News & Commentary

In case after case, a call for help led to a tragic death. And because that death occurred in a police encounter, grieving families faced a second blow: fighting an onslaught of police-driven narratives focused more on blaming the victim and suggesting the death was inevitable than asking what could have saved them. That dynamic feeds a false perception that all such deaths are inevitable, except perhaps a rare few attributable to a few bad actors. The ACLU’s database and report aim to show what families have long known — these deaths result from systemic failures across many institutions, not just policing.

Time is running out. We cannot wait another year to pass the Maryland Second Look Act.

The Afro News published this OpEd on March 12, 2025.

Thankfully, legislators are listening to this positive movement, led by mostly Black families, people who’ve come home, and their loved ones. Let’s join them to support the Maryland Second Look Act and the power of people to change.

Since my release, I have now become part of the solution to crime and violence in the same community where I was once part of the problem.

We held a children’s rights focused Day of Action in Annapolis to pass some good bills.

Make a difference to our laws

A collection from the ACLU of Maryland.

Our legislators must override Governor Hogan’s vetoes to create a better Maryland for all.