RALEIGH – This week, District Attorney Andrew Womble announced his decision not to bring criminal charges against Pasquotank County sheriff’s deputies who shot and killed Andrew Brown Jr.

The following is a statement from Bob Phillips, executive director of Common Cause NC:

“Andrew Brown Jr. and his family deserve justice. Sadly, the district attorney’s investigation has been woefully lacking in transparency and accountability. The deeply troubling decision by the district attorney speaks to profound failings in our justice system that far too often betrays Black Americans and excuses violence by law enforcement officials against people of color. Clearly, an independent federal investigation is all the more important in this case.

We reiterate that as a nation, we must end the epidemic of law enforcement officers killing Black Americans. We must value, respect and protect Black lives. We must defeat the evils of racism and white supremacy that continue to pervade our society, evident in racial inequalities in policing. We must stand together to hold our elected officials accountable at all levels of government and demand tangible solutions based on equity, inclusion and justice.”

Common Cause NC is a nonpartisan, grassroots organization dedicated to upholding the core values of American democracy.