Last night, I attended a community meeting in West Philadelphia organized by local officials and members of the Black Clergy. We heard from community leaders and neighbors grieving a tragedy that should have never happened.

1/10
27 year old Walter Wallace Jr. should be alive right now. My heart is with his family, this community, and everyone who has been traumatized by his death.

2/10
The Police Commissioner and District Attorney have pledged to conduct thorough investigations and deliver justice for Mr. Wallace and his family.

3/10
But, we don’t need to wait for an investigation to tell us that the Wallace family’s call for help should have been answered by mental health professionals not police.

As a society, we have failed Black people. As a society, we have failed people with mental illness.

4/10
We have a long road ahead of us to repair the trust and faith lost between our police and the communities they serve.

The culture of policing must change and policing of mental illness must end.

5/10
At the community meeting, we learned that Philly recently started a project to include mental health professionals in the 911 response center, but due to staffing/funding limitations, the mental health professional wasn’t on duty when the Wallace family called for help.

6/10
Just last week, I joined @RepPressley, @RepKatiePorter, @RepCardenas in introducing a bill that would provide grants and training to help cities to have mental health professionals available to respond to 911 calls for people in mental health crisis.

7/10
You have my word that I will fight like hell to get this bill passed.

I strongly support the Wallace family’s call for peace and civil discourse in the wake of this tragedy.

8/10
I condemn the violence which has inflicted further trauma on a community already reeling from tragedy, the moral and social upheaval from generations of systemic racism, the killings of unarmed black men and women and the economic and health toll of the covid pandemic.

9/10
We must channel our collective outrage into change. We cannot end violence with more violence.

Our country is crying out for change -- and that change requires all of us to make it happen.

10/10

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More from @RepMGS

21 Jul
Sen. McConnell has been stalling progress for the American people for far too long.

#COVID19 relief for families and businesses, common sense gun safety legislation, and healthcare protections are just a few of the HUNDREDS of bills awaiting action on his desk.

A list...
It’s been 510 days since the House passed #HR8 -- a common sense, bipartisan, gun safety bill that could save lives.

Still no vote in the Senate.
cnn.com/2019/02/27/pol…
It’s been over 500 days since the House passed #HR1 to reduce the influence of $$ in our politics, protect our elections, and restore faith in our democracy.

Still no vote in the Senate.
vox.com/2019/3/8/18253…
Read 12 tweets
23 Mar
THREAD: We are at a tipping point in the midst of this global pandemic and we need the President to act.
President Trump’s refusal to use the Defense Production Act to address the dire shortage of much-needed emergency medical equipment is putting lives in our district and across the country at risk. msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-…
The law allows the federal government, in times of crisis, to coordinate the manufacturing of essential, life-saving items. Companies in our region who are eager to step up and produce these materials, but w/o guidance from the WH, their hands are tied lives hang in the balance.
Read 5 tweets
16 Mar
THREAD: The White House is failing to lead when we need them most.
Since I got home from DC Saturday morning, after the House worked round-the-clock on negotiations to help families impacted by #COVIDー19, I have seen that our National Parks are still open, despite being thronged by tourists from across the globe.
Postal workers are being told “not to worry” about COVID-19 or interacting with public.

Health care providers are struggling to get enough #COVIDー19 tests and are concerned about the coming surge of patients.
Read 5 tweets
23 Sep 19
Congress has a constitutional duty to investigate the serious allegations against this president. If we don't, what message does that send to future presidents and our children?
The Framers debated long and hard about what should be deemed an "impeachable offense." Conduct they considered such a betrayal of public trust that it required impeachment?
✅ Election by bribery/corruption
✅ Profiting from office
✅ Obstructing Congress
✅ Abuse of power
✅Election by bribery/corruption.
Trump is an un-indicted, co-conspirator in a federal case where people have gone to jail for helping him silence witnesses who would have harmed his chances of being elected.
Read 6 tweets
12 Aug 19
I just returned from visiting Central America and our southern border. One of the last stops was a detention facility in McAllen, TX. (Thread)
Children are still being separated from their parents.

People being detained here are still sleeping on cement floors with mylar sheets for covering.

Children sit in cages with nothing to do and no contact with relatives.
The extreme poverty and violence that caused these families to flee their home countries has been turned into a humanitarian crisis on US soil by the cruel policies of this administration.
Read 4 tweets
16 Jul 19
Reports from the Office of the Inspector General, after unannounced visits to CBP facilities, detailed prolonged detention, overcrowding, and inhumane conditions. We have a humanitarian crisis at our border. We cannot avert our eyes. We cannot become numb to this. (Thread)
I asked the following questions of the Assistant IG Diana Shaw during yesterday's @HouseJudiciary hearing.

MGS: ... on the first page of that [report], it indicates that your inspectors observed dangerous overcrowding and prolonged detention, is that correct?

DS: Yes.
MGS: Okay, and that included non-compliance with standards applicable to children, including lack of access to hot meals, showers, and change of clothes, right?

DS: Correct.
Read 10 tweets

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