CHICAGO – State Senator Celina Villanueva (D-Chicago) released the following statement in response to newly released body camera footage of the police-involved shooting of 13-year-old Adam Toledo:

“As a resident of Little Village, my heart was broken by the loss of yet another young life. I extend my deepest condolences to Adam Toledo’s family during their time of unimaginable loss and to the community that mourns with them.

“While confirmed killers like Kyle Rittenhouse are calmly taken into custody by law enforcement, Black and Brown children are not afforded that treatment. Instead, many are killed and branded as thugs to excuse their murders. This double standard in narratives vilifies working-class people and people of color while eliciting sympathy for affluent white people like Rittenhouse.

“Communities subjected to state violence know that heavier policing will not address the underlying causes of poverty and racism. This is a systemic issue that is larger than this one incident. Our neighborhoods have been systematically disinvested in, which is why funding for schools, housing, health care and jobs in our communities are necessary in the fight to prevent further violence and create opportunity for all.

“Adam Toledo was a 13-year-old child who was victim of a broken system. A transparent investigation is essential for justice, and we must hold those accountable for this child’s death.”