It’s with a heavy heart that I am writing to you about another Black woman who was senselessly killed at the hands of police, as a result of calling 911 for help. These are not the kind of emails I want to send – but we cannot look away.

Sonya Massey – a descendant of William Donnegan, who was lynched by a white mob during violent racist attacks that led to the creation of the NAACP – was fatally shot in her own home.

We won’t let the deaths of Black people continue to be swept under the rug. Sonya Massey deserves justice.

So far, police have already killed at least 744 people this year. How many more people have to die before we see reform? How much more of our tax dollars will be spent paying for excessive force cases? How much longer can cities across the country cut crucial social programs to pump money into already bloated police budgets? Enough is enough.

Police reform is on the ballot this year – and we will make our voices heard.

For all of the countless lives unjustly taken at the hands of law enforcement, as well as the communities who live in constant fear of falling victim to police violence.

Sonya Massey should be alive today.

Roger Fortson should be alive today.

Frank Tyson should be alive today.

Michael Brown should be alive today.

George Floyd should be alive today.

Breonna Taylor should be alive today.

Freddie Gray should be alive today.

Sandra Bland should be alive today.

Tamir Rice should be alive today.

So many more whose names never make headlines should be alive today.

Enough is enough. We’re done dying.

This seemingly endless rotation of devastating tragedies calls for immediate justice and accountability.

We demand action on meaningful police reform legislation from elected officials. Nothing will weaken our resolve to call for justice NOW and vote for accountability in November.

The NAACP stands firm in its belief that Congress must pass legislation to end qualified immunity and develop a national database to remove officers engaged in a pattern of misconduct from our communities. Please join our call for urgent police reform and help protect Black communities from the persistent threat of violence.

–Cedric Haynes, Vice President, Policy & Legislative Affairs, NAACP