Content Warning: The following statement discusses ableism, anti-Black racism, and police violence. Please take care in all the ways you have access to.

With profound love and anger, the Center for Independent Living (CIL) condemns the murder of Sonya Massey, a Black disabled woman, by Illinois State Police on July 6th, 2024. Sonya, who had a mental health disability, was killed after calling the police to report a suspected prowler. Her death reflects the deadly intersections of ableism and anti-Black racism in policing. According to the Center for American Progress, more than half of Black disabled people have been arrested by the time they turn 28—double the risk compared to white disabled people; 50% of people killed by the police are disabled. 

Wellness checks by police have too often ended in violence, as was the case with Sonya; in the days prior, Sonya Massey’s mother made a call for a wellness check for her daughter, worrying about her daughter’s mental health. Hearing this, we also remember Kayla Moore, a Black trans woman with mental health disabilities killed by Berkeley Police during a wellness check in 2013. The fight continues for #JusticeForKaylaMoore.

CIL urges communities to avoid involving carceral systems in mental health crises. Instead, we must build and support non-police responses like the Anti-Police Terror Project’s Mental Health First (MH First) program in Alameda County and other non-carceral initiatives:

• MH First Oakland: 510-999-MH19, Fridays and Saturdays 2:00 p.m. – 2:00 a.m.
• MH First Sacramento: (916) 670-4062, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays 7:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m.
• MACRO (Mobile Assistance Community Responders of Oakland): 510-446-2276 or MACRO@oaklandca.gov; Current hours 6:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m., 7 days per week, and 2:00 – 10:00 p.m. at least 3 days per week.
• Berkeley Specialized Care Unit: 510-948-0075, 6:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., 7 days per week.
• Crisis Support Services: 1-800-309-2131, available 24/7.
• Alameda Family Services: 510-337-8340, offering the Alameda CARE Team as a mental health crisis response alternative to police.

Communities can support Sonya’s family by donating to the GoFundMe campaign here.

CIL calls on all Independent Living Centers nationwide to remember Sonya Massey’s name and fight against racism and police terror as central to our work in disability advocacy. As ILCs, we must give our time, resources, and brilliance to be in solidarity with the most impacted communities while working to build different systems of community care.

May Sonya Massey rest in power. Say their names: Ryan Gainer, Kayla Moore, Tanisha Anderson, Laquan McDonald, Eric Garner, Freddie Gray, and all Black disabled victims of police violence.