Resolution On the Use of Excessive Force Against Unarmed Citizens
Submitted by: the Mission Council of St. Anselm’s Episcopal Church, Nashville
Whereas, in the Baptismal Covenant, Episcopal Christians agree to “strive for justice and peace
among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being” (BCP page 294), and the book of
Genesis chapter one, teaches that all human beings are made in God’s image, and chapter four
teaches that we are our “brother’s keeper”, the continued use of deadly force by law enforcement
officers against unarmed citizens, especially racial and ethnic minorities, is an ongoing issue of concern,
particularly in light of the deaths of 18yr old Mr. Michael Brown of Ferguson, MO; 43 yr old
Eric Garner of Staten Island, NY; 12 yr old Tamir Rice of Cleveland, OH; and 27 yr old Akai
Gurley of New York, NY.
Whereas, The U.N. Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) has urged the
United States “to halt the excessive use of force by police officers” and questions if the United
States, by its not doing, perpetuates racial and social injustices/disparities among its racial and ethnic
minority populations. “Racial and ethnic discrimination remains a serious and persistent problem
in all areas of life from de facto school segregation, access to health care and housing,” cited
Nouredine Amir, CERD committee vice chairman at a recent news briefing:
“The Committee remains concerned at the practice of profiling of racial or ethnic minorities by law enforcement
official including the FBI, Transportation Security Administration, border enforcement official
and local police. This is not an isolated event and illustrates a bigger problem in the United States,
such as racial bias among law enforcement officials, the lack of proper implementation of rules and regulations
governing the use of force and the inadequacy of law enforcement officials.”
Whereas, Jeffrey Mittman, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union's Missouri
chapter stated, "Unarmed African-American men are shot and killed by police at an alarming rate.
This pattern must stop." However, quantifying that pattern is difficult. Federal databases that track
police use of force or arrest-related deaths paint only a partial picture. Police department data are
scattered and fragmented. No agency appears to track the number of police shootings or killings of
unarmed victims in a systematic, comprehensive way. NAACP president Cornell Williams Brooks
told Mother Jones, “It's a culture in which people suspected of minor crimes are met with
"overwhelmingly major, often lethal, use of force." 1
Therefore, be it resolved that the Episcopal Diocese of Tennessee:
condemns the use of excessive force against unarmed citizens.
encourages Episcopalians to stand up, speak up and organize/collaborate with credible assemblies
to right the wrong of excessive use of force by police.
will initiate the dialogue with the appropriate and pertinent law enforcement officials and /
or demonstrably support credible groups such as Nashville United that have begun the dialogue
with the appropriate and pertinent officials.
will share a copy of this resolution with other dioceses and law enforcement agencies.
