releases: http://cohen.house.gov/ending-police-shootings-unarmed-civilians
Data license: MIT · Data source: dwillis/congress-press
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| http://cohen.house.gov/ending-police-shootings-unarmed-civilians | Ending Police Shootings of Unarmed Civilians | 2015-08-28 | 2015 | 2015-08 | Democrat | House | TN | Steve Cohen | C001068 | cohen.house.gov | legacy | Dear Friend, Today marks the 60thanniversary of the murder of Emmett Till and the 52ndanniversary of the historic March on Washington that together propelled a generation to fight for justice and helped lead to the Civil Rights Act and Voting Rights Act. This week also marked the 95thanniversary of American women winning the right to vote, the Commercial Appeal released an investigation into the 24 police-involved shootings that have taken place in Memphis over the last five years,I met with Ambassador Caroline Kennedy during a visit to Japan sponsored and paid for by their government, and I was disappointed by new evidence of animal abuse among Tennessee Walking Horse trainers. Keep reading to learn more, and be sure to follow me onTwitterandFacebookif youd like to receive these and other updates as they happen. Ending Police Shootings of Unarmed Civilians Continuing the Fight for Civil Rights Strengthening the U.S. Relationship with Japan Protecting Horses from Abuse Celebrating Womens Equality Day Ending Police Shootings of Unarmed Civilians TheCommercial Appeals investigation into fatal police shootings of civiliansin Memphis brings to light numbers that we dont have any other way of knowing. Of the 24 fatal shootings in the last five years, 72 percent of the officers involved were white and 75 percent of the victims were black men. Thats a striking and disappointing fact. I am proud to have introduced legislation in Congress to make sure that nationwide data on police shootings is public information and cant be swept under the rug, and I am also proud to team up with my colleague Congressman Lacy Clay, whose district includes Ferguson, Missouri, on legislation to ensure police receive racial bias training thathas been shown to workin reducing an officers tendency to shoot suspects. Continuing the Fight for Civil Rights Sixty years ago today,Emmett Till was murdered in Mississippiand the images helped propel a civil rights movement that eight years to the day later held the historic March on Washington, leading to both the Civil Rights Act and Voting Rights Act becoming law. As we commemorate these anniversaries today, lets also rededicate ourselves to working for justice and equality. In Congress, I will continue my work to ensure the full protections of the Voting Rights Act are restored. Strengthening the U.S. Relationship with Japan Japan has been a great friend to America for many years. They supported sanctions against Iran even though they have a good relationship with Iran and suffered economically. They supported our efforts in the War on Terror even though Japan has not been a victim of radical Islamic attacks. Japan is in a precarious part of the world: close to China which has threatened action against Japanese and other Asian countries in the South China Sea; involved in a land dispute with neighboring Russia; and near North Korea with its volatile leadership and nuclear capabilities. Japan is currently in legislative negotiations to expand their military capabilities. This week I had the opportunity to join Congressman Joaquin Castro, the founder of the U.S.-Japan Caucus of which I am a member, in Japan. While there, we talked with business and political leaders including Prime Minister Shinzo Abe about the security and economic interests that our two nations share and I made sure to highlight that Memphis businesses include FedEx, Sharp and Brother Industries. Prime Minister Abe recalled how his predecessor, Junichiro Koizumi, visited Graceland with President Bush and ate at the Rendezvous. I suggested he come back with President Obama and do the same. Because of the geography of Japan, they have limited energy resources and would like access to exported U.S. oilsomething that would require legislative action in Congress. I was pleased with this chance to learn more about the worlds third-largest economy. Here is a photo of U.S. Ambassador to Japan Caroline Kennedy, Congressman Castro, and me. Protecting Horses from Abuse I am disappointedbut not surprisedthatevidence of Tennessee Walking Horse Big Lick trainers abusing horsesand disregarding state and federal animal welfare laws has once again come to light. Our societys treatment of animals is a reflection on all of us. Causing pain to animals to win a prize is unacceptable. Its inhumane and unsportsmanlike. It is cheating to win by physically abusing horses. There is no ribbon, no prize nor championship worth ones humanity. Soring horses, an abusive training tactic meant to artificially change a horses gait, is both illegal and morally unacceptable, but trainers are clearly taking advantage of lax oversight and wide loopholes to do it anyway. We need to modernize our laws by passing the bipartisan PAST Act to finally put an end to these terrible practices and unequivocally say that causing animals pain is not only inhumane, but also un-American. Celebrating Womens Equality Day This week marks the 95th anniversary of women winning the right to vote in the United States by adoption of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, following Tennessees decisive vote to ratify it. The vote in Tennesseehinged on one manwho changed his mind and surprised the stateif not the nationby voting aye while clutching a note from his mother asking for his support. As a Tennessee State Senator, I sponsored legislation to commemorate the 75th anniversary of womens suffrage in 1995. That year, programs were held around the state to recognize the occasion and highlight womens voting rights. At the end of the year, I initiated the idea and raised the funds needed for a sculpture commemorating one of the General Assemblys most historic votes, and that statue was placed in the State Capitol. While the significance of this day cannot be overstated, there remain great inequalities between American men and women nearly 100 years later that we must address. Despite making up nearly 50% of our nation's workforce, women today earn just 78 cents for every dollar earned by a man. Too many mothers are forced out of the workforce to care for their children because affordable child care is out of reach, or simply nonexistent, or family and sick leave policies are inadequate. We can do a better job for our nation's families, women, and children. Family and sick leave policies must be modernized to reflect our 21st century workforce, child care opportunities should be expanded nationwide so mothers who want to contribute to the workforce can, and we should renew our efforts to close the wage gap. As always, I remain. Most sincerely, Steve Cohen Member of Congress | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z |