President Derrick Johnson Commends Verdict in Texas Police Shooting Case

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

December 16, 2022

Contact: Jonah Bryson, jbryson@naacpnet.org

WASHINGTON, D.C. –  Yesterday, a jury found former Fort Worth, Texas police officer Aaron Dean guilty of manslaughter for the fatal shooting of 28-year-old Atatiana Jefferson in 2019. NAACP President & CEO Derrick Johnson issued the following statement responding to the verdict: 

"Justice has been served. This verdict reaffirms the fact that a police badge should never be a shield from accountability. No court ruling can undo the horrific act that took Atatiana Jefferson's life far too soon, but the NAACP commends the jury for delivering justice and holding law enforcement accountable. Our country needs police reform now and elected officials must pass legislation to put an end to the preventable epidemic that is police brutality."

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About NAACP

Founded in 1909 in response to the ongoing violence against Black people around the country, the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) is the largest and most pre-eminent civil rights organization in the nation. We have over 2,200 units and branches across the nation, along with well over 2M activists. Our mission is to secure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights in order to eliminate race-based discrimination and ensure the health and well-being of all persons.

NOTE: The Legal Defense Fund – also referred to as the NAACP-LDF was founded in 1940 as a part of the NAACP, but separated in 1957 to become a completely separate entity. It is recognized as the nation's first civil and human rights law organization and shares our commitment to equal rights.