(NewsNation) — The family of Sonya Massey, along with civil rights leaders, are pushing for police reform following her fatal shooting by a white sheriff’s deputy in Sangamon County, Illinois.
The incident has reignited calls for national legislation to address police accountability and prevent officers with troubling records from moving between departments.
Massey, a 36-year-old Black woman, was shot in her home on July 6 after calling 911 to report a possible prowler. The deputy who killed her, Sean Grayson, had a history of disciplinary issues and had worked for six law enforcement agencies in just four years.
At a rally in Chicago, civil rights attorney Ben Crump and Rev. Al Sharpton joined Massey’s family in demanding action. They called on Congress to pass the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, which has stalled since its introduction in 2021.
The bill would create a national registry of police misconduct to prevent officers from evading accountability by switching jurisdictions.
Massey’s father, James Wilburn, has specifically called for state-level reform in Illinois. At his daughter’s funeral, he urged State Sen. Doris Turner to introduce legislation preventing officers who resign to avoid termination from being rehired by other departments.
While some policymakers, including Turner and Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul, are hesitant about introducing new laws, citing existing measures like the SAFE-T Act, experts suggest there’s room for improvement, per WBEZ.
Sharon Fairley, a law professor at the University of Chicago, pointed out potential “loopholes” in current accountability processes that could be addressed, WBEZ reported.
The Massey family reportedly met with Gov. JB Pritzker, who they say promised to sign a police reform bill named after Sonya Massey.
Pritzker and Lt. Governor Stratton called on Sangamon County Sheriff Jack Campbell to resign over his handling of the shooting.
In a statement responding to Pritzker and Stratton, Campbell defended his work as an elected official while expressing support for Massey’s family. Campbell said he still does not believe he needs to resign.
As the Democratic National Convention approaches in Chicago, civil rights leaders are urging lawmakers to prioritize police reform and adopt it as a key platform issue.
NewsNation local affiliate WCIA and The Associated Press contributed to this report.