YWCA Lancaster's Statement on Daunte Wright Shooting

On Sunday, April 11, Daunte Wright was fatally shot in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, about 10 miles from where Derek Chauvin is on trial for the killing of George Floyd. YWCA Lancaster extends our condolences to Mr. Wright's family, and every family impacted by these senseless deaths.  We know statements alone will not make change but the situations demand that we recognize wrong when we see it.  This is the least any of us can do.Remembering these lives and these families is heartbreaking and there have been too many. We want this to be the last time the YWCA Lancaster has to extend condolences, attempt to comfort another family and bring attention to the need to end racism in America.  This will likely not be our last message of condolence in this struggle but we remain committed to eliminating racism.  We not only hold these names close in our minds and hearts, we are prepared to do the work to end the racism and profiling that yield these results.  We will continue to lead in community engagement, education and research to create a community that is safe for everyone.  Until justice, just is.Elisha Rhodes, Interim CEO, YWCA USA statement:“When will the headlines change? We are devastated by the fatal killing of Daunte Wright on Sunday night in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, and we send our deepest condolences to Mr. Wright’s family, the Brooklyn Center community, and all those who have been impacted – yet again – by this senseless death of another Black person at the hands of the police.YWCA joins our voices with those rallying across the country to call for an end to police violence against Black and Brown communities. These are not isolated incidents. YWCA USA condemns carceral violence, and we demand that the State of Minnesota conduct a thorough and transparent investigation into Sunday’s events. Those responsible for Mr. Wright’s death must be held accountable.We know that communities of color experience disproportionately high rates of unnecessary and excessive force by law enforcement. Racial profiling and the overall criminalization of communities of color reinforce dangerous police practices with lethal  consequences for those targeted.  We urge all to join our call for immediate Congressional action to pass the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act as a first step toward ending the use of racial profiling and excessive force by police, and ensuring police accountability.At YWCA, we are unwavering in our commitment to justice. We do this work because we demand a world of equity and human decency, in which women, girls, and people of color can live healthy, safe, full lives with dignity. And we will get up and continue to do the work until injustice is rooted out and institutions are transformed –  until justice, just is.”