05/28/2021
For Immediate Release
Heal the Heart Applauds AG’s Decision on Manuel Ellis’ Case
[Tacoma, WA, May 27th, 2021] Heal the Heart of Tacoma’s Core Coordinating Team (CCT) applauds the Attorney General’s (AG’s) decision to charge three Tacoma police officers who murdered Manny Ellis.
While the AG’s decision is a step in the right direction it is only one step.This is not simply a problem with a few bad officers. Manny’s murder is a symptom of the much broader problem of systemic racism within law enforcement. Systemic racism infects our society as a whole allowing these abuses to happen and fosters these unlawful acts. Until our society addresses the underlying disease of racism we will perpetuate the suffering it causes and its harmful consequences.
The AG’s decision to charge affirms the need for independent investigations to combat systemic racism. We cannot expect to have a local jurisdiction perform an independent investigation into its own officers’ misconduct -- local prosecutors have to work with local law enforcement and that relationship at the very least hinders, if not prevents, a neutral investigation from taking place. The CCT joins Manny Ellis’s family in demanding transformation and that Washington State institutes independent investigations that are followed by independent prosecutions.
Public safety needs to be the paramount goal for us all. Systemic racism within law enforcement prevents that goal from being met. As long as racism exists within law enforcement people of color, and especially Black people, will be economically disadvantaged, verbally and physically abused and killed. Law enforcement has its origins in slavery. This original racism still exists within law enforcement alongside our other legal institutions. We need to examine the entire legal system and reimagine an approach that eliminates racism to ensure justice and healing. The CCT is committed to eliminating all forms of racism in Tacoma.
Heal the Heart of Tacoma’s CCT is a community-led group appointed by the Tacoma City Council as part of its community-wide, multi-sector effort to transform Tacoma into an anti-racist community. Our goal is to eradicate racism within our community and to heal the wounds inflicted upon our community caused by systemic racism. To this end the CCT will host, with other groups, a healing circle for community members. If you are interested in participating, please visit and like our page for updates www.facebook.com/HealtheHeartTacoma
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