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MARCH 13, 1999, 10:06 AM (212)558-5438 (Mon.-Fri.)

President Clinton’s Weekly Radio Address Responds to National Urban League’s Call to Action Against Police Brutality

New York, March 13, 1998 – In response to the National Urban League’s call to action to address the issue of police brutality and misconduct, President Clinton today dedicated his weekly radio address to the topic. In addition, the President issued an open invitation to the taping of the address to a number of the civil rights leaders who attended the League’s press conference on the issue on Feb. 25, including National Urban League President Hugh B. Price. Also in attendance were members of the International Union of the Fraternal Order of Police and members of the Department of Justice.

"It is satisfying to see that the League has been able to raise the awareness of the issue of police brutality and abuse to the highest levels of our government," said Price. "We welcome the President’s heightened engagement and leadership on the issue and are buoyed by his promise to move aggressively to remedy many of the problems. The measures he announced today are a welcome step in the right direction, but are not the sum total of all that needs to be done."

Price went on to note that the two key areas where The National Urban League and other civil rights groups are pushing for aggressive action and reform relate to the excessive use of force by police officers and the use of dragnet tactics (such as racial profiling) that abridge civil liberties for the sake of public safety. "It is the League’s position that public safety and civil liberty can peacefully co-exist," Price commented.

The National Urban League first issued its call to action on Feb. 17 in an open letter to the President. That letter was followed by a press conference on Feb. 25 which was attended by civil rights leaders representing the African American, Jewish, Asian and Hispanic communities of America, as well as prominent business persons and other influential figures. The content of the President’s radio address, Price said, is a promising next step in the direction mapped out by these groups. In his radio address, the President promised the following:

• The Justice Department will vigorously investigate and prosecute law enforcement officials who are suspected of excessive use of force or outright brutality;
• The Attorney General will stage hearings around the nation to examine proven crime reduction methods which do not compromise civil liberties and how those methods can be successfully implemented in other communities (the President cited Boston, Mass. as an example), and;
• The federal government will support measures to promote more diversified police forces as well as increase financial support for better training and education of law enforcement officials.

"Taken all together, these initiatives represent an encouraging start. However, much work remains to be done. To that end, the Urban League will continue to keep up the pressure, as well as the spotlight, on the topic of police brutality and abuse," Price said.

In New York, the President’s radio address can be heard on WINS-AM, 1010 on the AM dial, every Saturday morning at 10:06 a.m.

Founded in 1910, the National Urban League remains the premier social service and civil rights organization in America. The League is a non-profit, community-based organization headquartered in New York City, with 115 affiliates in 34 states and the District of Columbia.