(Sacramento - March 27, 2018) - Chair of Assembly Public Safety Reginal Byron Jones-Sawyer, Sr. issued the following statement on the announcement that Attorney General Xavier Becerra will oversee an independent investigation into the death of Stephon Clark:
“I would first like to send my condolences to the family of Stephon Clark. This death hits close to home for me, and many other African American families, because Stephon Clark could have been one of my two sons, or any black family’s son. That is why it is important that we find out what happened through a thorough and transparent investigation.”
“I fully support Attorney General Xavier Becerra as his office provides an independent investigation that will reveal the facts. I also want to thank Sacramento Police Chief Daniel Hahn for cooperating with the investigation, and giving investigators the opportunity to examine the use of force by the Sacramento Police Department.”
“As our community tries to heal, it is important that we take this opportunity to engage in the process, that we move past dialogue and involve ourselves in finding solutions. Stephon Clark is no longer with us to make his voice heard, so we all need to make our voices heard for him, peacefully, like so many already have.”
“Finally, I would like to leave the community of Sacramento with this quote from Martin Luther King Jr.”
“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”