the midst of protests in St. Louis, Mo., in response to the acquittal of a cop who killed a 24-year-old African-American man, the Trump Justice Department is gutting an important federal program that is focused on restoring trust between communities and police departments and monitoring progress in this area.

“This decision is wrong, reckless, insensitive, and immature. It also further divides police departments and communities – rich and poor, black and white.”

“The CBC is not surprised by this decision or any other decision by the Trump Justice Department that disproportionately leaves people of color less safe and more likely to be incarcerated. Today and every day the Trump Justice Department shows Americans that it is not committed to the Department’s most important responsibility: justice.”