Today, almost 20 months after the homicide of Alton Sterling in Baton Rouge, Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry announced that the state will not bring charges against the two police officers responsible for Sterling’s death. Justice has been denied yet again, as law enforcement officials are consistently not held accountable for the violence and brutality raged against Black men and boys. Alton Sterling’s murderers now walk free. We are saddened and disappointed, but steeled in our resolve to advocate fervently for changes to ensure Black men and boys are treated fairly.
M.O.B.B. United for Social Change stands with the community of Baton Rouge, the Sterling family, and moms of Black boys and men whose sons have been lost to police violence and brutality. Law enforcement officials in Louisiana and all across the country have a duty to protect and serve ALL members of the community. Black men and boys should not be the exception. Law enforcement officers must be adequately trained to engage non-violently and de-escalate. They must be trained to value all lives and stop seeing our sons as a threat.
Police brutality against our sons must stop. Excessive force against our sons must stop. We urge Baton Rouge Police Chief Murphy Paul to release all body camera and surveillance footage of the incident and do everything in his power to end unjustified killings of Black men and boys.
Moms of Black Boys (MOBB) United, Inc. and MOBB United for Social Change, Inc. are sister non-profit organizations formed by Depelsha McGruder to galvanize concerned mothers who want to work together to make a difference in how Black boys and men are perceived and treated by law enforcement and in society. What started as a Facebook group of about 30 women has grown into an online community of more than 175,000 Moms nationwide and globally, representing every race, age, religion, socioeconomic background, marital status and education level. We want our sons to have a chance to live, learn and leave their legacies. Our goal is not just for them to survive, but to thrive.
Moms of Black Boys United, Inc. is a resource that shares vital information, encourages strong family and community connections, promotes self-care and empowers moms to navigate all of the institutions that interact with, influence and impact their sons. MOBB United for Social Change, Inc. acts as a voice for moms of Black sons and is focused on influencing policy and eliminating racial disparities related to the interaction Black boys and men have with law enforcement and persons in authority. From the school-to-prison pipeline to the broader criminal justice system, the goal is to change the trajectory of racial injustice to ensure that Black boys and men survive and thrive.