NEW YORK (April 26, 2021) — One year since the deadly shooting of Breonna Taylor by police, U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland announced Monday that the U.S. Justice Department will open a civil investigation into the Louisville Metro Police Department. Reverend Al Sharpton shared the following statement:“Under the new administration, accountability is finally being upheld. I applaud Attorney General Garland’s commitment to making this investigation into the Louisville Metro Police Department a priority for the Department of Justice. This investigation is a direct result of using our vote to put leaders in office that will expose discriminatory police practices and acknowledge police misconduct. Let this be the first step in the long fight to advance racial equality in our criminal justice system.”Earlier this month, at the National Action Network’s Annual Convention, Attorney General Garland delivered an address indicating that the Department of Justice would forcefully look into policing conduct on a federal level. Today’s announcement follows the previous announcement of DOJ investigations into the City of Minneapolis, Minnesota, and the Minneapolis Police Department where incidences of excessive force against black and brown people have occurred.
