Congresswoman Bush Statement on 10th Anniversary of the Killing of Michael Brown
Washington, D.C. (August 9, 2024) — Congresswoman Cori Bush (MO-01) released the following statement commemorating the ten-year anniversary of the killing of Michael Brown by a Ferguson police officer, sparking a worldwide movement in support of Black lives.
“Ten years ago, 18-year-old Michael Brown was fatally shot by a Ferguson, Missouri, police officer. Today and always my heart is with Michael Brown’s family. His death and the Ferguson Uprising forever changed me, our community, our nation, and our world.
“We took to the streets for over 400 days to demand a world without racism and white supremacy, a world where being Black in America isn’t a death sentence, and a world where Mike Brown, George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Trayvon Martin, Sonya Massey, and countless others would still be here. We took to the streets to demand a world free of police violence, where every one of our children can grow old and not just survive, but thrive. When we rose up for Mike Brown, we made the entire world rise up and meet us.
“And then, we brought our fight from the streets of Ferguson to the halls of Congress. I stood by Mike’s mother, Lezley McSpadden, to introduce the Helping Families Heal Act (also known as the Mike Brown Bill), first-of-its-kind legislation that would provide crucial mental health support for victims, families, and communities harmed by police violence. I am also proud to have introduced the People’s Response Act, which would advance an evidence-based public health approach to safety, and so many other life-saving policies by creating a Division on Community Safety within the Department of Health and Human Services.
I am forever grateful for the advocates and activists who have stood with us in this fight, both inside and outside Congress. I am forever grateful to Mike Brown’s family, including Michael Brown Sr., and my thoughts are with them as they continue to grieve and demand justice. Our work is far from over, but rest assured that we will never stop working to build a world where Mike Brown would still be alive. Rest in Power, MB2.”
During her tenure, Congresswoman Bush has introduced a series of movement-driven legislation:
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In July 2023, she reintroduced the People’s Response Act, groundbreaking legislation that would advance an inclusive, holistic, and health-centered approach to public safety by creating a public safety division within the United States Department of Human Health and Services.
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In May 2024, she reintroduced the Helping Families Heal Act, also known as the Mike Brown Bill, which would expand mental health services for communities harmed by police violence. The bill establishes grant programs within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to expand communities’ ability to fund a wide range of mental health programs to support victims, families, and students impacted by police violence.
Before coming to Congress, Congresswoman Bush was an activist involved in the protests following the murder of Michael Brown by a Ferguson police officer. Congresswoman Bush spent more than 400 days protesting for justice, leading on the Ferguson Frontline as a nurse and clergy member.