The YWCA Central Massachusetts is grieving with the family and community of Sonya Massey, a Black 36-year-old mother of two from Illinois, who was fatally shot in her home by a former Sangamon County police deputy after calling for help from the police. Sonya’s death is yet again another instance of state-sanctioned violence and racialized trauma.

As Americans, we should be able to call for help without fear of losing our lives, irrespective of our racial identity, socioeconomic background, or location. The tragic death of Sonya at the hands of a responding officer and the disturbing video footage of the incident serves as a reminder that Black Americans are frequently confronted with safety concerns that are not experienced by much of the population, even at the hands of those whose job it is to protect and serve.

While we commend the swift action to relieve the suspected officer of duty, the charges brought against him, and the launch of criminal investigations, more must be done to ensure our justice system protects everyone.

At this moment, we must unite to accomplish meaningful reforms that advance the safety of all communities in honor of Sonya’s memory and the memory of so many others whose names we may never know. We call upon our Congress to approve the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, which aims to address police misconduct, excessive force, and racial bias in law enforcement so that nobody else in the United States of America must go through what we are going through.

Let us work together to create a society where every call for help is met with safety and justice.

#UntilJusticeJustIs