International Commission Of Inquiry On Systemic Racist Police Violence In The US

Above photo: Johnny Silvercloud.

NOTE: This investigation is taking place from January 18 to February 6, 2021. For more information and to register, visit InquiryCommission.org.

The International Commission of Inquiry on Systemic Racist Police Violence Against People of African Descent in the United States launched its activities on January 18, the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday, opening with a meaningful introduction from Kerry McLean. In the four days that have followed, Commissioners have heard powerful testimony from family members directly impacted by systemic racist police violence against people of African descent in the United States, as well as from lawyers supporting their fight for justice.

In the past days, the Commission has heard the cases of (in order of hearing schedule – click each link for video and transcript):

• Eric Garner
• Freddie Gray
• Nathaniel Pickett II
• Marquise Jones
• Botham Shem Jean
• Linwood Lambert
• Aaron Campbell
• Jayvis Benjamin
• Jeffery Price

The Commission will resume Friday, February 22 with hearings on the cases of Alberta Spruill, Ramarley Graham and Jason Harrison. The hearings will continue six days a week for three weeks, until February 6. All of the videos and transcripts from these hearings are available at our website, https://inquirycommission.org. 

The International Association of Democratic Lawyers is a co-sponsor of the International Commission, together with the National Conference of Black Lawyers and the National Lawyers Guild, both IADL members in the U.S. The Commission’s Steering Committee is chaired by Lennox Hinds, IADL Permanent Representative to the United Nations, and includes IADL President Jeanne Mirer, Transitional Secretary-General Micol Savia, Bureau member Richard Harvey and UN Representatives Beth Lyons and Claire Gilchrist. 

Please visit https://inquirycommission.org/ – the website for the commission – to see the hearing schedule, review the case list, and register to attend these public hearings. All of the hearings will take place over Zoom and will be recorded and transcribed — they are also streamed live on Facebook. 

Media coverage about the work of the Commission has also continued. Commission Rapporteur (and IADL Bureau Member Marjorie Cohn) wrote a new piece in Truthout, published today – “Eric Garner’s mother says we must push for justice her son did not receive.” The Commission’s hearing on the case of Aaron Campbell was covered in The Oregonian (and picked up by outlets including the San Francisco Chronicle), while Commissioner Bert Samuels of Jamaica’s participation in the proceedings was covered by the Jamaica Star and the Caribbean National Weekly.

We urge you to join us today – and in the 14 days of hearings to come, to hear the powerful testimonies and calls for justice and accountability that must inspire dedicated action.