Council President Young’s remarks on the City signing a consent decree with the federal government

(Remarks as prepared)

BALTIMORE, MD., (January 12, 2017) - "We heard the pleas for meaningful reform from the citizens of Baltimore for far too long. Today, your city will take a major step toward providing the constitutional policing that every citizen deserves. 
 

That this change was hard fought is an understatement. There have been loved ones - from mothers and daughters; brothers and sons, to wives, grandmothers, aunts and uncles - who've long sought justice.
 

I know because I met a great number of you. You've stopped me on the streets and in grocery stores, at schools and in barbershops, to plead for meaningful reforms to policing in Baltimore. 
 

This passion was behind my push, more than two years ago, to get the Department of Justice to carry out the very action that has brought us here at this moment, at this time.
 

To the families: we heard you. We took seriously your cries for justice. And as we prepare to make police reform official, I want to thank you for never giving up. For continuing to fight and for believing that the rights of every citizen are worth protecting.
 

To the men and women of the Baltimore Police Department: I know that a great many of you too have wished for this day. I've come across countless officers who understand that police reforms have the ability to restore trust in the department and ultimately make the job of policing in our city much easier. Citizens need to be partners with police, and today's consent decree with the federal government is the first step toward a renewed relationship between our officers and the citizens of Baltimore.
 

I'd like to thank Mayor Pugh and her staff for taking this work seriously. They assumed control in early December and hit the ground running. You and your team have sacrificed holidays and sleep; you've given up time with your families and worked around the clock to make today's signing of the consent decree possible. I want to thank you for your hard work and dedication to the citizens of Baltimore.
 

Let's keep the fire lit as we work to bring about the change that so many of us fought long and hard for. 
 

Thank you very much."

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