Georgia Human Rights Groups Call for U.S. Accountability for Racist Killings at U.N. Universal Periodic Review of the United States in Geneva
Friday, May 8, 2015
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contacts: Kevin Moran, 770-833-7981(c); 770-938-1160 (h); moran.kevinmoran.kevin@gmail.com
Professor Janis L. McDonald, 076 292 02 60 (c) Geneva Switzerland, jlmcdona@law.syr.educoldcaselaw.syr.edu
Interviews with Janis McDonald Professor of Law, Co-Director Cold Case Justice Initiative: 076 292 02 60 (c)
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GENEVA, SWITZERLAND – Atlanta human rights groups to make recommendations at the Monday May 11, 9 AM United Nations, Universal Periodic Review of the United States’ Full Human Rights Record in Geneva, Switzerland.
The efforts by Georgia Peace & Justice Coalition, Southern Christian Leadership Conference and the Cold Case Justice Initiative of the Syracuse University, School of Law to obtain justice for victims of racist brutality, including by law enforcement agents, require immediate action. We make these recommendations on behalf of the thousands of families affected by this substantial violation of international human rights.
We recommend:
1) The US President consider appointing an independent and permanent Presidential Commission and a Special Prosecutor to identify, investigate, record, and consider prosecutions or other remedies for past, present and future racist killings by individuals and groups, including law enforcement members and agencies.
2) The Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crime Act* (which is set to expire in 2017) be permanently extended and expanded also to include investigations of killings that occurred after 1969.
It is critical to gain the international community’s support to ensure that the U.S. federal and state governments are held accountable or at least monitored on their approach to identify, investigate, record, and consider prosecutions or other remedies for past, present and future racist killings by individuals and groups, including law enforcement members and agencies.
My colleague Professor Janis McDonald is currently in Geneva. Moran will join her in Geneva on Monday, May 11 at the Palais des Nations.
Summary of Joint Submission
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1rnhevej26yHo9DDyLReJMjrRgbVgAoeDtxLRE60H2Ow/edit?usp=sharing
* Despite the promise to families and society evidenced by the Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crime Act of 2007, H.R. 23. https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/110/hr923/text
Joint UPR Contribution Summary prepared by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, C1, Title: The Responsibility of the U.S. Government to Investigate Cases of Civil Rights Murders to Ensure Due Process and Equal Protection Under the Law, 22nd Session JS33 calls upon the US Attorney General to provide all the resources necessary to ensure timely and thorough investigations of unsolved civil rights murders. 94 JS33, pages 2, 4 and 11
http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/UPR/Pages/USSession22.aspx
Professor McDonald would welcome an opportunity to discuss these urgent recommendations with you. If you or have any questions, feel free to call her Geneva cell phone number is 076 292 02 60.
