UN to US: Stop racism, police brutality

The UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) has called on the United States to stop racism and police brutality.

“The excessive use of force by law enforcement officials against racial and ethnic minorities is an ongoing issue of concern, particularly in light of the shooting of Michael Brown,” Noureddine Amir, CERD committee vice chairman, said on Friday.

“This is not an isolated event,” he added.

The UN watchdog was referring to 18-year-old black teenager Michael Brown who was shot dead by white police officer Darren Wilson in Missouri on August 9.

“It illustrates a big 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 training of law enforcement officials,” Amir told reporters.

The unarmed teenager was shot at least six times. Brown’s killing caused violent protests in Ferguson and heavily-armed law enforcement officers cracked down protesters.

A grand jury in St Louis is tasked with deciding whether to bring charges against Wilson, who is on paid leave.

“The United States must ensure that every case of excessive use of force is promptly and effectively investigated and the alleged perpetrators prosecuted and the victims or their families are adequately compensated,” the UN watchdog said.

“It should undertake complete and comprehensive measures to address the root causes and avoid any future recurrence of such tragic incidents,” he added.

The killing of black people in the US stoked outrage over racial profiling and lax US gun laws.

In 2012, the killings of unarmed 17-year-olds Trayvon Martin and Jordan Davis also sparked demonstrations.

“The United States government should take effective measures to protect the lives of all individuals and to reduce armed violence,” Amir said.

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