The ACLU of New Jersey released a statement today following the release of body camera footage from the police killing of Victoria Lee in Fort Lee.
The statement, attributed to ACLU-NJ Executive Director Amol Sinha, begins with an expression of condolences: “Victoria Lee should be alive. In the wake of this heartbreaking tragedy, we send our condolences to Ms. Lee’s family and community, and join their call for justice.”
Sinha criticized the actions depicted in the footage: “The body camera footage is appalling, and it puts on display the shoot-first mentality of many police officers that undermines the safety, health, and well-being of all communities.”
He further commented on law enforcement practices in New Jersey: “Time and time again, law enforcement officers in New Jersey fail to abide by practices that prioritize people’s lives. And repeatedly, political leaders have ignored their responsibility to hold officers accountable for their actions.”
Sinha highlighted a broader issue involving mental distress incidents: “Police killings involving people experiencing mental distress have become shamefully familiar, especially among Black communities and AAPI communities, who have historically been told they need more police to be safe. As these tragedies demonstrate, our society must move toward a future with alternatives to law enforcement, where in moments of distress, people can be supported by mental health professionals rather than threatened or killed by armed police.”
He called for significant changes in policing policies: “New Jersey must change policing wholesale. That means fully implementing the Seabrooks-Washington Community-Led Crisis Response Act, allowing civilian complaint review boards to wield subpoena power, and releasing police disciplinary records. That means ending qualified immunity and holding officers accountable. And that means not waiting any longer to prioritize humanity over punishment.”
The statement is also available in Korean.
